1.Kalidas was a classical Sanskrit writer & is widely regarded as the greatest poet & dramatist in #Sanskrit language. His plays and poetry are primarily based on Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Scholars have speculated that Kalidas may have lived near the Himalayas, in the vicinity of Ujjain, and in Kalinga. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
The hypothesis of his place is based on detailed description of the Himalayas in his Kumārasambhava, the display of his love for Ujjain in Meghadūta, and his highly eulogistic descriptions of Kalingan emperor Hemāngada in Raghuvaṃśa. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Sanskrit scholar and a Kashmiri Pandit Lakshmi Dhar Kalla concluded that Kalidas was born in Kashmir, but moved southwards, and sought the patronage of local rulers to prosper. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Several ancient and medieval books state that Kalidas was a court poet of a king named Vikramaditya. A legendary king named Vikramāditya is said to have ruled from Ujjain around 1st century BCE. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
The most popular theory is that Kalidas flourished during the reign of Chandragupta II, and therefore lived around the 4th-5th century CE. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas wrote three plays. Among them, Abhijñānaśākuntalam is generally regarded as a masterpiece. It was among the first Sanskrit works to be translated into English and has since been translated into many languages. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Johann Volfgang Goethe was fascinated by Kalidas's Abhijñānaśākuntalam, which became known in Europe, after being translated from #English to #German. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas is the author of two epic poems, Raghuvaṃśa ("Dynasty of Raghu") and Kumārasambhava. Kumarasambhavam means the birth of a son (to goddess Parvati and shiva) ). #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas created his own genre of poetry with Meghadūta the story of a Yaksha trying to send a message to his lover through a cloud. It is one of Kalidas's most popular poems and numerous commentaries on the work have been written. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Many scholars have written commentaries on the works of Kalidas. Among the most studied commentaries are those by Kolāchala Mallinātha Suri, which were written in the 15th century during the reign of the Vijayanagar king, Deva Rāya II. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
The earliest surviving commentaries appear to be those of the 10th-century Kashmirian scholar Vallabhadeva. A well-known Sanskrit verse ("Upamā Kalidassya...") praises his skill at upamā, or similes. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas's Abhijñānaśākuntalam was one of the first works of Indian literature to become known in Europe. It was received with wonder and fascination by a group of eminent poets#महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas's work continued to evoke inspiration among the artistic circles of Europe during the late 19th century and early 20th century, as evidenced by Camille Claudel's sculpture Shakuntala. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
R.R. Chandran made the #Tamil movie Mahakavi Kalidas (1966) based on Kalidas's life. Chevalier Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan played the part of the poet himself. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas has had great influence on several Sanskrit works, on all Indian literature. He also had a great impact on Rabindranath Tagore. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas’s work is noted for its portrayal of the unity of duty to one’s family, religion, and society and the normative role of nature in the human world. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
His characters constantly make choices to uphold obligations to the institutions of faith, kin, and country in the face of terrible ethical dilemmas, thereby illustrating the ideal of virtue. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
The thirteenth canto of the same epic and The Cloud-Messenger also describe long journeys over India, for the most part through regions far from Ujjain. It is the mountains which impress him most deeply. His works are full of the Himalayas. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Another conclusion that may be certainly drawn from Kalidas’s writing is that he was a man of sound and rather extensive education. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas had a minutely accurate knowledge of the #Sanskrit language. Kalidas had mastered grammar and his works bear abundant witness.#महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Being one of the greatest poets and dramatists in Sanskrit, Kalidas’ works depict, through many great characters, the highest ideals of life as seen by the ancient people of Bharat. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
It needs the genius of poets who create literary epics and great thinkers for a language to achieve world-renown. Sanskrit is eminently lucky in this respect and Kalidas towers them all. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas is a poet who has made a distinct & glorious contribution to the sumptuous Sanskrit literature. He has pictured in his works the beauty in life & pondered upon how we can give pleasure to others by generous and graceful behavior. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Reading the descriptions by Kalidas, one cannot help but conclude that the poet must have had a personal knowledge of whole of India. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas could describe the joys of the marital life of a man and his spouse as well as their pangs of separation. He creates scenes of a serious and thoughtful nature as also hilarious scenes of light comedy. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas’s poem gives us a vivid picture of what a good, meaningful life a man could and should lead as propounded by our learned ancestors. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
In Kalidas’s creations, we enter the world of people pure in mind and body and who are graceful. We learn here the manner in which man’s nature can reach high, moral levels. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Tenderness in the expression of feeling, and richness of creative fancy, have assigned to him his lofty place among the poets of all nations.- Alexander von Humboldt #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas was not only deeply read in written books. Rarely has a man walked our earth who observed the phenomena of living nature as accurately as he, though his accuracy was of course that of the poet, not of a scientist. – Arthur Ryder #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
The religion of any great poet is always a matter of interest, especially the religion of a Hindu poet. Hindus have ever been a deeply and creatively religious people. – Arthur Ryder #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
There are certain impressions of Kalidas’ personality which become convictions in the mind those reading his works. One feels certain he was physically handsome & a handsome Hindu is a wonderfully fine type of manhood - Arthur Ryder #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
Kalidas has perhaps done more than any other writer to wed the older tradition, particularly its ritual concern with Sanskrit, to the needs of a new and brilliant secular Hinduism. #महाकविकालिदासः #Kalidas_Icon_of_India
