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(The Cloud Messenger) by Both history and mythology come alive in Kalidasa's lyrics. For example, the Yaksha asks the cloud to make a de-tour and visit the beautiful city of Ujjaini, the city of the king Udayana. Many verses are filled with picturesque de-scriptions of this beloved city of Kalidasa, whom he consid-ered as a lovely piece of heaven brought down to earth.. The Yaksha implores the cloud to visit the city of Devagiri to pay respect to the war god, Skanda, the son of Shiva, who is actu-ally nothing but the very energy, brighter than even the sun, of the one who bears the new moon, "Navashashibhruta" i.e.,of Shiva himself (# 43) . The story of the epic Mahabharata is re-called when the cloud is asked to pass over the site of the famous battle where Arjuna rained down his sharp arrows on the chests of the Kaurava warriors just like the cloud itself which showers its water on the lotus flowers (# 48): Dharapatraistavamiva kamalanyabhyavarshanmukhani It should be noted here that the main mood of Mahab-haratha, which is heroism is not stressed upon here by Kalidasa. Heroism has nothing to do with the subject matter of Meghaduta. The cloud then should follow the river Ganga to her birth place, the Himalaya mountains. It is asked to enjoy several natural wonders of the mighty mountains and then to proceed northwards till it comes to the peaks of Kailasa, which is considered to be the home of the great god Shiva and also the place where the city of Alaka is situated. The profound poeti-cal imagination of Kalidasa which gives his verses the beauty of miniature paintings is again evident in the following verse (# 60): kreedashaile yadi cha vicharetpadacharena Gowri Bhangageebhakatya virachitavapuhu stambhitantarjalowghaha sopanatvam kuru manitatarohanayagrayayi "And if Gowri, her hand held by Shiva who had tossed aside his bracelet of snakes should go for a walk on these mountains you should, stopping your waters from flowing, form for her a flight of steps and go before her as she climbs its jeweled slopes." The love between Gowri and Shiva is subtly hinted at here. Kalidasa refers to Gowri as "Bhiru" here, meaning one who would get scared. Gowri would get scared to hold the hands of Shiva if he wears his customary bracelet of snakes. Realis-ing this, Shiva would cast it aside as he takes her hand if she should wish to go for stroll on the mountains of Kailasa. Here on the peaks of the mountain Kailasa, the cloud will finally arrive at the city of Alaka. |