Marg for Meghadutam:
A Route-Map for Cloud Messenger
In Kalidasa’s
Meghadutam, the Yaksha beseeches: O Megh, go to Alaka, but
‘Listen
first,
while I
describe the way
fitting for
your journey which you will follow
resting your
foot on mountains when weary,
refreshed when
wasted by the clear water of the streams..’
Why did the Yaksha
suggest a spectacular and scenic but circuitous route for the Cloud Messenger?
Clouds have been navigating the skies since times immemorial, and know their
route like the back of their palm; so why do they need the yaksha’s guidance
and a map?
Banished
from Alakapuri to earth to suffer a year of separation from his wife, the
yaksha had travelled a bit, been charmed by the beauteous earth, and was eager
to share his joy with the cloud messenger, it seems.
From
Ramgiri, head north, tells the yaksha. Why did Kuber dump the cursed yaksha at Ramgiri,
identified with Ramtek which is 50 kms north-east of Nagpur? Was he exiled there to suffer in a mountain as
forlorn as Mount Kailash was fabulous. Of course, Ramgiri had been sanctified
by Ram’s brief exile here, and the yaksha’s penance in this holy place might
have earned him enough merit to return to Alaka to take up his lost position in
Kuber’s court.
Instead of
Ramgiri, had Kalidasa placed the yaksha at Kerala’s Anamudi (Elephant Head)
mountain, the Everest of South India, at a height of 2695 mtrs; the yaksha would
have described to the cloud messenger the beauty and majesty of Kaveri,
Krishna, Godavari, and Mahanadi, too. Maybe, Kalidasa was not very familiar
with the territory to the south of the Vindhyas.
Were the
clouds to soar high up in the sky and speed north to Alaka like an arrow, how monotonous
that would be. Kalidasa draws up a list of ‘must-visit places’ – the picturesque
hills and mountains, the beautiful rivers, the fabulous cities, shrines, and
hoary lands.
The
mountains – the Vindhya ranges, the Mekhala (mekhala is an ornament – a waist
girdle for women, and refers here to the Maikal mountains), Ramgiri (Ramtek), Chitrakuta,
Amrakuta (Amarkantak), Nichai hills (the low hills near Vidisha), Kanakhala
hills (near Rishikesh where Ganga descends to the plains), Gangotri, Krauncha
Pass (the Himalayan Pass used by migratory birds), Mount Kailasa, and Alaka.
The rivers –
Narmada, Vetravati (Betwa), Sindhu (Kali Sindh), Nirvindhya (Newaj), Shipra,
Gandhavati, Gambhira, Charmanavati (Chambal), Yamuna, Sarasvati, Ganga; the
Manasa-lake. Alas, Gandhavati and Sarasvati have vanished, and Mount Kailasa
and Manasa-lake are now in Tibet!
The fabled
cities – Dasarnas (area around modern Bhopal), Vidisha, Avanti (one of the three
most powerful ancient kingdoms, the other two being Magadha and Vatsa),
Ujjayini, Dasapura (Mandsaur), Brahmavarta (the Indo-Gangetic plains, home of
the early Vedic people), Kurukshetra (the battleground of Mahabharata); Alaka
(the seat of Kuber, Digpal or custodian of the North).
The shrines at
Ujjayini - Chandesvara or Mahakal,
Bhavani; Skanda on Devagiri; Shiva on Mount Kailasa.
That is an
amazingly vivid description of the physical geography, and the mythical,
historical, and political map of central and north India and Tibet in Kalidasa’s
times.
Kalidasa was
one of the navaratnas (nine gems) in the court of Vikramaditya, most likely
born in Ujjayini or deeply in love with the city where he worked, loved, and
lived. His audience in the king’s court would be familiar with the rich
references to places of significant importance in the Meghadutam.
Kalidasa may
not have travelled to all the places mentioned in this poem, but he may have
heard about those fascinating places from traders and travellers, or may have
read about these wonderful places. He was deeply in love with Bharatavarsha,
his motherland, and he pays a rich tribute to her fascinating treasures.
Meghadutam is
among the finest Sanskrit kavyas, and an excellent travel-guide to explore and
enjoy the amazing beauty of our country, ‘a brilliant piece of Paradise come
down to earth.’
~~~
Kalidasa’s vivid descriptions: a few samples
Narmada
You will see
‘Reva’s streams spreading dishevelled at Vindhya’s holy feet rugged,
rock-strewn,’ and ‘peak after peak fragrant with wild jasmine.’
Vidisha
‘At that royal
city, Vidisha by name widely renowned, you shall … (be) tasting Vetravati’s
sweet waters as a lover his beloved’s lips.’
Ujjayini
The ‘way to
Ujjayini is a detour no doubt; but do not therefore turn away from a visit to her
palace-terraces..’,
‘Indeed, you
would have lived in vain
if you do
not dally there
with the
tremulous eyes of the city’s beautiful women
that dart in
alarm at the branched lightning’s flashes.’
You will be
dazzled by Ujjayini ‘glowing in splendour like a brilliant piece of Paradise come
down to earth.’
Mahakal on the bank of Gandhavati
At Ujjayini,
you will see the holy shrine of Chandesvara,
‘its garden
stirred by Gandhavati’s breezes
scented with
the pollen of blue-lotuses
and fragrances
wafted from unguents
used by
young women sporting in the waters.’
Himalayan Forest-fire
After you
reach Gangotri,
‘If a
forest-fire born of cedar branches
clashing in
the blowing wind
should assail
the mountain, and its fiery sparks
scorch the
bushy tails of yaks,
pray quench
it fully with a thousand sharp showers.
The riches
of the great are best employed
to ease the
miseries of the distressed.’
Way to Our Home
Once you
reach Alaka, this is how you will spot our home:
‘There, to
the north of the palaces
of the Lord
of Treasures stands our home
recognizable
from afar by its arched gateway
beautiful as
the rainbow
close by
grows a young Mandara tree
nurtured by
my love like a son and now bending
with clusters
of blossoms
within reach
of her hand.’
Also note ‘the
beautifully-drawn forms of lotus and conch on the sides of the door, you will
know the mansion..’
My Beautiful Beloved
‘There you
will see her, in the springtime of youth, slender,
her teeth
jasmine-buds, her lips ripe bimba-fruit,
slim-waisted,
with deep navel
and the
tremulous eyes of a startled doe,
moving languidly
from the weight of her hips,
her body
bowed down a little by her breasts
-Ah! The
Creator’s master-work among women,’
though she
would appear ‘like a lotus-plant struck by the chilling hoar-frost,’ or ‘the
miserable moon stricken pale when shadowed by you.’
Acknowledgement
All quotes
are from:
Meghadutam, The
Complete Works of Kalidasa, Volume One- Poems, Translated by Chandra Rajan,
Sahitya Akademi, First Edition – 1997
***
