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Ṛtusaṃhāra

April 10, 2024

Ṛtusaṃhāra, often written Ritusamhara,[1][2] (Devanagari: ऋतुसंहार; ऋतु ṛtu, "season"; संहार saṃhāra, "compilation") is a medium length Sanskrit poem.[3]

While the poem is often attributed to Kalidasa, modern scholars disagree with this traditional attribution. According to Siegfried Lienhard "the Ṛtusaṃhāra is almost certainly the work of some poet whose name has not come down to us and was probably written sometime between Asvaghosa (about 100 A.D.) and Kalidasa (4th to 5th century)."[3]

The poem has six cantos for the six Indian seasons- grīṣma (summer), varṣā|pāvas (monsoon/rains), śarat (autumn), hemanta (cool), śiśira (winter), and vasanta (spring)[4][circular reference].

The word Ritu (seasons) with the word saṃhāra is used here in the sense of "coming together" or "group".[5] Thus, Ritusamhara has been translated as Medley of Seasons or Garland of Seasons, perhaps more aptly as the "Pageant of the Seasons",[6] but also mistranslated as "birth and death" of seasons, which arises from the alternate meaning of samhāra as destruction.

The evocative poetry is in the popular Anustubh Chanda form of four line stanzas- a total of 144 stanzas. Collated by William Jones,[7] this was the first Sanskrit text to be printed and published in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1792.[6] The changing seasons are portrayed in acute details using the thematic backdrop of how lovers react differently to the changing landscapes- the two themes beautifully accentuating each other. This imbues the poem with distinctly amorous taste (shringara) rasa. The predominant emphasis on a single rasa has been criticized by some, however it showcases the latent virtuosity of the neophyte poet, as he explores the range of flavors (Svad) within the single rasa rasa- an exuberant exposition of joie de vivre, conveyed through the interplay of changing nature and steady romance.[6]

Sometimes his authorship has been challenged on the grounds of weak poetic imagination. As an example, here is verse 1.4 of Grishma, where the lovers are struggling against the heat:

To relieve their lovers of heat,
Women make them lie
On their girdled, round hips covered with silken robes, or
On their sandal anointed breasts
Heavy with ornaments.
They seek help from fragrant flowers
Set in coiffures after a bath,
To intoxicate and delight their lovers.[2]

Of these verses (4-9 of Grishma canto) the Mysore scholar K. Krishnamurthy says:

The sensuality and cloying love depicted in these verses is such that it cannot bring fame to any poet.[8]

However, others have cited the primacy of shringara rasa (considered as a primeval source for other rasas), and also the balance the poet seeks to achieve by setting the lovers against the background of nature, as redeeming features of the work.

Simple evocations of changing seasons intersperse the more colorful ones:

The summer scorched forest is thrilled with joy at the touch of new showers,
A new pleasure sprouts on the Kadamba trees,
and every branch shakes in a gaiety unexplained.
Every flower of Ketaki is blossomed
as if the forest has laughed.
And peacocks dance with a precipitate joy. (Canto 2)[9]
Cooled by the touch of fresh drops of water,
And perfumed by the flower laden fragrant Lasak trees
Aye! scented sweet by the Ketaki pollen,
the pleasing wind enraptures the lovelorn women. (Canto 2)[9]

Adaptations edit

Playwright and theatre director, Ratan Thiyam, stage his production based on the poem as closing production of 4th Bharat Rang Mahotsav in 2002.[10]

Translations edit

Ritusamhara was translated into English by R. S. Pandit, published in 1947.[6]

Ritusamhara was translated into Tamil and published in 1950 by T. Sathasiva Iyer.

Ritusamhara has been translated into Marathi Poetry by Dhananjay Borkar and published by Varada Prakashan in 2012. It has also been translated to Kannada by Bannanje Govindacharya titled "Rutugala henige".

Ritusmahara has been simultaneously translated into Hindi and English, as well as illustrated by Rangeya Raghav, published by Atmaram and Sons in 1973.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Ritusamhara, transl. Manish Nandy, Dialogue Publications, Calcutta, 1970
  2. ^ a b Rajendra Tandon (translator) (2008). Ritusamhara (The garland of seasons). Rupa & co. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b Lienhard, Siegfried (1984). A History of Classical Poetry: Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit (A History of Indian Literature Vol. III), pp. 107-108. Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.
  4. ^ Ritu (Indian season)
  5. ^ "Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary 1899 Basic".
  6. ^ a b c d Ritusamhara Or The Peageant Of The Seasons, R. S. Pandit, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.525197
  7. ^ Cannon, Garland Hampton (1979). Sir William Jones a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. [1007 HA] Amsterdam, [postbus 52519]: Benjamins. p. 38. ISBN 1-283-35985-5. OCLC 1241742513.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ^ Kalidasa, K. Krishnamoorthy, Sahitya Akademi 1994
  9. ^ a b c https://archive.org/details/ritusamharakalidasarangeyaraghav_202003_110_J/page/n9/mode/2up [dead link]
  10. ^ Kavita Nagpal (16 April 2002). "BHARAT RANG MAHOTSAV : A RETROSPECTIVE". Press Information Bureau (Govt. of India).
 
Sanskrit Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Ṛtusaṃhāra in Sanskrit Text

External links edit

  • Transliterated text at GRETIL
  • Online literal translation by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao
  • The Seasons, selected verses translated into English verse by Arthur W. Ryder

April 10, 2024
Ṛtusaṃhāra, often, written, ritusamhara, devanagari, ऋत, ऋत, ṛtu, season, saṃhāra, compilation, medium, length, sanskrit, poem, while, poem, often, attributed, kalidasa, modern, scholars, disagree, with, this, traditional, attribution, according, siegfried, li. Ṛtusaṃhara often written Ritusamhara 1 2 Devanagari ऋत स ह र ऋत ṛtu season स ह र saṃhara compilation is a medium length Sanskrit poem 3 While the poem is often attributed to Kalidasa modern scholars disagree with this traditional attribution According to Siegfried Lienhard the Ṛtusaṃhara is almost certainly the work of some poet whose name has not come down to us and was probably written sometime between Asvaghosa about 100 A D and Kalidasa 4th to 5th century 3 The poem has six cantos for the six Indian seasons griṣma summer varṣa pavas monsoon rains sarat autumn hemanta cool sisira winter and vasanta spring 4 circular reference The word Ritu seasons with the word saṃhara is used here in the sense of coming together or group 5 Thus Ritusamhara has been translated as Medley of Seasons or Garland of Seasons perhaps more aptly as the Pageant of the Seasons 6 but also mistranslated as birth and death of seasons which arises from the alternate meaning of samhara as destruction The evocative poetry is in the popular Anustubh Chanda form of four line stanzas a total of 144 stanzas Collated by William Jones 7 this was the first Sanskrit text to be printed and published in Calcutta Kolkata in 1792 6 The changing seasons are portrayed in acute details using the thematic backdrop of how lovers react differently to the changing landscapes the two themes beautifully accentuating each other This imbues the poem with distinctly amorous taste shringara rasa The predominant emphasis on a single rasa has been criticized by some however it showcases the latent virtuosity of the neophyte poet as he explores the range of flavors Svad within the single rasa rasa an exuberant exposition of joie de vivre conveyed through the interplay of changing nature and steady romance 6 Sometimes his authorship has been challenged on the grounds of weak poetic imagination As an example here is verse 1 4 of Grishma where the lovers are struggling against the heat To relieve their lovers of heat Women make them lie On their girdled round hips covered with silken robes or On their sandal anointed breasts Heavy with ornaments They seek help from fragrant flowers Set in coiffures after a bath To intoxicate and delight their lovers 2 Of these verses 4 9 of Grishma canto the Mysore scholar K Krishnamurthy says The sensuality and cloying love depicted in these verses is such that it cannot bring fame to any poet 8 However others have cited the primacy of shringara rasa considered as a primeval source for other rasas and also the balance the poet seeks to achieve by setting the lovers against the background of nature as redeeming features of the work Simple evocations of changing seasons intersperse the more colorful ones The summer scorched forest is thrilled with joy at the touch of new showers A new pleasure sprouts on the Kadamba trees and every branch shakes in a gaiety unexplained Every flower of Ketaki is blossomed as if the forest has laughed And peacocks dance with a precipitate joy Canto 2 9 Cooled by the touch of fresh drops of water And perfumed by the flower laden fragrant Lasak trees Aye scented sweet by the Ketaki pollen the pleasing wind enraptures the lovelorn women Canto 2 9 Contents 1 Adaptations 2 Translations 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksAdaptations editPlaywright and theatre director Ratan Thiyam stage his production based on the poem as closing production of 4th Bharat Rang Mahotsav in 2002 10 Translations editRitusamhara was translated into English by R S Pandit published in 1947 6 Ritusamhara was translated into Tamil and published in 1950 by T Sathasiva Iyer Ritusamhara has been translated into Marathi Poetry by Dhananjay Borkar and published by Varada Prakashan in 2012 It has also been translated to Kannada by Bannanje Govindacharya titled Rutugala henige Ritusmahara has been simultaneously translated into Hindi and English as well as illustrated by Rangeya Raghav published by Atmaram and Sons in 1973 9 See also editSanskrit literature Sanskrit dramaReferences edit Ritusamhara transl Manish Nandy Dialogue Publications Calcutta 1970 a b Rajendra Tandon translator 2008 Ritusamhara The garland of seasons Rupa amp co a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a author has generic name help a b Lienhard Siegfried 1984 A History of Classical Poetry Sanskrit Pali Prakrit A History of Indian Literature Vol III pp 107 108 Otto Harrassowitz Wiesbaden Ritu Indian season Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary 1899 Basic a b c d Ritusamhara Or The Peageant Of The Seasons R S Pandit https archive org details in ernet dli 2015 525197 Cannon Garland Hampton 1979 Sir William Jones a bibliography of primary and secondary sources 1007 HA Amsterdam postbus 52519 Benjamins p 38 ISBN 1 283 35985 5 OCLC 1241742513 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link Kalidasa K Krishnamoorthy Sahitya Akademi 1994 a b c https archive org details ritusamharakalidasarangeyaraghav 202003 110 J page n9 mode 2up dead link Kavita Nagpal 16 April 2002 BHARAT RANG MAHOTSAV A RETROSPECTIVE Press Information Bureau Govt of India nbsp Sanskrit Wikisource has original text related to this article Ṛtusaṃhara in Sanskrit TextExternal links editTransliterated text at GRETIL Online literal translation by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao The Seasons selected verses translated into English verse by Arthur W Ryder Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ṛtusaṃhara amp oldid 1147964286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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