Kālidāsa

Kālidāsa was a classical Sanskrit author and is often considered ancient India's greatest playwright and dramatist. His plays and poetry are primarily based on Hindu mythology and philosophy. He is best known for his works such as 'Abhijñānaśākuntalam' (The Recognition of Shakuntala), 'Meghadūta' (The Cloud Messenger), and 'Raghuvamsha' (The Dynasty of Raghu). The exact dates of his life are not known, but he is generally believed to have lived in the 4th or 5th century CE during the Gupta Empire.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Recognition of Sakuntala

    "The Recognition of Sakuntala" is an ancient Indian play that tells the story of a beautiful woman named Sakuntala who lives in a hermitage and falls in love with King Dushyant. After a series of misunderstandings and a curse that causes the king to forget Sakuntala, the two are eventually reunited when a fisherman finds the royal signet ring that Dushyant gave Sakuntala, leading to her recognition. The play is a classic example of the Indian dramatic tradition, with its mix of romance, comedy, and elements of the supernatural.

  2. 2. Meghadūta

    "Meghadūta" is an ancient Indian Sanskrit poem in which a Yaksha (a nature spirit) sends a message to his distant wife through a cloud, or "meghaduta". The Yaksha has been exiled for a year due to neglecting his duties, and is pining for his beloved. The poem beautifully describes the Yaksha's longing, the journey of the cloud, and the various landscapes, cities, and hermitages it passes over on its way. The cloud is asked to convey the Yaksha's deep love and longing to his wife, providing an evocative exploration of love, longing, and separation.