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1 SIDDHASENA DIAKARA
the works of Aswa Ghoşa and Kālidāsa on one hand and Siddhasena on the other. Kālidāsa was influenced by Aswa Ghosa. It is not possible to say with any amount of certainty whether Kālidāsa and Siddhasena, were contemporaries or whether they were living in the same century. However this can be said without fear of contradiction that there is a striking similarity between the works of these two authors and the ideas of one poet are seen reflected in the works of the other. The similarity as regards compact style, perspicuity and simple and charming diction between Bąddha Carita and Saundarānanda Caritra of Aswa Ghosa on the one hand and the works of Kālidāsa such as Kumāra Sambhava and Raghu Vamsa on the other has been pointed clearly 'by Samskrta scholars. The same sort. of similarity, striking in character, exists between the works of Kālidāsa and "Asvaghoşa on one hand and Siddhasena on the other. In Buddha Caritra and other works of Asvaghoşa the varieties of metres is a striking point. Similarly, we find therein at the end of every canto a different metre used. The same thing is found in 1)wātrimśikās. The style of Aswaghoşa in describing Lord Buddha as well as the style of Kālidāsa in describing Sankara aud Brahman according to their own tradition and sentiment has been imitated by Siddhasena very clearly in describing his Lord Mabāvira? ; and he gives us a very brief but beautiful picture of the
1 See Dwa. 5.
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