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16
Appointment with Kalidasa
eves the Universe of a dreadful worry and danger. Pārvati is the daughter of Menā and Himavat. Kālidāsa personifies the Himālaya mountain and presents him as a human, loving father, deeply concerned with the happiness of his pet daughter; but at the same time the geographical and material aspects of the mountain range and the mythological fancies associated with it are carefully preserved and mixed in the dual personality. The epic begins with a gorgeous, marvellous description of the Himālaya which is the wonderful background and the 'scene of action of this story of love and marriage. Himālaya is presented as the 'soul of the gods', on whose precincts wonderful herbs grow, some emitting light in darkness, some of unique medicinal value; it is a mine of numberless jewels and precious stones; its surroundings are hallowed by the presence of gods and of sages who practise uncommon penances. Its majestic peaks, wrapped in pure-white snow, rise above the clouds and reach heavens, blocking sometimes the movements of celestial beings travelling in air. But with all its snow and inaccessible heights, its wonderful majesty and its rich splendour continue to dazzle all beings, including the supernatural denizens.
The only daughter of Himavat is Pārvats who was enticed by Siva and wanted to marry him. Śiva is engaged in a penance, for some 'mysterious reason', and has sought a secluded corner of the rich, enticing regions of the Himalayas for his purpose. Pārvali goes to the place to give him her personal service and attends on him with her companion while he chooses to remain undisturbed and urmoved in his mental concentration and penance. But it appears that the gods are themselves interested in the marriage of Siva and Parvati. An asura by name Tāraka has triumphed over the divine power and is poised to take the universe under his control. Since Prajāpati has given him a boon of indestructibility, neither he nor the Preserver of the Universe, god Vişnu, is able to deal with the growing might of the demon. It is predicted that a son born of the union of Siva and Pārvatī will alone destroy the demon. So, the gods propose to help Pārvatī, in their way, in her own pursuit of love. To kindle the spark of love in the heart of Siva, Brahmā asks Madana, the god of love, to do his bit. Madana comes to the Himalayan regions with his wife Rati and his companion Vasanta.
All of a sudden, the Himalayan region comes into glory with the bloom of an untimely spring. The flowering trees blossomed into a riot of colours. The deer started roaming the plains. The male Koel with its throat hoarse with now mango shoots burst into a sweet melody. The male and female bee perched on a flowers to sip the juice, the male following his beloved. The black antelope scratched the doc with his horn and she closed her eyes in sbeer happiness. The female elephant put a mouthful of scented water into the trunk of the male. The Kimpuruşa could not help kissing the fragrant mouth of his beloved. Even the ascetics found it difficult to keep their minds in concentration, conscious of amorous activities all round them. Kāma eluded the watchful eye of Nandi and entered the inner sanctum where
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