Kumarasambhavam of Kalidasa is a mahakavya – epic poem – in eight
cantos. Kumarasambhavam is of great importance because the story deals with the
marriage of Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The marriage was necessary to save the universe
as only through the marriage can Kumara take birth. From the divine union
appeared Kumara, Muruga or Kartikeya, to destroy Tarakasura.
Story of Kumarasambhavam
Shiva was engrossed in self-contemplation after the death of
Mata Sati.
Demon Tarakasura was creating havoc in the world after
getting the boon that he can be only annihilated by a son born of Shiva.
Mata Sati, takes the form of Goddess Parvati, is born again
on earth as the daughter of Himavan, the mountain king.
From a young age, she dedicates herself to serving Shiva who
was meditating in the mountains.
Indra, the king of Devas, suffered huge setbacks in the battle
against Demon Tarakasura.
With Shiva showing no interest in Goddess Parvati, the boon
of Brahma that only a son of the divine couple can vanquish Tarakasura was
making the demon immortal.
Indra then decides to tempt Shiva. He took the help of
Kamdev, the Hindu God Love.
Kama was overconfident about his powers. This is how
Kalidasa portrays Kamdev’s overconfidence.
“Though my weapons are but flowers and my army but the spring, I will make Shiva himself lose his firmness. Which archer will equal me?” (III. 30)
He then approaches Shiva who was in total Samadhi. This is
how Kalidasa portrays Shiva’s meditation.
“Still like a rainless cloud, still like a waveless ocean, still like an unflickering flame.” (III. 48)
Goddess Parvati, who was an ethereal beauty, walked in when
Kamadev was planning to hit Shiva with his arrows. This gave a boost to his
confidence.
Kamdev placed his arrow, called sammohana (the infatuating
one), on his bow and took aim. Before the arrow was released something drastic
happened. Suddenly, Shiva came back from his Samadhi and looked around angrily.
A fire flashed forth in anger from his third eye and it reduced Kamdev into
ashes.
There was utter chaos. Rati, wife of Kamdev, appears on the scene
crying wildly.
Rati, lamenting over her husband’s death, decides to burn
herself, but a heavenly voice promises her that though not visible he would
live forever disembodied (Anaga).
A major highlight of Kumarasambhavam is the lamentation of
Rati set in the viyogini meter. The great warmth of its feeling is a supreme
achievement of Kalidasa.
Goddess Parvati realized that her ethereal beauty was not
capable of bringing Shiva out of Samadhi.
She then takes a firm resolution that penance was the sole means of winning Shiva.
She then takes a firm resolution that penance was the sole means of winning Shiva.
She performed intense penance like standing amidst four
fires in hot summer and neck-deep in freezing water in winter. Seasons passed
by.
Then one day Shiva appeared before Parvati in the form of a
celibate.
The celibate said all negative and bad things about Shiva to Parvati.
The celibate said all negative and bad things about Shiva to Parvati.
Parvati however said, “Well, maybe Shiva is a you depict him, but I love him and him only. Maybe love is blind.”
She then decided to go away from the scene. But someone held
her back, she then realized that someone was Shiva.
Shiva then told her, “Verily you have bought me by your penance.”