Latest news with #Raghuvamsa
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
The serpentine feminine
The concept of the female serpent deity is one of the most intricate and captivating figures in South Asian traditions. Terms such as naagini, naagayakshi, naagakanya, naagi and naagin are often used interchangeably, yet each holds some unique resonances shaped by region, belief system and time. While all evoke the powerful image of the serpentine feminine, they inhabit distinct cosmologies—some local, some scriptural and some shaped by modern fantasy. Across these diverse portrayals, the feminine serpent—sometimes depicted as a full-bodied woman, sometimes as a hybrid with a serpent's tail—depicts a bond with elemental forces—the earth, the water and the unseen realms. This deep connection often manifested in folklore, as Vogel [scholar] notes, through rich tales of mortal men enticed by the allure of serpent women, often culminating in romance or marriage. Even Kalidasa, in his epic Raghuvamsa, couldn't resist this potent theme; he tells of Kusa, Raama's own son and heir, whose destiny became entwined with Kumudvati, the youngest sister of the Naagaraaja Kumuda, through marriage. Travel north to the mist-shrouded mountains, and Kalhana's Rajatarangini breathes life into a poignant Kashmiri legend—the whispered story of love igniting between Visakha and the ethereal Chandralekha, fair daughter of the Naaga Susravas. Oldham [colonial writer] speculates these stories might reflect historical mingling between serpent-worshipping tribes and Aryan or Dravidian settlers—or perhaps they are simply projections of a deeper human fascination with the mystery and perceived power of the feminine divine or natural form.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Developing bhakti
Poet Kalidasa is famous for quoting with examples. In his work Raghuvamsa, he said that like sastras following the Vedas, the wife of King Dhileepa followed the sacred cow, Nandhini, gifted by sage Vasishta to worship to get progeny. He had no formal education. Even today, studying Kalidasa's works is mandatory for Sanskrit students to enrich their knowledge of the language. How, then, did Kalidasa acquire such vast knowledge and poetic ability? Sri Muralidhara Swamigal said in a discourse that the poet showed a deep devotion to Goddess Kali, whose divine grace transformed him from an ordinary to a great poet. In one instance, the Goddess said Kalidasa was no different from her. To help a poor household who felt shy that she did not have anything to offer for the Acharya's daily alms-seeking, the great saint Adi Sankara composed 'Kanakadhara Stotra' on Goddess Mahalakshmi, whose grace rained gold and made the household rich. Another Acharya Periavachanpillai, who had written commentaries to Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, took pity on one of his disciples, who was dull-headed. He transformed the disciple into a prominent scholar through his blessings. Acharya refers to someone who obtains the highest knowledge in sastras. The term Desika denotes a person who has expertise and performs rituals with devotion and adherence to rules. A disciple of Adi Sankara, who was not a renowned scholar, became great with the Acharya's blessings. He composed hymns on the Acharya and used the lines 'Bhava Sankara Desika Mey Saranam.' It is chanted even today by the followers of Adi Sankara. Moksha is God's sole property. Out of compassion and pity, He will give us a part of His property. The only consideration is to develop Bhakti towards Him, chant His name and praise His qualities.
