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Funeral Fun and a wonderful Kavya

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by jayasala42, Jun 1, 2015.

  1. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    On reading Kamalji's 'Funeral Fun' I am reminded of as to how literature has been enriched by 'funeral fun'.Here is an interesting story.
    We have an interesting story of how BhOja's Champu RamayaNam came
    into being. And, here it is!
    King Bhoja of Dharapur was a great friend of Kalidasa. The king also was a renouned scholar







    One day the King was seized of a strange thought. If and when, in
    due course, he died many poets would compose odes in his memory and that the one that would be composed by KaaLIdaasa would be
    especially beautiful. And, because being dead, he wouldn't be alive to hear it, he requested KaaLidaasa to compose one
    in advance and submit it. KaaLidaasa was hesitant because, if he did
    so, the King was sure to die instantly as a result of a boon he had
    received from Goddess KaaLi. And, he did not want to lose his bosom
    friend. When he refused to compose one, the King banished him from
    his kingdom.
    KaaLidaasa went in exile and was a wandering minstrel begging for
    his food.

    The King soon realized his mistake in banishing his friend and could
    not bear separation from his friend. The kings of yore used to go out
    incognito and mix with common folk to know first hand what the
    subjects thought about the state of the State. BhOja also disguised
    himself and was roaming in the country side when he chanced to meet
    with a Bikshu and started a conversation in poetic language.
    The Bikshu answered him in the same language. Soon he recognized the
    Bikshu as Kalidasa while the latter could not recognise the king.

    During the conversation the bhikshu said that he hailed from Dharapur
    and that he would like to meet the king.Now the king wanted to get
    his earlier fulfilled.

    The King broke the false news "How sad! The King died 6 days
    ago" On hearing this, the Bikshu swooned and when he gained
    consciousness immediately composed a slOka as follows:

    adhya dhaaraa niraadhaaraa niraalambaa saraswatee/
    paNDitaa: khanditaa: sarvE bhOja raajE divam gate//

    "Today, the subjects of Dhaaraapuram have lost their support on the
    death of the King. Saraswati, the Goddess of learning finds herself
    bereft of art and the artists"

    The moment he uttered these words, the life of the King who was in
    disguise departed leaving his dead body in the hands of the Bikshu.
    KaaLidaasa was shocked with grief and wondered as to why the King
    should have invited his own death by acting in disguise and conveying
    the false news of his own demise. He prayed to his IshTa dEvata,
    KaaLi who appeared before him and asked him to repeat his Slokam with
    slight alteration and said that the King would come back to life but
    for a brief 3 3/4 naazhigai (about 1 ½ hours) only.
    KaaLidaasa sang a slightly revised version:

    adhya dhaaraa sadaadhaaraa sadaalambaa saraswatee /
    paNDitaa: maNDitaa: sarvE bhOja raajE bhuvam gate//

    "Today, the citizens of Dhaaraapur got back their good governing
    King BhOja, and Saraswati's again became filled with great poets and
    other artists who lived happily ever after"

    The King came back to life as if waking from a slumber and the duo
    became closer still. Time was short and they had to accomplish
    something before the 1 ½ hours of life granted to the King.
    Together, they decided to compose "RamayaNam" that we now know
    as "BhOja Champu" after the name of the renowned King.
    Bhoja Champu is renarration of Ramayana in semi prose and poetry.
    Kishkinta kandam of the Champu is very famous for the narration of
    prowess of Hanuman in poetic style.

    Jayasala 42
















     
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  2. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear JS ma'm,

    Oh how I loved reading these in college! Thank you for reminding me of both the versions and the story of Kalidasa and Bhoja. My interest is renewed in Sanskrit and I have been studying for exams. This helps a lot!

    I have never read any part of Bhoja champu - thanks for talking about it.
     
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  3. Kamalji

    Kamalji IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Jaya,

    Good story, and interesting . Yes even i have thought many a times, what will be written in my orbituary, i hope they dont hype it, or make it too ordinary . Somethign simple and something not glaring. Here is what i would write for myself

    Kamlaji went many a mile,
    To make all his friends smile !!!

    So remember all u who are my friend,
    Finally the journey has to end.

    How is that Jaya ?

    Regards

    kamal
     
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  4. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    It is a great wonder how both Kalidasa and Bhoja thought of composing a kavya wnen they fully knew that Bhoja's death is nearing within 90mts. That was their love for literature.
    Jayasala 42
     
  5. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    4 crisp lines.Great. live long for many more years.
    Jayasala 42
     
  6. MalStrom

    MalStrom IL Hall of Fame

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    JS ma'm,
    We learned this in Sanskrit class, in middle school. For some reason these verses have remained fresh in my mind while others have faded. I really should pick up the language again. Thank you for bringing back a nice anecdote.
     
  7. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Thank you Malstrom,
    Thank you for the kind response. Things learnt in childhood would never leave our memory since they are well founded.

    Jayasala 42
     
  8. Poetlatha

    Poetlatha Platinum IL'ite

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    JayMa,

    Lovely story, I vaguely remember listening to this story. In fact, today I was thinking of Mozart, Requiem de Mozart. Who composed a song for himself before his death. And now I come here and see this....sometimes relatively same things are thought about by many people around the world!
     
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  9. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Poet Latha,
    Elegy has been one of the popular variety of poems on which many popular poets have laid their hands on.Death had been very significant in some cases.Shrimat Bhagavatham was heard by Pareek**** when he was sure of the day of his death.
    Jayasala 42
     
  10. Poetlatha

    Poetlatha Platinum IL'ite

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    Thanks for reminding me JayMa, I been thinking of reading Bhagavatham for a long time. It's high time I start reading it. I read only in English, do you know whether Adi Shankaracharya 's Viveka Chudamani is in English version, I think @Viswamitra, Sir, mentioned in one of his comments.
     
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