I posted my story essentially to drive home the point that a few words of praise can get a lot of benefits in return.. In fact, as a serious student of Sanskrit language and literature, just like most other students and scholars, I have found that the authors and poets left little for us to learn about their identity, location and time in history..The scholars and researchers have not succeeded much in fixing the identity of Kalidasa.. and even his place of origin.. whether it was in India or whether he came from outside. And although he pays respects to vedas, brahmins, and gods identified with higher castes, some feel that the name, his tilt towards Shakti or Kali and even his name Dasa would indicate that he did not belong to the high caste.. Dandi of course was a brahmin, as per the lore.. But apart from some later eulogies conveniently penned to enhance the glory of some poet or writer at the cost of someone else, there is hardly any evidence to show that Kalidasa and Dandi were contemporaries.. and that Bhoja was contemporary with them.. Dandi was essentially a prose writer more than a poet..his magnum opus is Dashakumaracharitam.. a semi historic narrative of the lives of a prince and nine of his friends.. Kaavyaadarha is his other great work..
Some eulogies flock together Dandi, Bharavi, Kalidasa and Magha.. but scholars assign them to various stages of development and maturity in literary style.. Though simple, pleasant and romantic, the puritans often hold the view that Kalidasa has his own limitations in grammar, craft and vocabulary, and that he was the earliest one.. Dandi, of a more refined and puritanic style must have come later,, and then Bharavi and then alone Magha.. and still later the Sriharsha, . and so on.. as judged by the pundits in development and refinement of the language.
We just mention some free slokas.. called Chaatu slokas.. for occasions to drive home certain points in Shastras and lifestyle.. the ideas are appealing but can never say for sure that the source is authentic.. The fruit is sweet but we do not know from which tree it is plucked, but we tend to name the tree according to our limited data or even our convenience..
There is a sloka in circulation comparing the greatness of Dandi and Kalidasa.. that too umpired by Bhoja.. nice to read but without any authenticity..
Once the matter as to who was great as a poet between Dandi and Kalidasa was taken to the doors of Devi Kali.. king Bhoja was also a witness to the proceedings. The three were assembled before the doors of the Devi which was just getting opened in the morning..
Seeing Dandi, Kali is reported to have said,
kavir dandiH kavir dandiH kavir Dandirna SashayaH
meaning three times I say, Dandi is the greatest poet.
Kalidasa was very sad.. but looking at his sad face, Mother Kali said.
Twamevaaham Twamevaaham Twamevaahama na samshayaH
meaning I declare thrice without any room for doubt that you are myself
who is greater?
So many such stories are there, with so many local variations in description and content..
So each can say things in the way he has learnt it..
Like perhaps the ten blind men who visited an elephant and described its form and qualities according to their perception..
