Timsi's Odissi Performance: Part 6 - Chorus & Meghdoot himself

One of the worlds most beautiful works of Shringar poetry, Meghdoot depicts a tale of separation - where a Yaksha conveys his feelings of love to his lover, through a cloud-messenger.

Through this metaphor of sending a message, Kalidas paints a beautiful picture of the countrys geographical, historical, cultural, social and popular landscape. This is the most remarkable aspect of the play.

The god of wealth, Kuber, admonishes Yaksha in his retinue, exiling him for a year for not performing his duties responsibly. The exiled Yaksha settles on Mount Ramgiri to serve his sentence. The first day of the monsoon brings with it the beautiful, dense rainclouds into the sky, making the Yakshas state of separation from his beloved unbearable. He pleads to the raincloud to become a messenger and convey the Yakshas message of love to his beloved. The Yakshas state of mind is so intense that it permeates all of the nature - the elements of water, fire, earth, wind, flora and fauna begin to reverberate with his feelings of separated love.

The Yaksha gives the cloud-messenger directions to Alkapuri, where his beloved resides. The route traverses, Ramgiri, Maliva, Amrakoot, Vindyanchal, Vidisha, Ujjaini and Alkapuri, all the cities described in lucid and enchanting ways.

The Yakshas description of his beloveds bereft and sorrowful state of separation makes the cloud messengers raindrops fall like tears. On seeing the Yakshas emotional state, Kuber relieves him of his exiled state. The poetic text ends with the happy union of the Yaksha and his beloved.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Taandav
• Shivji
• Shiv
• Dance
• Odissi
• Performance
• Triveni
• ShriRam
• Yaksh
• Yakshni
• Meghdoot
• Kalidas
• Kaalidas