Kalidasa

Published on 24th April, 2016, in Mid-Day. Kalidasa’s famous work, Raghuvamsa, composed around 500 CE, tells the story of Ram’s ancestors, including Dashratha’s parents, Aja and Indumati. Indumati selects Aja in her swayamvara ceremony, much to the irritation of other assembled princes. And the two live a happy life, full of heady romance. But then tragedy falls. Shortly after the birth of Dasharatha, Indumati dies. It so happens that Narada is travelling in the celestial realms above when a flower from his garland falls from the sky towards earth and falls on Indumati who is walking in the royal garden. Startled, she dies. Aja is ..