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Abhijñanashakuntala or Abhijñanasakuntalam) (Devanagari
Devanagari

, or 'Nagari', is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together....
: ???????? ??????????), is a well-known Sanskrit play
Sanskrit drama

Theatre in India as a distinct genre of Sanskrit literature emerges in the final centuries BC, although its origins date back to the Rigvedic dialogue hymns....
 by Kalidasa
Kalidasa

Kalidasa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. His floruit cannot be dated with precision, but most likely falls within the Gupta Empire, probably in the 4th century BC or 5th century or 6th century....
. It is written in a mix of Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 and the Maharashtri
Maharashtri

Maharashtri , is a language of ancient and medieval India, descended from Sanskrit, and spoken in what is now Maharashtra and other parts of India....
 Prakrit
Prakrit

Prakrit refers to the broad family of the Indic languages and dialects spoken in ancient India. The Prakrits became literary languages, generally patronized by kings identified with the Kshatriya caste, but were regarded as illegitimate by the Brahmin orthodoxy....
, a Middle Indian dialect. Its date is uncertain, but Kalidasa is often placed in the period between the 1st century BC and 4th century AD.

The Sanskrit name means "pertaining to abhi-jñâna-sakuntala", which means "token-recognized-Sakuntala" ("Sakuntala recognized by a token").

ough Kalidasa makes some minor changes to the plot, the play elaborates upon an episode mentioned in the Mahabharata
Mahabharata

The is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetrys of History of India, the other being the '. The epic is part of the Hindu itihasa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
.






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Shakuntala Rrv
Abhijñanashakuntala or Abhijñanasakuntalam) (Devanagari
Devanagari

, or 'Nagari', is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together....
: ???????? ??????????), is a well-known Sanskrit play
Sanskrit drama

Theatre in India as a distinct genre of Sanskrit literature emerges in the final centuries BC, although its origins date back to the Rigvedic dialogue hymns....
 by Kalidasa
Kalidasa

Kalidasa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. His floruit cannot be dated with precision, but most likely falls within the Gupta Empire, probably in the 4th century BC or 5th century or 6th century....
. It is written in a mix of Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 and the Maharashtri
Maharashtri

Maharashtri , is a language of ancient and medieval India, descended from Sanskrit, and spoken in what is now Maharashtra and other parts of India....
 Prakrit
Prakrit

Prakrit refers to the broad family of the Indic languages and dialects spoken in ancient India. The Prakrits became literary languages, generally patronized by kings identified with the Kshatriya caste, but were regarded as illegitimate by the Brahmin orthodoxy....
, a Middle Indian dialect. Its date is uncertain, but Kalidasa is often placed in the period between the 1st century BC and 4th century AD.

The Sanskrit name means "pertaining to abhi-jñâna-sakuntala", which means "token-recognized-Sakuntala" ("Sakuntala recognized by a token").

Synopsis

Although Kalidasa makes some minor changes to the plot, the play elaborates upon an episode mentioned in the Mahabharata
Mahabharata

The is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetrys of History of India, the other being the '. The epic is part of the Hindu itihasa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
. The protagonist is Shakuntala
Shakuntala

In Hindu mythology Sakuntala is the mother of Emperor Bharata and the wife of Dushyanta who was the founder of the Paurav Dynasty. Her story is told in the Mahabarata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play The Recognition of Sakuntala....
, daughter of the sage Vishwamitra and the apsaras Menaka
Menaka

In Hindu mythology, Menaka is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras.She was sent by Indra, the king of the Deva , to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra....
. Abandoned at birth by her parents, Shakuntala is reared in the secluded, sylvan
Sylvan

Sylvan or Silvan refers to an association with the Woodland. Specifically, that which inhabits the wood, is made of tree materials, or comprises the forest itself....
 hermitage of the sage Kanva, and grows up a comely but innocent maiden.

While Kanva and the other elders of the heritage are away on a pilgrimage, Dushyanta
Dushyanta

Dushyant or Dushyanta was a great king in classical Indian literature and mythology. He is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of the Bharata ....
, king of Hastinapura
Hastinapura

Hastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian States and territories of India of Uttar Pradesh....
, comes hunting in the forest and chances upon the hermitage. He is captivated by Shakuntala, courts her in royal style, and marries her. He then has to leave to take care of affairs in the capital. She is given a ring by the king, to be presented to him when she appears in his court. She can then claim her place as queen.

The anger-prone sage Durvasa
Durvasa

In Hinduism, Durvasa is an ancient Rishi, son of Atri and Anasuya. He is supposed to be an incaranation of Shiva. He is supposed to be the only rishi whose penance goes up whenever he curses somebody....
 arrives when Shakuntala is lost in her fantasies, so that when she fails to attend to him, he curses her by bewitching Dushyanta into forgetting her existence. The only cure is for Shakuntala to show him the signet ring that he gave her.

She later travels to meet him, and has to cross a river. The ring is lost when it slips off her hand when she dips her hand in the water playfully. On arrival the king refuses to acknowledge her. Shakuntala is abandoned by her companions, who return to the hermitage.

Fortunately, the ring is discovered by a fisherman in the belly of a fish, and Dushyanta realises his mistake - too late. The newly wise Dushyanta defeats an army of Titans, and is rewarded by Indra
Indra

Indra is the god of War and Weather, also the King of the gods or Deva and Lord of Heaven or Swarga in Hinduism. Mentioned first as the chief deity in the sacred Hindu text of Rig Veda, Indra is bestowed with a heroic and almost brash and amorous character....
 with a journey through the Hindu heaven. Returned to Earth years later, Dushyanta finds Shakuntala and their son by chance, and recognizes them.

Adaptation

In other versions, especially the original one found in the Mahabharata
Mahabharata

The is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetrys of History of India, the other being the '. The epic is part of the Hindu itihasa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
, Shakuntala is not reunited until her son Bharata
Bharata

Bharata ??? may refer to:*a name of Agni*a name of Rudra*a name of Manu , according to the Vishnu Purana*Bharata , a celebrated hero and monarch of India, first of twelve Cakravartins ...
 is born, and found by the king playing with lions. Bharata is an ancestor of the lineages of the Kauravas and Pandavas, who fought the bloody war of the Mahabharata. However, Kalidasa's version is now taken to be the standard one.

Translations

The play was the first Indian drama to be translated into a Western language, by Sir William Jones
William Jones (philologist)

Sir William Jones was an England Philology and student of ancient India, particularly known for his proposition of the existence of a relationship among Indo-European languages....
 in 1789.

English translations include:
  • Sacontalá or The Fatal Ring: an Indian drama (1789) by Sir William Jones
    William Jones (philologist)

    Sir William Jones was an England Philology and student of ancient India, particularly known for his proposition of the existence of a relationship among Indo-European languages....
     
  • Sakoontalá or The Lost Ring: an Indian drama (1855) by Sir Monier Monier-Williams
    Monier Monier-Williams

    Sir Monier Monier-Williams studied, documented and taught Asian languages in England, and compiled one of the most widely-used Sanskrit-English dictionaries....
     
  • Translations of Shakuntala and Other Works (1914) by Arthur W. Ryder


There are about 25 translations into Malayalam including,
  • Abhijnanasakuntalam by Kerala Varma Valiyakoyithampuran - the first translation
  • Malayaalasaakunthalam (1912) by A.R. Rajarajavarma
  • Abhijnanasakuntalam (1970) by K. S. Neelakantan Unni


Productions


In Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam

Koodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2000 years old....
, the only surviving ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition, performances of Kalidasa's plays are rare. However, legendary Kutiyattam artist and Natyashastra scholar Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam Padma Shri
Padma Shri

Padma Shri is an award given by the Government of India generally to Indian citizens to recognize their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Social Service and public life....
 Guru
Guru

A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses these abilities to guide others....
 Mani Madhava Chakyar
Mani Madhava Chakyar

Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya and Natyasastra....
 has choreographed a Koodiyattam production of The Recognition of Sakuntala.

A production directed by Tarek Iskander was mounted for a run at London's Union Theatre in January and February of 2009.

The play is also appearing on a Toronto stage for the first time as part of the

Musical adaptions

  • Italian Franco Alfano
    Franco Alfano

    Franco Alfano was an Italy composer and piano. Though today best known for completing Giacomo Puccini's unfinished opera Turandot in 1926, he had considerable success with his own works during his lifetime....
     composed an opera
    Opera

    Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition....
    , named La leggenda di Sakùntala
    Sakùntala

    Sak?ntala is a three act opera composed by Franco Alfano, Alfano, who wrote his own libretto, based his opera on Kalidasa's 5th-century BC drama Abhij?anasakuntalam ....
     (The legend of Sakùntala) in its first version (1921
    1921 in music

    Events* Clarence Williams makes his first recordings* The Harvard Glee Club takes its first trip to Europe, garnering international press attention....
    ) and simply Sakùntala
    Sakùntala

    Sak?ntala is a three act opera composed by Franco Alfano, Alfano, who wrote his own libretto, based his opera on Kalidasa's 5th-century BC drama Abhij?anasakuntalam ....
     in its second version (1952
    1952 in music

    Events*Pierre Schaeffer publishes his A la recherche d'une musique concr?te , an explanation of his experimental approach to composing.*Joni James begins her recording career at MGM...
    ).
  • The Norwegian musician, Amethystium
    Amethystium

    Amethystium is an ambient-new age Electronic music musical project whose sole member is Norway producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist ?ystein Ramfjord....
     wrote a song called "Garden of Sakuntala" and it can be found in the CD Aphelion.


According to Philip Lutgendorf, the narrative of the movie Ram Teri Ganga Maili
Ram Teri Ganga Maili

Ram Teri Ganga Maili was a hit 1985 Bollywood Film made by directed by the legend, Raj Kapoor. This movie stars Mandakini and Rajiv Kapoor, son of the director-producer Raj Kapoor....
 recapitulates the story of Shakuntala.

See also

  • Sanskrit literature
    Sanskrit literature

    Indian literature in Sanskrit begins with the Vedas, and continues with the Sanskrit Epics of Iron Age India; the golden age of Classical Sanskrit literature dates to late Antiquity ....
  • Sanskrit drama
    Sanskrit drama

    Theatre in India as a distinct genre of Sanskrit literature emerges in the final centuries BC, although its origins date back to the Rigvedic dialogue hymns....


External links