ON THE BANKS OF SIPRA

View of the river Sipra

               

The Kaliadeh Palace built in 15th century

Road leading to Mahakalehswar Temple

Ghadkalika Shrine worsipped by Kalidasa

Lord Mahakaleshwara

                                       
                            1)         Like God's cool glance
                                   The moonlight bloomed
                                   Like the fragrance of flowers
                                   From arched jasmine bowers.

                      2)         They fell upon the lap of the lake
                                   So soft without a stir
                                   A  Thousand moons mirrored
                                   As the breezes rippled over the waves
                                   Of blue mingled with silver gleams.

                      3)         Sporting with bulbous flowers
                                   Light mauve, blue and snow-white hues
                                   Lulling their limbs to dreamy delight ;
                                   Oh lucky hearts in such a calm, cool night !

                      4)         The self-same light perhaps, beside
                                   The banks of Sipra once charmed
                                   The bard of love to write about
                                   The pretty damsels of Ujjain.

                      5)         With tipsied eyes and scented sighs
                                   With fresh-washed flower-plaited hair 
                                   Searching for their lovers amidst the flowers
                                   As snowy dew trickled from shady boughs.

                     6)          The same light once showed them the way
                                   As they lingered in their frantic quest
                                   Like darts of Love humanized
                                   Like dryads in charming virgin guise.  

                     7)          With myrrh and jasmine-perfumed long hair
                                   Smeared with sweet-smelling gums and raisins
                                   With big black painted doe-like  eyes
                                   With rose-watered light bodies slim
                                   
                    8)            With sandal-scented breasts and rosy cheeks
                                   With henna-painted designs on their feet
                                   With champaks and kimshuk blooms in their locks
                                   With golden ornaments decked with pure gems.

                    9)            Reflecting the full moonlight on their arms
                                   Caressing around their slender  throats
                                   In multitudinous sparkling colors
                                   Of rubies, sapphires and emeralds pure.

                  10)            The same light shone more bright on crystal walls
                                   Brightened the lofty towers decked with gold
                                   And silvered the sacred sands of flowing Sipra
                                   Where Lord Shiva shone with ash-smeared glow.

                  11)           The light that slept once on throbbing breasts
                                  Of maidens once, now lies on barren sands ;
                                  On ruined grey huge blocks of stone
                                  Deprived of glory Wrecked, disfigured and lone.

                   12)          The shores of Sipra with secrets of timeless lore
                                  Seemed still, unmoved amidst the noisy town
                                  Where none could find the far-famed poetic scenes
                                  Of the greatest bard distilled in sweetest words.


      6th October, 2016.                                        SOMASESHU GUTALA

                                  

     


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Note :  The Sipra, also Kshipra, is a river in Madhya Pradesh, in Central India. The river rises in the ujjaini situated in Indore district, and flows north across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River at the MP-Rajasthan boundary in Mandsaur district. It is one of the sacred rivers in Hinduism.The holy city of Ujjain  is situated on its east bank. The legendary king Vikramaditya , on whose name Vikrama Saka (58 B.C.) was formed, ruled here. Kalidasa, the famous poet, was said to have been one of his court poets and scholars. So Kalidasa might have lived in first century B.C. But historians think that he was the court poet in Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya who ruled Gupta empire from 380 A.D. to 415 A.D.

"Meghadootham" (Cloud Messenger) was one of the best lyrical works of
 Kalidasa. In that poem he paid special attention to describe the beautiful surroundings of Ujjain and Sipra river. So historians think that he might have belonged to that place. Ujjain is a famous pilgrimage spot where the temples of Lord Mahakaleswara and Goddess Mahakali are located.