SHAKUNTALA-HEROINE OF KALIDASA

Shakuntala-the most beautiful was the heroine of Mahakavi Kalidasa's great Sanskrit drama 'ABHIGYAN SHAKUNTALAM' . It was translated in English in the middle of 18 Century and later translated in German language.It has now been translated in more than 35 languages.The famous dance drama has been staged successfully all over the world.

Shakuntala was the daughter of a sage,Viswamitra, and Menaka,a water nymph,and was brought up by a hermit.One day King Dushyanta came to the hermitage during a hunt,and persuaded her to marry him; and later,giving her a ring,returned to his throne.

In due course a son was born,and Shakuntala set out with him to find his father.On the way,while bathing,she lost the ring,and the king did not recognize her owing to enchantment. Shakuntala had a curse upon her by Sage Durvasa as she was lost in Dusyanta's thoughts and did not show full respect to the great sage.

SUBSEQUENTLY IT WAS FOUND BY A FISHERMAN IN A FISH HE HAD CAUGHT,THE KING RECOGNIZED HIS WIFE,SHE WAS PUBLICALLY PROCLAIMED HIS WIFE,AND BHARATA, HIS SON AND HEIR,BECAME THE FOUNDER OF THE GLORIOUS RACE OF THE BHARATAS.

( Next-St. Kentigern-A Strange Similarity)