Bilhana facts for kids

Kavi Bilhana was a famous poet from Kashmir, India, who lived in the 11th century. He is best known for his beautiful poem called the Caurapañcāśikā.

The Story of the Caurapañcāśikā

According to an old story, Bilhana wrote his most famous poem, the Caurapañcāśikā, during a very challenging time in his life. He was in a difficult situation and didn't know what would happen to him.

This poem has fifty stanzas, which are like short verses. It is a romantic poem that tells a story. People loved this poem so much that it was shared by word of mouth all over India for many years.

There are different versions of the story, some with a happy ending, especially those from South India. The version from Kashmir doesn't say how the story ended.

Translations of the Poem

The Caurapañcāśikā was first translated into a European language, French, in 1848. Later, it was translated many more times into other languages.

Some well-known English translations include one by Sir Edwin Arnold in 1896 and another by Edward Powys Mathers in 1919. Mathers' version was called Black Marigolds. This translation was even mentioned a lot by the famous writer John Steinbeck in his novel Cannery Row.

Bilhana's Travels and Patronage

Bilhana left his home to travel and find success. He journeyed through many important cities in India, like Mathura, Kanuj, Prayaga, Varanasi, Somnath, Kalyan, and Rameswaram. For a while, he didn't find the success he was looking for.

However, on his way back through Kalyan, he met King Vikramaditya VI of the Western Chalukya Empire. The King was very impressed with Bilhana and made him a "Vidyapathi," which means a chief scholar or teacher.

Bilhana showed his gratitude to the King by writing a long epic poem in his honor. This poem was called Vikramankadevacharita.

Bilhana's Place in History

Bilhana lived during a time when Sanskrit was still a very important language for literature in India. He is considered a significant poet from Kashmir during the Medieval period of Indian history. His works help us understand the rich literary traditions of that time.