Bilhana
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Bilhana Kavi was an 11th Century Kashmiri poet. He is known for his love poem, the Caurapâñcâśikâ.
The legend goes that he fell in love with the daughter of King Madanabhirama, Princess Yaminipurnatilaka, and had a secretive love affair. They were discovered, and Bilhana was thrown into prison. While awaiting judgement, he wrote the Caurapâñcâśikâ, a fifty stanza love poem, not knowing whether he would be sent into exile or die on the gallows.
It is unknown what fate Bilhana encountered. Nevertheless, his delightful poem was transmitted orally around India. There were several versions, including ones from South India which had a happy ending; the Kashmiri version does not specify what the outcome was.
The Caurapâñcâśikâ was first translated into a European language, French, in 1848. Subsequently it was translated several other times. Notable translations are those of Sir Edwin Arnold, London 1896, and Edward Powys Mathers, Oxford 1919, titled 'Black Marigolds.' This latter version was quoted extensively by John Steinbeck in Cannery Row.
[edit] External links
[edit] Source
Introduction to 'The Secret Delights of Love', Peter Pauper Press (1966).
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