The Kaumudimahotsava and the Date of Kalidasa

Summary

In this scholarly note the author correlates references to the Kaumudī‑mahotsava, an autumnal festival of lights, with astronomical data to propose a date for the classical Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa. By analysing verses from Kālidāsa’s works that mention the festival and comparing them with similar references in later literature, the author argues that the poet must have lived when the festival was popular in courtly circles. He surveys epigraphic records describing royal celebrations of the Kaumudī‑mahotsava under the Gupta kings and uses astronomical calculations to determine when the full moon of the month of Kārtika coincided with the rising of certain stars as described in Kālidāsa’s poetry. Synthesising this evidence with historical data on the reigns of Chandragupta II and Kumāragupta, the author concludes that Kālidāsa flourished in the late fourth or early fifth century CE. The article is meticulously organised with an introduction, several analytical sections and a concluding discussion. The author draws on a wide range of sources, including primary texts, inscriptions, chronicles and modern scholarship, and consistently references them in notes and bibliographies. The argument is developed logically, with careful consideration of opposing views and potential counterarguments. Technical terms are explained for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with the subject. Throughout, the article emphasises the importance of situating the topic within its broader historical, cultural and intellectual context, and it often suggests directions for further research. In addition to the substantive analysis, the article places its findings in relation to existing scholarship, discussing how it confirms, refutes or refines earlier interpretations. It outlines methodological challenges such as dating of sources, textual corruption and biases in historical records, and explains the criteria used to evaluate evidence. The author also reflects on the contemporary relevance of the study, suggesting how a better understanding of the past can illuminate present cultural dynamics.