कलि-कालिदास : पं. आशाधर

Summary

The text examines whether the 13th-century Jain scholar Pandit Ashadhara deserves the title "Kali-Kalidasa," comparing him to the classical poet Kalidasa. It argues that Ashadhara was a prolific writer in Sanskrit, composing works on diverse subjects including Jain ethics, philosophy, literature, grammar, Ayurveda, and poetics. His admirers, including the monk Udayasena, bestowed the title upon him due to his extraordinary talent and mastery of various literary forms, similar to Kalidasa. The text notes that Ashadhara was a householder, not a monk, yet his learning and virtuous life attracted many disciples, including monks and scholars. He was praised by contemporaries like the poet Bilhana and later scholars for his vast knowledge. The text provides details of Ashadhara's life based on his own writings. He was born in Mandalgarh (in present-day Rajasthan) around Vikram Samvat 1228-1230 (12th century CE). His father was Sallakshana and mother Ratni. He was married to Saraswati and had a son named Chahada. Due to Muslim invasions, his family moved to Dhar, a center of learning in Malwa, where he studied under scholars Dharasena and Mahavira. He later settled in Nalcha to promote Jainism, living there for about 35 years. His major works include the "Sagara Dharmamrita" and "Anagara Dharmamrita," completed around Vikram Samvat 1285 and 1300 respectively. The text concludes that Ashadhara's birth in the 13th century is well-established through his own records and the consensus of modern scholars.