SANSKRIT IN THE REIGN OF KUMĀRADĀSA

          Some of the occupants of the throne were themselves scholars.  This can be understood by knowing the legacy of some royal people. One among such of them the author of JanakiHaranam is identified with King Kumaradasa of Cylon.  Kumaradasa also called Kumara Dhatusena was a king of Anuradhapura, Cylone in the 6^th Century A.D., whose reign lasted from 515 to 524.  He succeeded his father Moggallana I as king of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Kittisena.  

Jānakīharaṇam written by Kumāradāsa is one among the earlier Mahā-kāvyas in Sanskrit literature. It consists of 20 Cantos.  He was born blind and was helped in getting his kingdom and in writing this poem by his two maternal uncles.  The colophons of the manuscripts to each canto mention the Sinhalese nativity of the poet:- “Iti simhalakaveh Kumara-dasasya krtau Janakiharane mahakavye …… sargah”.   It is to be noted that the Trivandrum transcript has at the end of the poem a small verse in the form of phalaśruti which runs thus, “Janakiharanam slakshnam lakshanairupalkshitam, Ramayanasudhasaram asvadyam mukti-dayakam”.

          Alaṅkāra writers like Hemacandra (1089 to 1173 A.D.), and Bhoja (1010 TO 1055 A.D.) also quote from Kumāradāsa’s work.  Next comes the important author, Rājaśekhara of C. 900 A.D., who makes some references to Kumāradāsa.  In his Kāvyamīmāmsā he refers to the poet as born blind.  He has also left a verse on Kumāradāsa and his poem:- “Janakiharanam kartum Raghuvamse sthite sati, Kavih Kumaradasasca Ravanascayadi kshamah” means, “To have produced an Abduction of Sita, When the Dynasty of Raghu was present before him-“One must have been Kumāradāsa or else been Rāvaṇa”.  Though there are different opinions on the date of Kumāradāsa, many Sanskrit scholars accepted to assign Kumāradāsa here to the beginning of the 6^th Century.

Kumāradāsa was a great poet with innate literary talents.  He was quite at ease in handling chaste words of exquisite beauty.  His utterances suit the occasion even by their mere sound effect. 

In the art of description he has shown his compo-sing proficiency with high order.  His imaginations are so vivid and graphic.  He displays his skill in Sabdalankaras i.e., figurative poetry especially Yamakam (Chime)in canto 17.  The poem is written in an easy flowing style and shows unmistakable evidences of Kalidasa’s influence.