පශ්චාත් කාලිදාස මහා කාව්‍ය කෘතීන්හි පරිහානීය ලක්ෂණ පිළිබඳ අධ්‍යයනයක් A Study of the Characteristics of Decline in Post-Kālidāsa Mahākāvya Literature

Abstract

Poetry holds a central place in literature, and within poetic traditions, the Mahākāvya (Epic poetry) occupies a significant position. This research focuses on the characteristics of decline evident in Mahākāvya works composed during the post-Kālidāsa period. The term post-Kālidāsa refers to the era following the celebrated Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa. The primary research problem addressed in this study is the identification and analysis of the declining features present in epic poetry of this later period. Accordingly, the main objective of the study is to gain an understanding of the nature and causes of these declining tendencies in post-Kālidāsa Mahākāvyas. According to various literary critics, epic poetry after Kalidasa shows several features of decline, including an overemphasis on complex meter and prosodic complexities, and a strong tendency among poets to display their grammatical and technical expertise. These factors contribute to an artificial and highly ornate linguistic style that is different from the natural beauty and aesthetic balance found in earlier epic works. Moreover, the intense effort made by poets after Kalidasa to create works superior to earlier masterpieces can also be identified as a significant reason for this decline. This study highlights the transformation of Sanskrit epic poetry in the post-Kalidasa period and provides insight into the literary and aesthetic changes that took place during this period.