Part 8.13 - Characteristics of Vasanta-kāla (spring season)

Vasanta-kāla (spring season) is popularly known as the season of romance and love sports. It is the best time among the six seasons. In this time the whole world is filled with beautiful flower and the birds are singing on the branches of trees. This season is full of various types of festivals all over the country. The birds i.e. Cuckoos, Parrots, Sparrows and Black bees sing out of intoxication. In this time most of the ladies are in a happy and sportive mood and performed penance of Pārvatī and Kāmadeva.

It is the time for beautiful ladies dresses, smeared with sandal and other cosmetics for attract their lovers.

In this time the blooming flowers are Kiṅkirāta, Kovidāra and Kāñcanāra and the trees Rohitaka, Amrtaka, Kiṅkirāta, Madhūka and Moca embraced with Mādhavī creepers.

C.f.

“rohītakāmratakakiṅkirātā madhūkamocāḥ saha mādhavībhiḥ |
jayanti śobhāñjanakaśca śākhī sake saraḥ puṣpabhairarvasante || ”

- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Rājaśekhara: Ch-XVIII, Pp- 105

In any poetry, poets are found very much interested to describe in this season.

Thus Kālidāsa in his Ṛtusaṃhāra invokes through two lovers, the blessing of the spring season and the universal sovereignty, the God of love.

C.f.

“āmrīmañjulamañjarīvaraśaraḥ satkiṃ śukaṃ yaddhanurjyāyasyālikulaṃ
  kalaṅkarahitaṃ chatraṃ sitāṃśuḥ sitam |
mattebho malayānilaḥ parabhṛto yaddhandino lokajitso'yaṃ
  vo vitarītarītu vitanurbhadraṃ vasantānvitaḥ || ”

- Ṛtusaṃhāra of Kālidāsa: VI/ 28

And,

“atha samāvavṛte ku sumairnavaistamiva sevitumekanarādhipam |
yamaku berajaleśvaravajriṇāṃ samudharaṃ madhurañcitavikramam || ”

- Raghuvaṃśa of Kālidāsa: IX/ 24

Therefore, Kālidāsa says that everyone seems to be beautiful in the Vasantakāla.

i.e.

“drumāḥ sapuṣpāḥ salilaṃ sapadmaṃ striyaḥ sakāmāḥ pavanaḥ suganghiḥ |
sukhāḥ pradoṣā divasāśca ramyāḥ sarvaṃ priye cārutaraṃ vasante || ”

- Ṛtusaṃhāra of Kālidāsa: VI/ 2