Birds of India - Sakuntala (1 Viewer)

[craigwilson]

The great drama by ancient India’s greatest writer, Kalidasa, Abhijñānaśākuntalam, is a story of Sakuntalam who was orphaned by her demigod mother and sage father to be brought up in the forrest by birds.

In the Adi Parva of Mahabharata, Kanva says: She was surrounded in the solitude of the wilderness by śakuntas, therefore, hath she been named by me Shakuntala (bird-protected).

I am wondering if anyone can help with the exact meaning i.e. which bird?

I have looked in Amarakosa and Apte’s dictionary:

khage vihaṅga-vihaga-vihaṅgama-vihāyasaḥ
śakunti-pakṣi-śakuni-śakunta-śakuna-dvijāḥ
2.9.81 Namalingamanusasanam, Amarasimha

śakuni = hen sparrow
śakunta = bird in general
śakuna = Gyps indicus (Indian vulture)
śakuni = Milvas migrans (Black kite)​

This is the only feral child story I have come across (whether myth, hoax, or true) that was raised by birds - stories are mostly with wolves, apes, monkeys or bears. Any other come to mind?

Much appreciated,
Craig

 

[Vthukral]

The great drama by ancient India’s greatest writer, Kalidasa, Abhijñānaśākuntalam, is a story of Sakuntalam who was orphaned by her demigod mother and sage father to be brought up in the forrest by birds.

In the Adi Parva of Mahabharata, Kanva says: She was surrounded in the solitude of the wilderness by śakuntas, therefore, hath she been named by me Shakuntala (bird-protected).

I am wondering if anyone can help with the exact meaning i.e. which bird?

I have looked in Amarakosa and Apte’s dictionary:

khage vihaṅga-vihaga-vihaṅgama-vihāyasaḥ
śakunti-pakṣi-śakuni-śakunta-śakuna-dvijāḥ
2.9.81 Namalingamanusasanam, Amarasimha

śakuni = hen sparrow​

śakunta = bird in general​

śakuna = Gyps indicus (Indian vulture)​

śakuni = Milvas migrans (Black kite)​

This is the only feral child story I have come across (whether myth, hoax, or true) that was raised by birds - stories are mostly with wolves, apes, monkeys or bears. Any other come to mind?

Much appreciated,
Craig

Hi Craig,

I was reading about Shakuntala as well and got the curiosity about the Shakunt Birds mentioned in Mahabharata and Kalidasa's version.

I found a link which states that peacocks were called Shakunt in Sanskrit.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=http://rsmraiganj.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Untitled-document-3-8.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj8p-37scaBAxXqzzgGHWaSBUYQFnoECBAQBQ&usg=AOvVaw28p9IfsLBhkii8xHFKcWVo

I hope this help.
Also please let me know if you found some other meaning for Shakunt.

Best Regards,
Vikalp

 

[cryshnon]

Shakuntam as you said means a bird. But in the case of Abhijnanashakuntalam, sage Kanva hears the sound of babies crying in a thunderstorm. Peacocks were canopying two babies with their spread tail feathers. Only a peacock is large enough to form that kind of an umbrella to protect a baby from the rain. He then decides to name the baby as Shakuntala.
There are some mischievous elements who are trying to project other birds as the shakuntams from the story just to sell those birds.