Bharavi (meaning “Lustre of the Sun”), a Sanskrit Poet, is said to have belonged to the south of India. It is said that his original name was Damodara. He is best known for authoring an epic poem in eighteen cantos ‘Kiratarjuniya’ (Arjuna and the mountain man), one of the six classical Sanskrit epics which are classified as a Mahakavya (great poem). Many scholars have even mentioned that it is “the most perfect epic available to us”. It is Bharavi’s only known work. There is no much details available regarding his life. Whatever facts that are available today are gathered from various references and writings. An inscription written by Chalukya in 634 CE mentions Kalidasa and Bharavi as famous poets of the past.
In another inscription, the King Durvinita of the Western Ganga Dynasty, who is believed to have lived in the latter half of the 6th century mentions having written a commentary on the 15th canto of Bharavi’s Kiratarjuniya. The poet Dandin who was born during the 7th century seems to have reported that his great-grandfather was a friend of Bharavi and was introduced to a king Visnuvardhana, before receiving patronage from Durvinita and King Simhavishnu of the Pallav dynasty. Bharavi’s name, along with Kalidasa’s name is mentioned in a stone inscription dated 634 CE found at Aihole, Karnataka.
There is a famous story related to Bharavi. It is said that Bharavi was recognized as a genius by everyone around him ever since he was small. He was an inspiration to many. Everyone used to love and admire his poems and writings, but that didn’t satisfy him as he never received his father’s admiration and acknowledgment for his works. He constantly tried to gather his father's appreciation and acknowledgment but he was always left disappointed. His disappointment soon turned into agony which started to take the form of rage. Over time he felt the need to take revenge on his father for his uninterested and apathetic attitude towards him. He decided to kill his father as he believed that nothing could be equivalent to what he went through all these years because of his father’s ignorant behavior. Later in the day, he saw his father and mother sitting comfortably together having a deep conversation. He slowly walked towards his father with a sword in his hand. As he was about to attack his father with the sword, the sword struck a tile on the ceiling. Something fell from the top and when he picked it up to see, it was a torn piece of a manuscript. He read it to see what was written on it. It was written that before doing something, one should think a thousand times. And when he paid attention to what his parents were discussing about, he hears his father reply to his mother’s question regarding his behavior towards Bharavi that he knows very well that Bharavi is a poetic genius and he also knows that he is capable of achieving much more than he already has. His father thought that if he would praise him then Bharavi would not feel the need to do more things and achieve greater heights and he did not want to see his son resting already. After hearing this, Bharavi felt ashamed of himself as he was about to commit a heinous crime. He was so disappointed in himself. He confessed all his feelings in front of his father and begged for his forgiveness and he understood for the rest of his life that sometimes it is important to withhold appreciation to inspire someone to do better than his present achievements.
The poem “Kiratarjuniya” is based on a very famous episode from the third Parva (section) of the Mahabharata. The two main characters in the story are Kirata (Shiva) and the Pandava’s prince Arjuna. During the exile of Pandavas, sage Vyasa advises the Pandavas to use the time efficiently by propitiating God to become more powerful. Arjuna decided to propitiate Indra. Lord Indra appeared before him and advised him to propitiate Shiva as only Mahadev could bless a warrior with powerful weapons. In 18 cantos Bharavi describes Arjuna ensuing combat with a Kirata or wild mountaineer after shooting arrows at a boar at the same time. The battle of words between them soon turned into a fierce fight. Soon Arjuna realized that the Kirata was no human as he was outpowered by him every time. So, Arjuna started to collect clay and created a Shivalinga. He prayed and showered the Linga with forest flowers, but the flowers flew to Kirata’s head. Arjuna at once fell at the feet of the Kirata as he realized that it was Mahadev himself who had come to test him. For his valor and penance, Shiva reveals his true form sitting atop Nandi and awards the ascetic hero with a coveted weapon of the Pashupata.
Bharavi’s poetry is characterized by its intricate styles and lofty expressions. Like Kalidasa is well-known for his similes (upamas), Bharavi is known for his “weight of meaning” (arthagauravam).