Kalividambanam
This is a brilliant yet short work of 102 verses, all these are composed in the Anushtup metre. As the name suggests, it ridicules the many ills of kali yuga in a satirical way. Its uniqueness is best understood by comparing it with, say, the ‘kalimahima’ section of Subhashita-ratna-bhandagara, an anthology of subhashitas, or the ‘kalidharma-vipaka’ parts found in numerous puranas. Nilakantha Dikshita was a candid social commentator and Kalividambanam projects amazing insights about society, presented with lively humor. It ridicules traditional scholars, teachers, doctors, and astrologers – basically everyone with unacceptably corrupt conduct.
Nilakantha Dikshita is one among the finest Sanskrit poets in whom we find a synchronization of both erudition and creativity.
Nilakantha Dikshita had a ready wit and was astoundingly perceptive. With a natural gift for satire, he criticized the prevalent ills of his society. His literary style, classical diction, delightful use of phrases, and creative imageries, helps us to understand his mind. With the wonderful sense of humour he rules and makes dullness, the ultimate deterrent in poetry into a portion of ultimate humour.
Idiomatic expressions were his strength. His erudition is extraordinary – his works on shastras bear testimony to this. All these abilities have turned Nilakantha Dikshita into a giant among Sanskrit poets.
He lived in the first half of the 17th century C.E., in the Madurai province of Tamil Nadu. He was under the patronage of Tirumala Nayaka, the ruler of Madurai. It can be established that he was born in the year 1613. His parents were Narayana Dikshita and Bhumidevi. They were Shaiva Brahmanas. Nilakantha Dikshita was born into a family of scholars well-versed in grammar, epistemology and philosophy.
A list of Nilakantha Dikshita’s works is given below:
Epic-poems (2)
- शिवलीलार्णवः 2. गङ्गावतरणम्
Champu (1)
1. नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः
Drama (1)
- नलचरित्रम्
Minor Works (6)
- कलिविडम्बनम् 2. सभारञ्जनशतकम् 3. अन्यापदेशशतकम् 4. आनन्दसागरस्तवः 5. शिवोत्कर्षमञ्जरी 6. शान्तिविलासः
Other Works (7)
- शिवतत्त्वरहस्यम् 2. कैयटव्याख्यानम् 3. मुकुन्दविलासः 4. गुरुतत्त्वमालिका 5. सौभाग्यचन्द्रातपा 6. रघुवीरस्तवः 7. चण्डीरहस्यम्
