Visual imagery in Sanskrit Literature - Ritusamharam

•       Ritusamhara –Literally it translates as the “Medley of seasons”. The changing seasons are depicted against the thematic backdrop of how lovers react to the landscape. This imbues the poem with a strong strand of erotic love (shringara) rasa.

      Kalidasa, starts this kavya with these verse.

    प्रफुल्लचूताङ्कुरतीक्ष्णसायो

    द्विरेफमालाविलसद्धनुर्गुणः।

    मनांसि वेद्धुम् सुरतप्रसङ्गिनां

    वसन्तयोद्धा समुपागतः प्रिये॥६-१

 praphullacUtA~NkuratIkShNasAyah
 dvirephamAlAvilasad    dhanurguNaH |
manAMsi veddhum surataprasa~NginAM
vasantayoddhA samupAgataH priye|| 6-1

•       "Oh, dear, with just unfolded tender leaflets of Mango trees as his incisive arrows, shining strings of honeybees as his bowstring, the assailant named vasanta came very nigh, to afflict the hearts of those that are fully engaged in affairs of lovemaking... [6-1]

•       The poet connects the onset or the arrival of the Vasanta – season of spring with the arrival of the god of love.

•       Looking a little into Hindu Mythology, we have the Deva Kamadeva  - The God of love –  represented as a young, handsome winged man with green skin who wields a bow and arrows. His bow is made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees, and his arrows are decorated with five kinds of fragrant flowers.[5][6] The five flowers are Ashoka tree flowers, white and blue lotus flowers, Mallika plant (Jasmine) and Mango tree flowers.