''Fagu'', also spelled ''Phagu'', is a genre of poetry in
Old Gujarati language
Old or OLD may refer to:
Places
*Old, Baranya, Hungary
*Old, Northamptonshire, England
*Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD)
*OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...
popular during early period of
Gujarati literature
The history of Gujarati literature ( gu, ગુજરાતી સાહિત્ય) may be traced to 1000 AD, and this literature has flourished since then to the present. It is unique in having almost no patronage from a ruling dynasty, othe ...
.
Etymology
''Fagu'' is derived from Sanskrit word ''Falgu''. As an adjective, it means beautiful, handsome, fine, etc. As a noun, it became synonyms of the Spring season. ''Falguna'' (also spelled ''
Phalguna
Phalguna ( sa, फाल्गुन ) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phalguna is twelfth month of the year, and corresponds with February/March in the Gregorian calendar.Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) ' ...
''), a spring season month according to
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
, is origin of this word.
Form
Fagu is a lyrical form depicting beauty of nature during spring. It also portrays joys and pleasures of love, fears and hopes separation and union of lovers. This form was popular among
Jain
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...
poets who were mostly monks, so many of these Fagu starts with erotic sentiments and ends with renunciation or self restraints.
History
An oldest known Fagu is ''Jinachandra Suri Fagu'' (about 1225) by Jinapadma Suri. It has 25 verses with 6 to 20 verses missing.
[ The first complete Fagu is ''Sthulibhadra Fagu'' composed between 1234 and 1244 ][ or in 1344][ The separation of Rajula and Jain ]Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
Neminatha
Neminatha, also known as Nemi and Arishtanemi, is the twenty-second ''tirthankara'' (ford-maker) in Jainism. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanatha and Rishabhanatha, Neminatha is one of the twenty four ''tirthankaras'' who attract the most devo ...
was a popular theme among Jain poets. Some examples are ''Neminatha Fagu'' (1344) by Rajshekhar, ''Neminatha Fagu'' (1375) by Jayashekhar and ''Rangasagara Neminatha Fagu'' (1400) by Somsundar. A poem ''Neminatha Chatushpadika'' (1269) by Vinaychandra depicted the same story. There are twelve known Fagus of these period and majority of them are written by Jain monks. Only two Fagus, '' Vasanta Vilas Fagu'' and ''Narayana Fagu'', written by unknown authors are of non-Jain poets. ''Vasanta Vilas Fagu'' written in the fourteenth century by unknown author is beautiful Fagu without any religious sentiments. ''Narayana Fagu'' (1441) is about Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
.
Further reading
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References
Genres of poetry
Gujarati literature
Cultural history of Gujarat
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