Mahākavi Māgh, 2009 - Stamp, First Day Cover and Brochure

Māgha, the immortal poet of Bhārata with his rich vocabulary and grammar, produced a great work in Sanskrit called Śiśupālavadha (“The slaying of Śiśupāla”). He was born in Gujarat in a Srīmālī Brāhmaṇa family. Like other great sons of Bhārata, no biographical sketch is available on Māgha. What is the significance of his name?  Was he born on Maghā which is the tenth of the 27 nakṣatras or in the month of Māgha?

The First Day Cover issued to commemorate the poet inscribes the oft-quoted verse on Māgha. Three Mahākavis are mentioned in the śloka (verse), viz., Kālidāsa, Bhāravi, Daṇḍin and Māgha. The qualities maintained by each of these poets respectively -- upamā (similies), arthagauravam (arthabhūyastvam -- Mallinātha* in Ghaṇtāpatha** on Kirātārjunīya*** -- richness of meaning), pada-lālitya (simplicity of words) -- all the three guṇas are found in Māgha (three in one).

 

                                            उपमा कालिदासस्य भारवेरर्थगौरवम् |

 

                                            दन्डिन: पदलालित्यं माघे सन्ति त्रयो गुणः ||

 
                                            upamā kālidāsasya bhāraver arthagauravaṃ

                                            daṇḍinaḥ pada-lālityaṃ māghe santi trayo guṇāḥ

 The Brochure

 

 

Beauty is defined by many. According to Māgha it is beauty that gets newness every moment :
  

क्षणे क्षणे यन्नवतामुपैति

kṣaṇe kṣaṇe yan navatām upaiti

    

Additional Notes:

Commentators on Śiśupālavadha of Māgha in Sanskrit

Vallabhadeva, known as the Sandeha-viṣauṣadhi.
Mallinātha, known as the Sarvaṅkaṣā.

*Mallinātha is a commentator on the major kāvyas (poem) in Sanskrit.
**Kirātārjunīya is a kāvya by Bhāravi, another great Sanskrit poet.
***Ghaṇtāpatha is the name of the commentary on Kirātārjunīya by Mallinātha.