Fagu

Fagu is genre of poetry popular during medieval period of Gujarati literature.

Etymology

Fagu is derived from word Falgu which means spring. Falgun, a spring season month according to Hindu calendar, is origin of this word.[1]

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 poets who were mostly monks, so many of these Fagu starts with erotic sentiments and ends with renunciation or self restraints.[1][2]

History

The first fagu was Sthulibhadra Fagu, composed by Jinpadma Suri in 1344[1] or 1334.[2] The separation of Rajula and Jain tirthankara Neminatha 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. Vasanta Vilas written in the fourteenth century by unknown author is beautiful fagu without any religious sentiments.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 1258. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nagendra (1988). Indian Literature. Prabhat Prakashan. pp. 282–283.