ABSTRACT
According to Indian philosophy, the human body is composed of the five fundamental elements—Earth (Prithvi), Water (Apas), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), and Aether (Akasha)—collectively known as Panchtattva, signifying a deep-rooted connection between human life and nature, which is venerated as Maa, or Mother Earth. From the sacred rituals involving fire and water at birth and death to the symbolic immersion of ashes in the Ganges, nature remains central to the Indian way of life. This reverence extends into mythology, where nature takes on divine roles—protector, saviour, guide—and is reflected in characters like Sita, Karna, Hanuman, and Shakuntala, who are portrayed as the real children of nature. Contemporary Indian authors such as Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, and Keki N. Daruwalla also echo nature's grandeur in their works. This paper explores ecological consciousness in Kalidasa's much celebrated works Meghadutam and AbhijnanShakuntalam, where his lyrical and dramatic genius renders nature as an active spiritual presence. Kalidasa's poetic vision infuses natural elements with symbolic meaning—Akasha as a bridge between love and the cosmos, Surya as life-giver, Chandra as peace producer, Megha as a messenger of longing, and Parvata as a symbol of endurance—transforming them into living metaphors that reflect emotional and philosophical depth. By analysing these texts through an ecological lens, this paper reveals how Kalidasa harmonizes natural imagery, human sentiment, and aesthetic beauty, affirming the inseparable bond between literature and the natural world.
