''Fagu'', also spelled ''Phagu'', is a genre of poetry in
Old Gujarati language popular during early period of
Gujarati literature
The history of Gujarat, Gujarati literature () 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, other than its composers.
Gujarat Vidhya S ...
.
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
Phagun () is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phalguna is the twelfth month of the year and corresponds with March/April in the Gregorian calendar.Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) ''Holidays, festivals, and ce ...
''), a spring season month according to
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, also called Panchangam, Panchanga (), 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 ...
, 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 poets who were mostly monks, so many of these Fagu start 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'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...
Neminatha
Neminātha (Devanagari: नेमिनाथ) (Sanskrit: नेमिनाथः), also known as Nemi and Ariṣṭanemi (Devanagari: अरिष्टनेमि), is the twenty-second tirthankara of Jainism in the present age (). Nemina ...
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 (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
.
Further reading
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References
Genres of poetry
Gujarati literature
Cultural history of Gujarat
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