Govinda Bhatta the real name of Akabariya Kalidasa
By V. Raghavan
Summary
This brief note addresses the identity of the poet known as Akabarīya Kālidāsa, whose verses appear in later anthologies and who is said to have been patronised by the Mughal emperor Akbar as well as by the Vaghela ruler Rāmacandra of Rewah. Earlier scholars speculated that his real name might have been Harikavi or Gaṅgādhara. The author draws attention to a manuscript of the Rāmacandrayāśah‑prabandha, a panegyric on Rāmacandra attributed to Akabarīya Kālidāsa, and cites the colophon which states that the work was composed by Govinda Bhatta. This evidence suggests that Govinda Bhatta was the true name of the poet later nicknamed Akabarīya Kālidāsa for his association with the Mughal court. The note thereby resolves an open question in Sanskrit literary history and emphasises the need to consult manuscript colophons for biographical information. An appended correction from S. K. Aiyangar addresses an unrelated misprint in a previous volume of the journal concerning Vijaya Skanda Varman, reminding readers to amend the record.
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Conclusion
By identifying Akabarīya Kālidāsa with Govinda Bhatta through manuscript evidence, the note clarifies the authorship of a poet who straddled Mughal and regional courts. It highlights how names in literary history can be misattributed and underscores the value of primary colophons in tracing authors’ identities. The attached erratum further shows the journal’s commitment to correcting the scholarly record.