Shamal Bhatt

Shamal Bhatt was a Gujarati poet.

Life The exact years of Shamal's lifetime are unknown. However, based on the composition dates of his works, he was likely born around 1696–98, and lived at least until 1765. His last name was Trivedi, but he wrote it as Bhat. His farther and mother were called Vireshwar and Anandibai respectively. His brother was named Ladha and his son was named Parshottam.

Details of his life are derived from references in his writing, as no other contemporary sources exist. Born into a Brahmin family, he first lived in Rajpur and Gomatipur, followed by Veganpur (all now suburbs of Ahmedabad). His career began as he followed the hereditary profession of kathakar, or religious storyteller. At this time, he had a guru, Nana Bhat. Three stories, Rupavati, Padmavati, and Madan-Mohana were written during this period, along with the first 15 tales of his 32 tale collection, Simhasanbatrishi. This collection, though unfinished, was the most well-liked of his early writings.

A bard named Guman Bahot heard of Shamal, and talked about him to his patron, Rakhidas. In 1729, Rakhidas invited Shamal to visit him, where he became his patron and gifted him land in Charotar district. It was there that he finished Simhasanbatrishi and wrote the rest of his stories.

Works There are 26 works attributed to Shamal:

Angadvishti Ravana-Mandodari-Samvad Shivapuran Revakhand Ranchhodjina Shaloka or Bodanakhyan Draupadivastraharan Vishveshvarakhyan KalimahatmyaPatai Rawalno Garbo Shamal Ratnamala Udyam-Karma-Samvad Vinechatni Varta Shukdevakhyan Sundar Kamdar Bhojkatha Pandarmi Vidya Rakhidas Charitra Chandra-Charitra Padmavati Baras-Kasturi Madana-Mohana Nandabatrishi Sudabahonteri Batris Putalini Varta Abharam Kulina Shaloka or Rustam Bahadurno Pavado Gulbankavali Jahandarsha Badshah