Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t19.6

v2.c10.s2.t19.6

Apart from Harṣacarita and Kādambarī, there is a collection of prayer poems called as Chorales of Maha Cundi Goddess, which is commonly recognised as a book created by Bāṇa. A legend is closely associated with the book: Poet Mayura was Bāṇa’s father-in-law. One day, he went to see Bāṇa, and happened to see that he was comforting his angry wife. The sudden arrival of Mayura irritated Bāṇa’s wife who cursed Mayura to be tortured by leprosy. Hereafter, Mayura got the favour of the Sun God by creating Chorales of Sun God and fully recovered from his illness, and from then on, he became very famous as an excellent poet. Bāṇa was very jealous of Mayura’s success, so he cut off his hands and feet and created Chorales of Maha Cundi Goddess (Lord Shiva’s spouse). He then got the favour of Maha Cundi Goddess (Lord Shiva’s spouse), and regained his hands and feet.