Mahakavya
Mahakavya, meaning “great epic,” is a major class of kavya in classical Sanskrit poetry. It denotes long narrative poems that recount the life and deeds of a heroic figure or legendary ruler, often organized in a sequence of cantos (sargas). The style aims for grandeur and polish, blending expansive storytelling with learned, ornate language. Unlike shorter lyric poems, the mahakavya balances narrative momentum with descriptive display and rhetorical elaboration.
Typical features include an epic scope and a hero-centered plot, often accompanied by episodic episodes, vivid
Historically, the mahakavya crystallized in the Gupta to early medieval period and became a benchmark for Sanskrit
The mahakavya has had a lasting influence on Sanskrit poetics and the broader epic tradition, shaping later