Ṛtusaṃhāra

Ṛtusaṃhāra, often written Ritusamhara, (Devanagari: ऋतुसंहार; ऋतु ṛtu, "season"; संहार saṃhāra, "compilation") is a medium length Sanskrit poem. The poem has six cantos – one for each of the six Indian seasons, which are Grīṣhma (Summer), Varṣā (Monsoon), Śāradā (Autumn), Hemanta (Early winter), Śiśira (Winter) and Vasanta (Spring).

The poem opens with Summer, Grīṣhma, and concludes with Spring, Vasanta. An introductory note to R.S. Pandit's English translation (1947) explains that the poet's intention here is to "...wind up (a meal) with a sweet".

In 'Ṛtusaṃhāra', the word 'Ritu' (seasons) has been combined with the word 'saṃhāra', and is used here in the sense of "coming together" or "group". Thus, Ritusamhara has been translated as either Medley of Seasons, Garland of Seasons, or perhaps more aptly, the Pageant of the Seasons.

The poem was collated by William Jones and was the first Sanskrit text to be printed and published in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1792.