Dharmamangalkavya
Encyclopedia
The Dharmamangalkavya is an important sub-genre of mangalkavya, the most significant genre of medieval Bengali literature
. The texts belonging to this sub-genre eulogize Dharmathakur
, a folk deity worshipped in the Rarh region
of Bengal
. According to tradition, the earliest poet of Dharmamangal was Mayura Bhatta. The Dharmamangal texts were meant for singing during the twelve-day ritual ceremony, known as Gajan
. These texts are part of a larger group of texts associated with the worship of Dharma. In addition to the Dharmamangal texts, this larger group includes a number of works known as the Dharmapurans, which narrate the story of creation and the liturgical works known as the Samjatpaddhatis.
, his queen Madana and Luichandra and the narrative of exploits of a folk hero of Bengal, Lausen. Most significant poets of Dharmamangal were Rupram Chakrabarty
(17th century) and Ghanaram Chakrabarty
(17th-18th century). Other poets of Dharmamangal include Khelaram Chakrabarty
, Shrishyam Pandit, Dharmadas, Ramdas Adak, Sitaram Das, Yadunath or Yadavram Pandit, Maniklal Ganguli, Ramchandra Bandyopadhyaya, Narasimha Basu, Prabhuram Mukhopadhyaya, Hridayram Sau, Shankar Chakrabarty, Ramnarayan and Ramkanta Ray.
, the hagiographies of Minanatha
and Gorakshanatha, the narrative of Ganga, the narrative of Sada Dom and Ramai Pandit, the description of the atrocities of Dharma in Jajpur and the narrative of king Harishcahndra. The significant poets of Dhramapuran or Anilpuran were Ramai Pandit and Sahadeb Chakrabarty.
Bengali literature
Bengali literature is literary works written in Bengali language particularly from Bangladesh and the Indian provinces of West Bengal and Tripura. The history of Bengali literature traces back hundreds of years while it is impossible to separate the literary trends of the two Bengals during the...
. The texts belonging to this sub-genre eulogize Dharmathakur
Dharmathakur
Dharmathakur is a Hindu god worshipped by villagers in the traditional Rarh region in the present day Indian state of West Bengal as one of their special village gods...
, a folk deity worshipped in the Rarh region
Rarh region
Rarh region of West Bengal is the region that lies between the Western plateau and high lands and the Ganges Delta...
of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. According to tradition, the earliest poet of Dharmamangal was Mayura Bhatta. The Dharmamangal texts were meant for singing during the twelve-day ritual ceremony, known as Gajan
Gajan (festival)
Gajan is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is associated with such deities as Shiva, Neel and Dharmathakur.-Etymology:...
. These texts are part of a larger group of texts associated with the worship of Dharma. In addition to the Dharmamangal texts, this larger group includes a number of works known as the Dharmapurans, which narrate the story of creation and the liturgical works known as the Samjatpaddhatis.
Dharmamangal
The texts of the Dharmamangal comprise two narratives, the narrative of the Puranic king HarishchandraHarishchandra
Harishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two...
, his queen Madana and Luichandra and the narrative of exploits of a folk hero of Bengal, Lausen. Most significant poets of Dharmamangal were Rupram Chakrabarty
Rupram Chakrabarty
Rupram Chakrabarty was a Bengali poet of the Middle Ages and one of the most significant contributor to Dharmamangalkavya tradition of mediaeval Bengali literature. His work, Anadi Mangal , was probably composed in 1650....
(17th century) and Ghanaram Chakrabarty
Ghanaram Chakrabarty
Ghanaram Chakrabarty was a Bengali poet of the Middle Ages and the greatest contributor to the Dharmamangalkavya tradition of mediaeval Bengali literature. He was greeted by his guru as Kabiratna...
(17th-18th century). Other poets of Dharmamangal include Khelaram Chakrabarty
Khelaram Chakrabarty
Khelaram Chakrabarty was a Bengali poet and is considered the one of the earliest poet of Dharmamangalkavya tradition. His poem, Gourkavya, which is now available only in fragments, was written in 1527. It is assumed by the historians that he lived at Badangunge village near Arambagh in...
, Shrishyam Pandit, Dharmadas, Ramdas Adak, Sitaram Das, Yadunath or Yadavram Pandit, Maniklal Ganguli, Ramchandra Bandyopadhyaya, Narasimha Basu, Prabhuram Mukhopadhyaya, Hridayram Sau, Shankar Chakrabarty, Ramnarayan and Ramkanta Ray.
Dharmapuran
The texts of Dharmapuran begin with narrative of creation. The other narratives included in these texts are the narrative about ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, the hagiographies of Minanatha
Matsyendranath
Matsyendranatha or Machindranath was one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He was the guru of Gorakshanath, with whom he founded the school of Hatha yoga. He is considered as the author of the Kaulajñānanirṇaya , one of the earliest texts on Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit...
and Gorakshanatha, the narrative of Ganga, the narrative of Sada Dom and Ramai Pandit, the description of the atrocities of Dharma in Jajpur and the narrative of king Harishcahndra. The significant poets of Dhramapuran or Anilpuran were Ramai Pandit and Sahadeb Chakrabarty.