Middle Bengali Literature
Encyclopedia
The Middle Bengali Literature is a period in the History of Bengali literature
dated from 15th to 18th centuries. Followed by the Turkish Invasion in Bengal
in the 13th century, literature in vernacular Bengali
took its first shape in this time. The oldest example of Middle Bengali Literature is believed to be Shreekrishna Kirtana
by Boru Chandidas.
The Middle Bengali Literature is divided into three periods named Pre-Chaitanya Era, Chaitnya Era and Later Middle Age.
In the Pre-Chaitanya Era (15th century) , the early Vaishnava Poetry or the Vaishnava Padavali
by Chandidas
and Vidyapati
was composed; the first translation of Ramayana
and Bhagavata
in Bengali were made and with Manasa Mangal and Chandi Mangal flourished the tradition of Mangalkavya.
In the Chaitanya Era (16th-17th century) the Later Vaishnava Poetry and the hagiography of Sri Chaitanya flourishes. In this period, the translation of Mahabharata
into Bengali grows. Important development in Mangalkavya tradition is also seen in this period.
In the Later Middle Age, the tradition of Shakta Poetry or Shakta Padavali grows. The age of Mangalkavya meets its end with the composition of Annada Mangal by Bharat Chandra. The Baul tradition emerged as an intellectual icon with Lalan Fakir. The Eastern Bengal Ballads and Muslim love songs are one of the most important aspect of this period.
History of Bengali literature
-Charyapada:Charyapada is the oldest known Bengali written form. It is actually collection of poems. It was written on 9th century and Harprashad Sastri discovered in the Nepal Royal Court Library in 1907. It is a palm leaf manuscript. Charyapada's language is referred to as Alo-Andhari , meaning...
dated from 15th to 18th centuries. Followed by the Turkish Invasion in 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...
in the 13th century, literature in vernacular Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
took its first shape in this time. The oldest example of Middle Bengali Literature is believed to be Shreekrishna Kirtana
Shreekrishna Kirtana
Shreekrishna Kirtana Kabya or Sri Krishna Kirtana Kabya is a pastoral Vaishnava drama in verse composed by Boru Chandidas. It is considered to be the most significant work after Charyapada in the history of Bengali literature...
by Boru Chandidas.
The Middle Bengali Literature is divided into three periods named Pre-Chaitanya Era, Chaitnya Era and Later Middle Age.
In the Pre-Chaitanya Era (15th century) , the early Vaishnava Poetry or the Vaishnava Padavali
Vaishnava Padavali
The Vaishnava Padavali ) movement refers to a period inmedieval Bengali literature from the 15th to 17th c., marked by an efflorescence of Vaishnava poetry often focusing on the Radha-Krishna legend...
by Chandidas
Chandidas
Chandidas refers to medieval poet of Bengal. Over 1250 poems related to the love of Radha and Krishna in Bengali with the bhanita of Chandidas are found with three different sobriquets along with his name, , Dvija and Dina as well as without any sobriquet also...
and Vidyapati
Vidyapati
Vidyapati Thakur , also known by the sobriquet Maithil Kavi Kokil was a Maithili poet and a Sanskrit writer. He was born in the village of Bishphi in Madhubani district of Bihar state, India. He was son of Ganapati...
was composed; the first translation of Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Bhagavata
Bhagavata
Bhagavata signifies in the context of Hinduism. In this context bhakti has the primary meaning of 'adoration', while Bhagavat means 'the Adorable One', and Bhagavata is a worshiper of the Adorable One...
in Bengali were made and with Manasa Mangal and Chandi Mangal flourished the tradition of Mangalkavya.
In the Chaitanya Era (16th-17th century) the Later Vaishnava Poetry and the hagiography of Sri Chaitanya flourishes. In this period, the translation of Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
into Bengali grows. Important development in Mangalkavya tradition is also seen in this period.
In the Later Middle Age, the tradition of Shakta Poetry or Shakta Padavali grows. The age of Mangalkavya meets its end with the composition of Annada Mangal by Bharat Chandra. The Baul tradition emerged as an intellectual icon with Lalan Fakir. The Eastern Bengal Ballads and Muslim love songs are one of the most important aspect of this period.