Sasisena Kavya
Encyclopedia
Sasisena Kavya is a literary book written by Pratap Rai in the 17th century. It is considered as one of the landmark books in the Oriya literature
.,.
and shakti
culture of Sonepur
. It is said that Ahimanikya and Sasisena were in love in school and married secretly. After their marriage they came to Sonepur
which was also known as Kamitapura during that time.
However, their marriage was rocked by a Tantric maiden named Jynanadei Maluni, (alias Madana Maluni). She was attracted by the beauty of Ahimanikya. One day while Ahimanikya was alone out in the market; Jynanadei Maluni induced him and brought him to her house. Then she transformed Ahimanikya into a lamb
by virtue of her tantric power. It is said that during the night time she used to transform the lamb to Ahimanikya and romanced with him. However, during the day time she used to transformed him to a lamb.
Having lost her husband, a disappointed Sasisena searched Ahimanikya in every corner of the Sonepur kingdom. After some time she got an appointment with the king of Sonepur and was selected to become a soldier in the Sonepur royal army. She was very successful and earned name and fame after she killed a man eater tiger. The king of Sonepur was so impressed that he desired to give his daughter in marriage to Sasisena. As Sasisena could not reveal her actual identity she was forced to marry the Sonepur's princess. Nonetheless, after marriage she revealed her story to the princess of Sonepur kingdom.
The princess was moved by her pathetic situation and offered all possible help to Sasisena. They searched all places in Sonepur. It was described that then they planned cleverly and build a big tank with four temples on the four corners. A festival was organized for the dedication of the tank and all people of Sonepur were invited for it. Jynanadei Maluni came with Ahimanikya to enjoy the festival. Ahimanikya could recognize Sasisena and informed her secretly by writing on the wall of temple that she is under the captive of Jynanadei Maluni. A cleaver Sasisena informed the king of Sonepur that she wanted to sacrifice some lambs before Goddess Bhagawati and requested the king to bring the lamb of Jynanadei Maluni.
Jynanadei Maluni brought her lamb and the lamb was no other than Ahimanikya. By the order of his highness, the king of Sonepur, Jynanadei Maluni transformed him to the human form. It was said that at the desire of Sonepur Raja
both the princess of Sonepur and Sasisena became the wives of Ahimanikya.
This story is still alive in the memory of people of Subarnapur district. As an evidence to this tantric
episode the Sasisena Temple
is located in the Sonepur
town.
Oriya literature
Oriya is an official language of the state of Orissa, India. The region has been known at different stages of history as Kalinga, Udra, Utkala, or Koshala. The language is also spoken by minority populations of the neighboring states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The...
.,.
Synopsis of the Book
The book is mainly based on the love between Ahimanikya the son of a Dewan and Sasisena a princess. It also depicts the tantricTantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
and shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
culture of Sonepur
Sonepur
Sonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Orissa. Sonepur was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of...
. It is said that Ahimanikya and Sasisena were in love in school and married secretly. After their marriage they came to Sonepur
Sonepur
Sonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Orissa. Sonepur was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of...
which was also known as Kamitapura during that time.
However, their marriage was rocked by a Tantric maiden named Jynanadei Maluni, (alias Madana Maluni). She was attracted by the beauty of Ahimanikya. One day while Ahimanikya was alone out in the market; Jynanadei Maluni induced him and brought him to her house. Then she transformed Ahimanikya into a lamb
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
by virtue of her tantric power. It is said that during the night time she used to transform the lamb to Ahimanikya and romanced with him. However, during the day time she used to transformed him to a lamb.
Having lost her husband, a disappointed Sasisena searched Ahimanikya in every corner of the Sonepur kingdom. After some time she got an appointment with the king of Sonepur and was selected to become a soldier in the Sonepur royal army. She was very successful and earned name and fame after she killed a man eater tiger. The king of Sonepur was so impressed that he desired to give his daughter in marriage to Sasisena. As Sasisena could not reveal her actual identity she was forced to marry the Sonepur's princess. Nonetheless, after marriage she revealed her story to the princess of Sonepur kingdom.
The princess was moved by her pathetic situation and offered all possible help to Sasisena. They searched all places in Sonepur. It was described that then they planned cleverly and build a big tank with four temples on the four corners. A festival was organized for the dedication of the tank and all people of Sonepur were invited for it. Jynanadei Maluni came with Ahimanikya to enjoy the festival. Ahimanikya could recognize Sasisena and informed her secretly by writing on the wall of temple that she is under the captive of Jynanadei Maluni. A cleaver Sasisena informed the king of Sonepur that she wanted to sacrifice some lambs before Goddess Bhagawati and requested the king to bring the lamb of Jynanadei Maluni.
Jynanadei Maluni brought her lamb and the lamb was no other than Ahimanikya. By the order of his highness, the king of Sonepur, Jynanadei Maluni transformed him to the human form. It was said that at the desire of Sonepur Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
both the princess of Sonepur and Sasisena became the wives of Ahimanikya.
This story is still alive in the memory of people of Subarnapur district. As an evidence to this tantric
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
episode the Sasisena Temple
Sasisena Temple
Sasisena Temple or Nimunhi Temple is found in Sonepur city of Subarnapur district, Orissa, India. The Sasisena Kavya written by Pratap Rai a well known poet of 17th century describes the detail story behind this temple.,. The present Sasisena temple was built by Maharaja Vira Mitrodaya Singh...
is located in the Sonepur
Sonepur
Sonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Orissa. Sonepur was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of...
town.
External links
See also
- Paschima LankaPaschima LankaPaschima Lanka also called Paschim Lanka or Western Lanka refers to the modern day of Sonepur region of western Orissa, India., According to historians the Sonepur region was known as Paschima Lanka around 10th-11th centuries. The evidence comes from a copper plate charter issued on late of 10th...
- Cultural Profile of South Kosal
- Kosalananda KavyaKosalananda KavyaKosalananda Mahakavya or Kosalananda Kavya is a palmleaf manuscript in Sanskrit written in AD.1664 by Pandit Gangadhar Mishra. Kosalananda Kavya is the first epic of Sanskrit literature in Orissa. Pandit Mishra was the court poet of Sambalpur King Baliar Singh...
- Subarnapur district
- SonepurSonepurSonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Orissa. Sonepur was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of...
- Kosal
- Kosal state movementKosal state movementA movement is continuing in the “Kosal region” of India for creation of a separate state from the existing state of Orissa. People of this region are demanding a politically separate Kosal state from Orissa. The demand for ‘Kosal state’ in Orissa is becoming intense day by day. Political parties,...
- Sureswari TempleSureswari templeSureswari temple or Sursuri temple is located at the left bank of Tel River towards the south-west of the confluence of Mahanadi and Tel River. This temple is located in the temple town of Sonepur, Subarnapur district, Orissa, India. The presiding deity is maa Sursuri and well known as one of the...
- Subarnameru TempleSubarnameru TempleSubarnameru Temple is situated in Sonepur town in Subarnapur district of Orissa.It is a shrine for the worshipping of Shiva-Legend:Popular story of Gold coin Rain is associated with this Place, with this Temple when an ardent devotee asked lord for help,so the name is Sonepur or Subarnapur.The...
- Lankeswari TempleLankeswari TempleLankeswari temple is located inside the river Mahanadi at Sonepur town, Subarnapur district, Orissa, India. Once upon a time Sonepur region was known as Paschima Lanka. Goddess Lankeswari was the presiding deity of Paschima Lanka. Now Maa Lankeswari is worshiped by the Kaivarta community of...
- Patali SrikhetraPatali SrikhetraPatali Srikhetra is a famous place with significant historical importance for Subarnapur district, Kosal and Orissa. This religious place is associated with Shaktism, Buddhism and Vaishnavism. It is located in the foot of Trikut Hill at Kotsamalai of the Birmaharajpur subdivision of Subarnapur...