The Ramacharitam is a Sanskrit epic poem written in Arya metre by a Bengali poet named Sandhyakar Nandi (c. 1084 - 1155 CE) during Pala Empire. This work simultaneously narrates the story of the Ramayana and the Pala king Ramapala.It is mainly famous for describing the Varendra rebellion- a very critical event in early mediaeval history of Bengal.[1][2]
A palm-leaf manuscript was discovered by Haraprasad Shastri from Nepal and published in 1910 by the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.[2] Translations in English and Bangla were published in 1939 and 1953, respectively.[2]
Authoredit
Sandhyakar Nandi was patronaged by Madanapala and his biographical details are retrieved from the Kaviprashasti (of 20 couplets) appended at the end.[3] Nandi hailed from Brihadbatu, a village close to Pundravardhana, and was the son of Prajapati Nandi, who was the Sandhi-Vigrahika (minister of peace and war) of Ramapala.[2][3]
Contentedit
The poem, in four cantos, details the historical events in Bengal from the assassination of the Pala emperor Mahipala II by Divya, a rebel Kaivarta samanta up to the reign of Madanapala in 215 verses, employing double entendre.[1][2][4][5] The central theme is the loss and subsequent recovery of Varendra.
The first and second cantos of the text describes, what has been since called "Varendra rebellion".[4]
Varendra Rebellionedit
In an asymmetrical battle between Mahipala II and a group of samantas (led by Divya, a Kaivarta), the former was defeated and his relatives imprisoned.[4] Whilst the causes of the battle are not discussed, the defeat is blamed on Mahipala's poor strategy of war set against the explicit advice of councilors.[4] Varendra was ceded away from Palas, and the House of Kaivartas were established for around half a century.[4][6]
Divya was succeeded by his nephew, Bhima.[4] In the meanwhile, Ramapala, a brother of Mahipala fled Varendra and assumed the remnants of Pala throne.[4] Wishing to reclaim lost territories, he traveled around the kingdom purchasing assistance from Samantas.[4] Among these samantas were his kinsmen from the Rashtrakutas of Anga, maternal uncle Mahana, and nephew Sivarajadeva.[4]
Sivarajadeva would executed the first raid on the Kaivartas, destroying their defensive arrangements.[4] This was followed by the main battle where Ramapala's army —cavalry, infantry, boat-units and elephant-men along with those of Samantas'— met Bhima's forces.[4] In what is described as a battle of equals, Bhima was defeated yet treated with honor by Vittapala, Ramapala's son.[4][a] Bhima however seem to have fled soon, for he enlarged his army by inducting untrained subjects from the lower rungs of society and confronted Ramapala again.[4] This turned out to be a one sided catastrophe with Bhima's men getting marauded; Bhima was captured and executed, after being made to witness the death of his own kinsmen.[4]
Analysisedit
Though biased in favour of Ramapala, the work remains the only literary source for middle-late Pala history including Varendra Rebellion.[7] The cause of the war between Dibyak and Mahipala II however can not be ascertained — R. C. Majumdar interpreted it to be a rebellion by a local samanta, strategically timed to the weakening of Pala authority whilst Ram Sharan Sharma took it to be a peasant rebellion against feudal suppression.[8][9] It is argued that the Dibar Dighi (incl. the Kaivarta Stambha) were commissioned to commemorate Divya's victory.[10]
Kaivarta rebellion...was a critical event in the early history of Bengal. It temporarily ousted the Palas from their ancestral territory of Varendra and decisively weakened their control over subordinate rulers. It also paved the way for their fall in the hands of another power, the Senas, who rose after the event.
^ abcdefghijklmnopFurui, Ryosuke (2014). "CHARACTERISTICS OF KAIVARTA REBELLION DELINEATED FROM THE RĀMACARITA". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75: 93–98. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44158366.
^Roy, Kumkum (2009). "The Artful Biographer: Sandhyakaranandin's Ramacharitam". In Ramaswamy, Vijaya; Sharma, Yogesh (eds.). Biography as History: Indian Perspectives. Orient Blackswann. pp. 17–29. ISBN9788125035213.
^Sengupta, Nitish K. (2011). Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books India. p. 65. ISBN978-0-14-341678-4.
^Susan L. Huntington (1 January 1984). The "Påala-Sena" Schools of Sculpture. Brill Archive. p. 32. ISBN90-04-06856-2.
^Furui, Ryosuke (2014). "Characteristics of Kaivarta Rebellion Delineated from the Rāmacarita". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75: 93–98. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44158366.
^Rahman, Kazi Mostafizur (2012). "Dibar Dighi and Kaivarta Stambha". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
January 01, 1970
ramacharitam, sanskrit, epic, poem, written, arya, metre, bengali, poet, named, sandhyakar, nandi, 1084, 1155, during, pala, empire, this, work, simultaneously, narrates, story, ramayana, pala, king, ramapala, mainly, famous, describing, varendra, rebellion, v. The Ramacharitam is a Sanskrit epic poem written in Arya metre by a Bengali poet named Sandhyakar Nandi c 1084 1155 CE during Pala Empire This work simultaneously narrates the story of the Ramayana and the Pala king Ramapala It is mainly famous for describing the Varendra rebellion a very critical event in early mediaeval history of Bengal 1 2 Contents 1 Manuscripts 1 1 Author 2 Content 2 1 Varendra Rebellion 3 Analysis 4 Notes 5 ReferencesManuscripts editA palm leaf manuscript was discovered by Haraprasad Shastri from Nepal and published in 1910 by the Asiatic Society Kolkata 2 Translations in English and Bangla were published in 1939 and 1953 respectively 2 Author edit Sandhyakar Nandi was patronaged by Madanapala and his biographical details are retrieved from the Kaviprashasti of 20 couplets appended at the end 3 Nandi hailed from Brihadbatu a village close to Pundravardhana and was the son of Prajapati Nandi who was the Sandhi Vigrahika minister of peace and war of Ramapala 2 3 Content editThe poem in four cantos details the historical events in Bengal from the assassination of the Pala emperor Mahipala II by Divya a rebel Kaivarta samanta up to the reign of Madanapala in 215 verses employing double entendre 1 2 4 5 The central theme is the loss and subsequent recovery of Varendra The first and second cantos of the text describes what has been since called Varendra rebellion 4 Varendra Rebellion edit In an asymmetrical battle between Mahipala II and a group of samantas led by Divya a Kaivarta the former was defeated and his relatives imprisoned 4 Whilst the causes of the battle are not discussed the defeat is blamed on Mahipala s poor strategy of war set against the explicit advice of councilors 4 Varendra was ceded away from Palas and the House of Kaivartas were established for around half a century 4 6 Divya was succeeded by his nephew Bhima 4 In the meanwhile Ramapala a brother of Mahipala fled Varendra and assumed the remnants of Pala throne 4 Wishing to reclaim lost territories he traveled around the kingdom purchasing assistance from Samantas 4 Among these samantas were his kinsmen from the Rashtrakutas of Anga maternal uncle Mahana and nephew Sivarajadeva 4 Sivarajadeva would executed the first raid on the Kaivartas destroying their defensive arrangements 4 This was followed by the main battle where Ramapala s army cavalry infantry boat units and elephant men along with those of Samantas met Bhima s forces 4 In what is described as a battle of equals Bhima was defeated yet treated with honor by Vittapala Ramapala s son 4 a Bhima however seem to have fled soon for he enlarged his army by inducting untrained subjects from the lower rungs of society and confronted Ramapala again 4 This turned out to be a one sided catastrophe with Bhima s men getting marauded Bhima was captured and executed after being made to witness the death of his own kinsmen 4 Analysis editThough biased in favour of Ramapala the work remains the only literary source for middle late Pala history including Varendra Rebellion 7 The cause of the war between Dibyak and Mahipala II however can not be ascertained R C Majumdar interpreted it to be a rebellion by a local samanta strategically timed to the weakening of Pala authority whilst Ram Sharan Sharma took it to be a peasant rebellion against feudal suppression 8 9 It is argued that the Dibar Dighi incl the Kaivarta Stambha were commissioned to commemorate Divya s victory 10 Ryosuke Furui noted 4 Kaivarta rebellion was a critical event in the early history of Bengal It temporarily ousted the Palas from their ancestral territory of Varendra and decisively weakened their control over subordinate rulers It also paved the way for their fall in the hands of another power the Senas who rose after the event Notes edit Nandi eulogizes his valor and virtues 4 References edit a b Roy N 1993 Bangalir Itihas Adiparba Dey s Publishing Calcutta ISBN 81 7079 270 3 p 583 a b c d e Ramacharitam The Banglapedia en banglapedia org Retrieved 2021 06 24 a b Sandhyakar Nandi Banglapedia en banglapedia org Retrieved 2021 06 24 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Furui Ryosuke 2014 CHARACTERISTICS OF KAIVARTA REBELLION DELINEATED FROM THE RAMACARITA Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 75 93 98 ISSN 2249 1937 JSTOR 44158366 Roy Kumkum 2009 The Artful Biographer Sandhyakaranandin s Ramacharitam In Ramaswamy Vijaya Sharma Yogesh eds Biography as History Indian Perspectives Orient Blackswann pp 17 29 ISBN 9788125035213 Sengupta Nitish K 2011 Land of Two Rivers A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib Penguin Books India p 65 ISBN 978 0 14 341678 4 Susan L Huntington 1 January 1984 The Paala Sena Schools of Sculpture Brill Archive p 32 ISBN 90 04 06856 2 Furui Ryosuke 2014 Characteristics of Kaivarta Rebellion Delineated from the Ramacarita Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 75 93 98 ISSN 2249 1937 JSTOR 44158366 Varendra Rebellion Banglapedia Retrieved 2021 06 24 Rahman Kazi Mostafizur 2012 Dibar Dighi and Kaivarta Stambha In Islam Sirajul Jamal Ahmed A eds Banglapedia National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Second ed Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ramacharitam amp oldid 1217041407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
