Achyutananda Das is a medieval odia poet, and one of the Panchasakhas. The year of his birth is generally placed between 1460 to 1512. According to S.N. Das, it is 1489. Achyutananda was the son of Dinabandhu of village Tilakana in Cuttack district, belonging to ‘Aho’ family designated by some as ‘Karana’ and others as ‘Gopala’. Dinabandhu was an officer of Prataparudradeva and got the designation of ‘khuntia’, signifying his work of supplying dresses and other articles of decoration to the deities at Jagannath, temple.

His grandfather Gopinatha was also an official under the king. Achyuta’s mother, Padmavati was a princess of a royal family. Dinabandhu,childless for a long time, dedicated himself to Lord Jagannatha and was blessed with the son Achyuta.

His childhood was quite mysterious. He was always unmindful and some times stared at things like an
idiot. He began studies at the age of five but was quite an indifferent student. His father, being much worried finally took him to Puri where he came in contact with Srichaitanya and was much delighted by his kirtan. He was then initiated by Sanatana Gosvami at the instance of Srichaitanya.

Achyutanand, on Guru’s instruction, travelled to, different places to propagate the doctrine of Jnanamisra bhakti. Then he joined Balarama, Jagannatha, Yasovanta and Ananta and was recognised as one among the Five Associates. Traditions believe that Achyutananda had visited the whole of India and during his itinerary he established his abode (hemitage) at Majjhikhanda or Akhandachala very close to the Maninaga hill in the state of Ranapur. Achyutananda composed odia Bhagavatalahari Harivamsa under the patronage of Padmanabha Narendra, the king of Ranapur.

Achyuta still remains as the patron-saint of millions of Gopalas (cowherds), for whom he wrote a series of ‘Ogalas’ (Riddles for the cowherds).He wrote 36 samhitas, 78 gitas, 27 vamsanucharitas, besides 7 volumes of Harivamsa, 22 Upavamsas,100 malikeas, some koilis, some chautisas, tikas, vilasas, nirnayas, ogalas and bhajanas depicting the excellence of Srikrishna. Many of his books have not yet been printed. But his works like Bhagavatalahari Harivamsa, Sunyasamhita, Grurubhakti Gita, Anakara Samhita, Paramagupta Gita, Anantagoi, Ogala,Agata Bhavisya, Sisuvedasaptanga, Anakara Brahmayantra, Ekakshare Samhita and others have been greatly appreciated by the critics and the general readers.

Ekakshare Samhita
Ogalas
aramagupta Gita
Harivamsa
Upavamsas
Chautisas
Sunyasamhita
Anakara Samhita