Odia Books

Kabisurya Sadananda Brahma was born 1720 he was a medieval odia poet. He changed his original name Sachidananda Oda on initiation into one of Vaishnavite faith. An, erudite Sanskrit scholar, he renounced worldly life on initiation into Vaishnava faith of the Suddha Bhakti school travelled widely as a preacher of the faith throughout the areas along the Bay of Bengal, in course of which the title of Kabisurya Brahma was conferred on him by the Gajapati King of Puri in recognition of the poetic excellence in his writings.

Patronized by the Raja (a local epithet for a feudal prince) Ghanasyama Narendra of Gadamadhupura, he established there his Matha (a saint’s residence, monastery), and later set up another Matha at Diksita pada of Balia (now included in the Jaipura subdivision of Cuttack District) under the patronage of the childless landlord Indrajit Samanta Sinhara, who was blessed with a son as a result of the holy sacrifice performed by Kabisurya. Later he became the tutor of the boy as well as his preceptor in faith, and thus helped in the making of the illustrious odia poet Abhimanyu Samanta Sinhara.

Kabisurya’s poetic works include Jugala Rasamrita Lahari, Jugala Rasamrita Bhamuri, Prema
Tarangini, Lalita Lochana, Kunja Bihara, Mohanalata, Tatva Tarangini, Nistha Nilamani, Prema Kalpalata, Nistara Nilamani, etc., most of which have not been published so far. They have for their theme the love anecdotes of Lord Krishna.

His inspiration for poetry is derived out of his ability to assimilate the theories and ideas of the Suddha Bhakti cult into real life situations which goes a long way to humanise the mythological characters. The works which are a happy blending of the excellences peculiar to both Goswami literature of the Madhura school and Riti poetry are unique examples of lucid musical composition rich in their lyrical appeal although punctuated with highly ornate products of imagination. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mazumdar, Typical Selections from odia Literature (Calcutta, 1923).

Jugala Rasamrita Lahari
Nistha Nilamani
Jugala Rasamrita Bhamuri
Prema Kalpalata
Nistara Nilamani
Mohanalata
Kunja Bihara
Lalita Lochana