Odia Books

The influence of the two great Indian epics – the Mahabharata and the Ramayana – on the literature and people of odisha has been incalculable and among the several poets who wielded their pens in producing or recreating the Ramayana in odia literature in the medieval period to cater to the need of the country, the name of Bishwanath Khuntia stands supreme.

There are several versions of the Ramayana in odia commencing with the Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohan Ramayana by Balaram Das of the 16th century, but Bichitra Ramayana by Bishwanath Khuntia has been unique in its depth, dimension and literary appeal. Written in musical metres, this notable epical work has been widely popular and has left an indelible impression upon the rural readers of odisha both as a reproduction of the Ramayana and as a piece of valuable literature to guide and to inspire the rural folk in the practice of essential virtues and noble qualities enshrined in it.

A contemporary of medieval odia poets like Dinakrishna Das, Upendra Bhanja and Lokanath Bidyadhar,
Bishwanath Khuntia was a resident of Puri town and lived during the reign of Raja Dibyasingh Dev of
Khurda in the later part of the 18th century. His work Bichitra Ramayana gives evidence of his being present at Puri during the famous car festival of Lord Jagannath when Divyasingh Dev was the king. The poet has given his indentity as ‘Bisi’ at the end of each canto and for this reason the Bichitra Ramayana is known as Bisi Ramayana among the odia readers.

Although the theme of the original Ramayana is the main theme of the Bichitra Ramayana, it is unique
and superb in its treatment and execution. The invocation of Lord Jagannath in the beginning of this notable work adds to the originality and imagination of the poet.

The poet commenced the writing of his Ramayana on the occasion of Gundicha and also completed it
during the same period. It is found that while designing the musical metre for each canto of his Ramayana,the poet has taken as model the metre of some of the erstwhile compostions of his predecessors. On the whole Bishwanath Khuntia occupies a significant position in odia literature as the successful author of the musical version of the Ramayana and as an interpreter of the noble characters of the great epic for the social upliftment of the people.

Odia Books By Bishwanath Khuntia

Bichitra Ramayana