Upendra Bhanja was One of the most celebrated poets in medieval Odia literature, Upendra Bhanja in many respects was a pioneer of romantic and ornate poetry of power and vitality. Born in the royal family of Bhanja dynasty of Ghumusar, a Taluk in Ganjam District in Odisha, Upendra Bhanja is believed to have lived between 1680 and 1720 although scholars differ regarding his exact date. The ruling Bhanja of Ghumusar pursued a tradition of literary culture, characterised by ornate poetry.

His grand father Dhananjaya Bhanja was a poet of repute in his days. Upendra received a traditional education and was trained in Sanskrit scholarship. Upendra Bhanja was a symbol of ornate poetry, inheriting the Sanskrit Kavya tradition. He is also an interpreter of the contemporary court life. His literary practice ushered in a new style of Odia narrative poetry and his numerous compositions became brilliant specimens of art, neatly executed with a precision of words.

He is credited with nearly 100 books, half of which are still unpublished. The entire skill and excellence of his poetry lie in the much laboured arrangement of words responding to alliterations, ornate versificaiton, artificial pedantries, and jugglery of words, each capable of interpreting the meaning in more than one ways. Romanticism, eroticism, the description of the hero and heroine, who are princes and princesses, their love and romance are the chief subjects of Upendra’s poetry.

Being a man of high contemplative vision his poetry embraced a vast canvas of imagination, emotion and artistic embellishment. Among his most subtle work of poetic art, Labanyavati Baidehishavilasa, Premsudhanidhi, Kotibrahmandasundari, Raspanchak, Subhadra Parinaya, and Rasika Harabali are noteworthy. His themes are drawn from myths and court life. He has adopted alliteration, rhetoric and music to create an abiding appeal in the minds of the readers. His characters are magnificient and pathos, romance and poetic sensibility playa powerful role in his poetry.

His Labanyavati, Kotibrahmandasundari, Baidehishavilasa give a profound romantic experience. Rasika Haravali has for its theme the story of Vidyadhar, cursed and born in Purushottam, and his daughter Rasika Haravali, a paragon of beauty. Being attracted by her exquisite beauty and charm, the prince of Koshal reached Purushottam in search of her and ultimately they were united in marriage. The work has characteristic descriptions of nature, cities, court life and social festivals including marriage.

The festival performed in honour of Lord Jagannath of Puri is narrated with a great devotion. Subarna Rekha, another narrative Kavya of Upendra Bhanja, is designed in the mould of Rasika Haravali. Baidehishavilasa and Lavanyavati are the most celebrated among Bhanja’s works. The theme of Baidehishavilasa which carries the ‘B’ initial throughout the Kavya is drawn from the Ramayana.

Labanyavati has for its theme the passionate romance of Chandra Bhanu, the prince of Karnatak and Labanyavati, the royal daughter of Simhala. Similarly Kotibrahmandasundari has for its theme the love and romance of prince Pushpaketu and the princess Koti Brahmanda Sundari, the much sought-after beauty. Subhadra Parinaya is based on the Mahabharata. His Chitra Kavya Bandhosaya is modelled on the same kind of literary art of Sanskrit poetics showing therein the interplay of words, each offering various meanings and interpretations.

Though erotic love is predominant in his Kavya, he has deeply pondered over the social and religious aspects of human life. He was a great worshipper of Rama. With deep love for life and society his writings conjure for his readers the universal image of a love-lorn romantic soul. An artist of deep contemplation and delicate sensitivity,Upendra Bhanja occupies a very significant position in Odia literature.

Odia Books By Upendra Bhanja

Labanyavati
Baidehishavilasa
Premsudhanidhi
Raspanchak
Subhadra Parinaya
Rasika Harabali
Kotibrahmandasundari