Odia Books

Dinakrishna Das was born in 1650, he stands out among the great poets and devotees of Krishna and
Radha cult in the medieval odia literature and flourished during the rule of king Divya Singh Dev of Khurda Royal Families. He was of the age of ornate poetry in odia. The metaphors and similies were modelled on the pattern and style of Sanskrit Kavya and the hall mark of ornate style was verbal artificialities, pedantries, subtle rhymes, etc.

Further, the literary compositions during his period were marked by adherence to the depiction of the theme of Vaishnavite devotion enshrined in the eternal love of Radha and Krishna. Medieval odia poetry was overwhelmingly packed with the essence and import of Vaishnavite movement. Besides, the pervading cult of Jagannath had exerted its indelible impact on odia literature and it was a force to reckon with. The then odia literature and the writings of the medieval poets like Dinakrishna Das emphasised the importance of lord Jagannath or Purushottam who is identified with Lord Krishna of Brindaban

Dinakrishna Das developed a poetic pattern consituting embellishment of words and imageries and
description of the passion of love as displayed between Krishna and Radha, Dinakrishna is credited with a number of worthy literary works among which Rasakallol (Waves of Delight) is his greatest work. The theme of this notable work is derived from the episode of Krishna’s departure to Mathura while its craftmanship is characterised by verbal jugglery and the obsession with sex, to the extent of being vulgar.

Rasakallol is divided into 34 cantos each designed in a different metre. The first canto describes the importance of Jagannath, the next chapter is devoted to the emergence and birth of Krishna and the remaining cantos describe the delight of Gopis, the attempt of Putana to kill the child Krishna, the childhood of Krishna and Balaram, the erotic play of Krishna with Gopis, the destruction of Kaliya, the projection of Radha,

the most extra-ordinary beauty and youth’s enduring symbol, the description of different seasons and its impact on the erotic behaviour of Radha, Gopis, and Krishna, the depiction of Rasalila, the union of Radha and Krishna, then the journey of Krishna to Mathura at the summons of Kansa, the killing of Kansa, the separation of Krishna from the Gopis, the pang of separation suffered by the Gopis, the conversation of Uddhaba with Gopis on the theme of the power of devotional knowledge.

One finds in Rasakallol an echo of Jayadev’s celebrated love lyric Gitagovinda, a hunger for erotic ecstacy linked with the spiritual quest, a sublimation of massive erotic passion and a profound understanding of the Vaishnavite humility and devotion to the cult of Radha Krishna. Packed with accumulative detail, it is replete with sweetness, and is recognised as a major literary work in medieval odia Vaishnavite poetry.

Its structure is dominated uniformly by musical vibration of a tender heart. Further, the speciality of the work lies in that each line in each canto carries ‘ka’ initial throughout the book. Krishna is the hero and Gopis are heroines and Gopalila of Krishna is its theme. Dinakrishna Das in the Rasakallol has achieved poetic excellence and Vaishnavite synthesis between the devotional attitude of Gaudiya Vaishnavas and Orissa Vaishnavas. Artatran Chautisa is another enchanting composition by Dinakrishna regarded as a masterpiece of adequate lyrical exultation and devotional fervour.

As such Artatran Chautisa literally meaning the “Ode of an afflicted soul” is a poetic document of a bleeding soul. The name Dinakrishna Das in medieval odia poetry is a controversial one as one Dinakrishna Das is credited with the authorship of literary works such as Rasabinod, Madhab Mangal, Jagamohan Chhanda, Namratha Gita, Prastab Sindhu and Guna Sagar. Anyway, Dinakrishna Das of Rasakallol and Artatran Chautisa occupies a place of distinction in medieval odia poetry. The poet is admired as a pioneer of Riti School of poetry in odia literature.

Rasabinod
Madhab Mangal
Jagamohan Chhanda
Namratha Gita
Prastab Sindhu
Guna Sagar
Artatran Chautisa