Odia Books

Tribikrama Bhanja medieval odia poet, is known as the author of a romantic poem named Kanakalata. No other work, authentically written by him, has come to light so far. Kanakalata was first brought to light in 1894 by Govinda Ratha.

Tribikrama was the ruling chief of Ghumsar, a small feudatory state in the district of Ganjam. He ruled the state from 1773 to 1782. The poem Kanaklata, comprising twentynine cantos, is written on the model of Kotibramahnda Sundari of Upendra Bhanja, the celebrated medieval odia poet. It deals with the romantic love of a prince and princess. Their birth, marriage, separation and union have been elaborately described in the poem. The style is ornamental and is full of rhetorical devices both pertaining to word and the meaning, and at places with pictorial poetry form or ‘chitra kavya’. The poem is named after the heroine of the poem, ‘Kanakalata’ (golden creeper).

FoIlowing the rules of the Sanskrit poetics the poem begins with a prayer to Lord Vishnu followed by
salutations to learned persons, love of literature and a word of caution for the readers against fault finders and uncultured people.

Rasanjan is born to Sudarsan, king of Shrinagar, and grows up to be a handsome prince. On the other
hand Kanakalata is born to Shivapriya, king of Bisalpuri, and attains marriageable age. To get a suitable groom for her an ‘Abadhut’ (a mendicant) was engaged, who went to the courts of different kings and displayed a beautiful portrait of Kanakalata. Thus prince Rasanjan saw the portrait and wanted to marry her.The Abadhut presents him with a specially gifted parrot. The prince and the princess correspond through the parrot who finally brings about their union.

The book is considered a good representative work of its time. BIBLIOGRAPHY: S. Acharya and B. Acharya, odia Kavya Kousala, (Berhampur, 1983); S.N. Dash, odia Sahityara Itihas, Vol. III, (Cuttack 1965).

Kanakalata
Chitra Kavya