Manasar Bhasan
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Introductory notes
In the 18th Century, Ketakadas Kshemananda composed another rendition of the the Manasamangal Kabya, titled "Manasar Bhasan" in praise of Goddess Manasa. . This popular genre in Bengali, influenced by regional cults such as that of Chandi, Manasa, Dharma, or Vaishnav songs, flourished from the thirteenth century to the eighteenth century. The poems are typically written in the form of songs (panchalika) meant for performance by professional singers (mangal gayak) backed by a male chorus (dohar) during ritual worship of the particular deity who was the subject of the poem. "Manasar Bhasan" in book form was published by Sri Biharilal Sarkar in 1885 from the Bangabasi Press in Calcutta.
The title page of 'Manasar Bhasan' book suggests, Ketakadas and Kshemananda Das were separate persons and "Manasar Bhasan" was a joint collaboration of these two poets, it has been established subsequently that they were the same person. Kshemananda Das born in south Rarh region of Bengal, composed 'Manasar Bhasan" in the late 18th Century under the pseudonym of Ketakadas which created all the future confusion. Manasar Bhasan, as is the pattern with Mangalkavyas focuses on lives of villagefolks, seasons, and daily detail, rather than merely establishing the cult of the titular goddess.
Selection details
The title page of 'Manasar Bhasan' book suggests, Ketakadas and Kshemananda Das were separate persons and "Manasar Bhasan" was a joint collaboration of these two poets, it has been established subsequently that they were the same person. Kshemananda Das born in south Rarh region of Bengal, composed 'Manasar Bhasan" in the late 18th Century under the pseudonym of Ketakadas which created all the future confusion. Manasar Bhasan, as is the pattern with Mangalkavyas focuses on lives of villagefolks, seasons, and daily detail, rather than merely establishing the cult of the titular goddess.