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''Krupasiddha'' Balarama Dasa (alternatively spelled ''Balaram Das''; ; ) was a mystic seer-poet who wrote in Odia, best known as the author of the voluminous ''
Dasa translated the Ramayana to Odia. It is also known as Jagamohana Ramayana or Dandi Ramayana. More than a translation, the work is a transcreation, as it deviates in many ways from the original. In some parts he goes against the original text and in some parts follows the original text closely and yet in some other parts he creates entirely new narratives.
He also broke new grounds by translating the Bhagabat Gita into Odia. Before this the philosophical and theological texts were not translated into Odia. Even in Odia Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa, the portion containing Bhagabata Gita was omitted by the author. Balarama Dasa was subsequently persecuted by the priestly class for his translation of Bhagabata Gita.he Bhavishya Malika text was written by Panchsakhas and Balrama Das Ji was also one of them.
His other works are as below.
Jagamohana Ramayana
The Jagamohana Ramayana () also known as the Dandi Ramayana popularly across Odisha is an epic poem composed by the 15th-century poet Balarama Dasa. This work is a retelling of the Ramayana, though not a direct translation.
Synopsis
The story of ...
'' or '' Dandi Ramayana''. He was one of the five great poets in Odia literature
Odia literature is literature written in the Odia language, mostly from the Indian state of Odisha. The modern Odia language is mostly formed from Tadbhava words with significant Sanskrit (Tatsama) influences, along with loanwords from Des ...
, the 'Panchasakhā' named Ananta Dasa, Jagannatha Dasa, Jasobanta Dasa and Achyutananda Dasa during the Bhakti age of literature. He was the eldest of the five. The honorific ''Krupāsiddhā'' or ''Krupāsāgara'', meaning 'bestowed with divine grace' is used for him by tradition.
Personal life
Not much is known about his early life. From his own writings it is known that he was the son of Somanatha Mahapatra and Jamuna Debi who belonged to Karan community. Balarama Dasa hailed from an aristocratic noble family of a minister named Somanatha who belonged to Karana community, his father Somanatha was a devout follower of LordJagannath
Jagannath (; formerly ) is a Hindu deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions in India as part of a triad along with (Krishna's) brother Balabhadra, and sister, Subhadra.
Jagannath, within Odia Hinduism, is the supreme god, '' Purushot ...
and raised Balarama in a religious environment, Somanatha was known by the name "Mahamantri Somanatha Mohapatra" in Gajapati Empire
The Gajapati Empire was a Medieval India, medieval Hindu monarchy in the Indian subcontinent, Indian subcontinent, originally from the region of Odisha that reigned from c.1434 to 1541. It succeeded the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Eastern Gangas as ...
. Balarama Dasa also served as a minister in Prataparudra Deva's court and originally belonged to the village of Erabanga in Puri district. He was educated and was well versed in Sanskrit. Balarama naturally grew to be proficient in both Odia and Sanskrit. He became a devotee of Jagannatha. It is speculated that he died while on a pilgrimage to Puri in Begunia village near Konark. There is a memorial for him near this village.
Literary works
Dasa translated the Ramayana to Odia. It is also known as Jagamohana Ramayana or Dandi Ramayana. More than a translation, the work is a transcreation, as it deviates in many ways from the original. In some parts he goes against the original text and in some parts follows the original text closely and yet in some other parts he creates entirely new narratives.
He also broke new grounds by translating the Bhagabat Gita into Odia. Before this the philosophical and theological texts were not translated into Odia. Even in Odia Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa, the portion containing Bhagabata Gita was omitted by the author. Balarama Dasa was subsequently persecuted by the priestly class for his translation of Bhagabata Gita.he Bhavishya Malika text was written by Panchsakhas and Balrama Das Ji was also one of them.
His other works are as below.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dasa, Jagannatha Indian male poets Odia-language poets Poets from Odisha Odia people 16th-century Indian poets Devotees of Jagannath Odissi music composers Shudra Hindu saints Odia Hindu saints 15th-century Indian poets 1472 births 1556 deaths Vaishnava saints 15th-century Hindu religious leaders