Charyapad

Charyapad, ( _bn. চর্যাপদ) also spelt Charyapada, is the earliest known example of Bengali poetry and for that matter Bengali literature. According to Bengali scholar Haraprasad Shastri (1853-1931), Charyapad is the collection of the oldest verses written in pre-Modern Bengali. They are also refereed to as "Charjageeti". [ [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/C_0144.htm BANGLAPEDIA: Charyapada ] ]

Discovery

The credit of discovering Charyapad goes to Haraprasad Shastri who during his third visit to Nepal discovered abouot 47 verses in 1907, the body of which came to be called "Charyapad", which are essentially Buddhist mystical songs. These were discovered from the Royal libraray of the Nepalese kings. Haraprasad Shastri first went to Nepal in 1897 for collecting Buddhist folklore. He discovered some folklore written in Sanskrit during his second trip in 1898. He undertook his third trip in 1907 in the hope of some more new folklore. He published his collelctions in a volume which was published in 1916. Although Haraprasad Shastri discovered as many as 47 poems (in fact 46 and a part of one), hints are there that the number would be 51 in total. These were written on narrow section of palm leaves.

Composers

Fifity one poems of Charyapad have been composed by 23 composers. [ [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/C_0144.htm BANGLAPEDIA: Charyapada ] ] All are thought to be Buddhist monks. They are Kanhapad, Luyipad, Dendonpad, Shantipad, Sorohopad, Bhushukpada, Ajdev, Kankanpad, Kamli, Kukkuripad, Gundoripad, Chatilpas, Jainandi, Tanti, Tarhak, Darik, Dhampad, Birubapad, Beenapad, Bhadropad, Mohidhorpad, Shobarpad, Larhidombi and Dombipad.

Kanha or Kanhapad was one of the poets of Charyapad. He was a tantric Buddhist and his poems in Charyapad are written in a code, whereby every poem has a descriptive or narrative surface meaning but also encodes tantric buddhist teachings. Some experts believe this was to conceal sacred knowledge from the uninitiated, while other scholars considered that such a symbolic language was used to avoid religious persecution. Kanhapad composed as many as 13 poems.

Nature

The language of Charyapad is rather symbolic in nature. [ [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/C_0144.htm BANGLAPEDIA: Charyapada ] ] So in many cases literal meaning of a word is does not make any sense. As a result every poem has a descriptive or narrative surface meaning but also encodes tantric Buddhist teachings. Some experts believe this was to conceal sacred knowledge from the uninitiated, while others hold that it was to avoid religious persecution.

Controvery

Period

Haraprasad Shastri, who discovered Charyapad , considered that it was written during the 10th century AD. However, according to Sunitikumer Chottopadhya, Charyapad was composed between 10th and 12th century AD. Probodh Chandra Bagchi upholds this view. Sukumer Sen while supporting this view maintained that Charjapad could have been written between 11th and 14th century AD. However, Muhammad Shahidullah was of the opinion that Charyapad dates back to earlier time. He maintained that it was likely to have been composed between 7th and 11th cenutry AD. [Muhammad Shahidullah : "Bangala Bhashar Itibritto", 2006, Mawla Brothers, Dhaka] Rahul Sankritayana thought that Charjapad was probably written between 8th and 11th century AD.

Also, there is controversy about meaning of some words. Different linguists have diverse opinion about the real meaning of certain words.

Language

While there is no doubt that Charyapad was written in early form of Bengali ["The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language", by Sunitikumer Chottopadhya] , scholars of other languages claimed that it was written in Nepalese, Gujrati, Hindi, Maithili] and Assamese] . Because its words are more similar to Bishnupriya Manipuri rather than Bangla, it is held that Charjapad the oldest record of Bishnupriya Manipuri literature.

Example of Charyapad in English translaiton

Produced below is English translaiton of the first poem of Charyapad. It was composed by Buddhist monk and poet Luyipad.

The body is like the finest tree, with five branches.
Darkness enters the restless mind.

Strengthen the quantity of Great Bliss, says Luyi.
Learn from asking the Guru.

Why does one meditate?
Surely one dies of happiness or unhappiness.

Set aside binding and fastening is fale hope.
Embraces the wings of the Void.

Luyi says : I have seen this in meditaiton
Inhalation and exhalation are seated on two stools.

This piece has been rendered into English by Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud. [Hasna Jasimuddin Moudud : "A Thousand year of Bengali Mystic Poetry", 1992, Dhaka, University Press Limited.]

ocial life portrayed in Charyapad

Poems of Charyapad provide a realistic picture of medieval Bengali social life. However only two geographical locations,, namely Banga and Kamru are referred in the poems. Names of the two rivers that occur are Ganga and Jouna. Padma has been referred as a canal. Two occupations are mentioned. These are weaving, woodcutter and hunting. No reference to agriculture is available. Reference to prostitution by women occus. Boat ride was the main way of making a journey. Some description of wedding ceremony is also available. ["Social Life in Charjapad" by Anisuzzaman]

Further reading

* "Charjapad Samiksha" by Dr. Dr. Belal Hossain, Dhaka : Borno Bichitrra.
* "Bangala Bhasar Itibrtta", by Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah,1959, Dhaka.

Citations

External links

* [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/C_0144.htm Banglapedia]
* [http://www.milansagar.com/kobi-charjageeti.html Milansagar]
* [http://www.geocities.com/kavitayan/charyagiti.html Some Charjapad poems in English translation]