Bhanubhakta Acharya () (1814—1868 CE) (1871—1925
BS) was a Nepali writer, poet, and translator. He is widely regarded as the first poet in the
Nepali language
Nepali (; , ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Himalayas region of South Asia. It is the official, and most widely spoken, language of Nepal, where it also serves as a '' lingua franca''. Nepali has official status in the Indian st ...
, for which he was conferred with the title of "Aadikabi": literally, "the first poet".
He is best known for translating the epic ''
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
'' from
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
to Nepali for the first time. Initially, his translation of the Ramayana was popular in oral form. It was later compiled and published by
Motirām Bhatta in the late 19th century as ''
Bhanubhakta Ramayana
''Bhanubhakta Ramayana'' (), commonly known as ''Ramayan'', is the Nepali translation of Valmiki Ramayana by ''Adikavi'' Bhanubhakta Acharya. It was posthumously published in its complete form in 1887. ''.
Early life and education
Bhanubhakta Acharya was born on 13 July 1814 (29 Ashadh 1871
BS) in the village of
Chundi Ramgha
Chundi Ramgha is a village which lies in Bhanu Municipality, Tanahun District, Nepal. Actually Chundi is the name of river ( Chundi River), which flows through the lower lands of Ramgha base.
The first poet of Nepali language hence known as Aadika ...
,
Tanahun District
Tanahun District ( ne, तनहुँ जिल्ला , or ), a part of Gandaki Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Damauli as its district headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2011) ...
,
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
to Dhananjaya Acharya, and Dharmawati Acharya. His father Dhananjaya Acharya was a government official and was the eldest of all brothers. Bhanubhakta received his primary education of
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
at his home by his grandfather and later in
Varanasi
Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.
*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic t ...
.
Literary career
South Asian languages including the Nepali language were limited mostly to an oral medium of language dissemination at the time with little written context and literary influence. As most of the written texts of
South Asia
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
were dominated by Sanskrit, it was mostly inaccessible to the general populace. As the
Brahmins were the caste who excelled as teachers, scholars, and priests, the access to all of the religious scriptures and other literary works was only limited to them, and few who also could receive education and understand Sanskrit. Many poets had written poems in Sanskrit while Acharya started to write in the Nepali language which not only popularized the language but also gained him acceptance from the Rana Rulers.
Acharya's benevolence towards Ram's heroic exploits brought in him an urgency to make his tale accessible to the people who spoke Nepali. Since most people did not understand the Sanskrit language, he translated the epic into the Nepali language. Preserving the lyrical narration style of ''Ramayana'' his translations are believed by scholars to carry the same lyrical essence "Bhava and ''Marma'(भव र मर्म)'" that rather than sounding like a poem sounded more like a song without distorting the regional influence or the inner meaning of the ''Ramayana''.
He did not receive any western education nor was familiar with foreign literature which kept his work and experiential journey original to the vernacular literary system and brought strong Nepali flavor to his works. The key features of his writings were simple yet strong with a sense of religion, a sense of simplicity, and the warmth of his country that not many other poets had been able to be compared. Belonging to a wealthy family, he never had any financial trouble and had an unremarkable life until he met a grass cutter who wanted to give something to society so he could be remembered after death too. The grass cutter's words were what inspired him to do something that would leave a mark on society.
He wrote two masterpieces in his life among which, one is the ''Bhanubhaktey Ramayan'' and the other is a letter he wrote in verse form to the Prime Minister while he was in prison. He was made a scapegoat and sent to prison due to some misunderstanding in signing the papers. In prison, his health deteriorated and he was given false hopes of being set free but his case was not even heard. So, he wrote a petition to the Prime Minister requesting his freedom, which later became one of his great works. He not only won his freedom with his poem but was also given a bag of money (He wrote in the same language the then prime minister want to force the public to use). When he died in 1868, he did not know he would one day be one of the most revered poets of Nepal. His creation, however, was not published and he died without receiving credit for his contribution.
His works were published by
Motiram Bhatta
Motiram Bhatta ( ne, मोतीराम भट्ट) (1866–1896) (1923–1953 BS) was a Nepalese poet, singer, essayist, publisher, literary critic and biographer. He is considered the first biographer and literary critic of Nepali litera ...
in 1887 after he found the manuscript and took it to
Benaras
Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.
*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic tra ...
, India for printing. One of Acharya's works is well known for its colorful, glowing praise of Kathmandu valley and its inhabitants. Although he is one of the most celebrated and revered poets of Nepal, his works are not as famous as other poets in the history of Nepali literature. Ramayana, which Acharya originally translated into Nepali, was also translated into English more than a century later; it is considered the first translation in English that is published in Nepal.
Notable works
Epic poem
* ''
Bhanubhakta Ramayana
''Bhanubhakta Ramayana'' (), commonly known as ''Ramayan'', is the Nepali translation of Valmiki Ramayana by ''Adikavi'' Bhanubhakta Acharya. It was posthumously published in its complete form in 1887. ''
Poems
* ''Amarawati Kantipuri Nagari''
* ''Ghansi''
* ''Badhu Shiksha''
* ''Bhakta Mala''
* ''Khawmit Yes Girdhari Le''
* ''Roj Roj Darshan Paunchhu (Bholi Kabita)''
* ''Ma Bhanubhakta''
* ''Balaji Dekhyan''
* ''Prashnottar Mala''
Legacy
Bhanubhakta Acharya is revered and honoured with the title of ''Aadakabi'' (First-ever Poet) of Nepali language.
Motiram Bhatta
Motiram Bhatta ( ne, मोतीराम भट्ट) (1866–1896) (1923–1953 BS) was a Nepalese poet, singer, essayist, publisher, literary critic and biographer. He is considered the first biographer and literary critic of Nepali litera ...
, first referred to him as Adikavi while writing Acharya's biography in 1981. He clarifies that Acharya is not called ''Aadikavi'' because he was the first poet in Nepal but he deserved the title as he was the first poet who wrote with an understanding of the ''Marma'' (inner essence) of the poetry.
Bhanu Jayanti is a celebration of the birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya. It falls on the 29th day of the month of
Ashad according to
Nepali calendar Nepali calendar can refer to:
* Vikram Samvat, the official calendar in Nepal
* Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat, also spelled as Nepala Sambata, (Nepal Bhasa: , Nepali: ) is the lunisolar calendar used by the Newari people of Nepal. The Calendar era ...
. It is celebrated every year by the
Government of Nepal
The Government of Nepal ( ne, नेपाल सरकार) is the federal executive authority of Nepal. Prior to the abolition of the Nepali monarchy in 2006 (became republic in 2008), it was officially known as His Majesty's Government.
T ...
and Nepalese people as well as by the
Nepali
Nepali or Nepalese may refer to :
Concerning Nepal
* Anything of, from, or related to Nepal
* Nepali people, citizens of Nepal
* Nepali language, an Indo-Aryan language found in Nepal, the current official national language and a language spoken ...
speaking people around the world. cultural festival, prevalent among the
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
ese around the world in the remembrance of Bhanubhakta Acharya's birthday anniversary. It is generally celebrated on 13 July or the 29th day of the Nepali month of
Ashadh
Asharh ( bn, আষাঢ় ''āshāḍh'', or, ଆଷାଢ଼ ''āsāḍha'') is the third month of the Bengali and Odia calendars and the Nepali system of the Hindu calendar. It is the first of the two months that comprise the wet season, loca ...
.
Every year Bhanu Jayanti is celebrated as a mega event with literary seminars, and programs and amid a remarkable presence of Nepalese writers, novelists, and other literary figures/enthusiasts.
Gallery
File:Statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chundi Ramgha 01.jpg, Statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chundi Ramgha
File:Bhanu salik Nepal Academy5.JPG, Bhanubhakta's statue at Nepal Academy
The Nepal Academy ( ne, नेपाल प्रज्ञा–प्रतिष्ठान), formerly known as Royal Nepal Academy ( ne, नेपाल राजकीय प्रज्ञा–प्रतिष्ठान), is an autonomo ...
File:Aadikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya.jpg, Bust of Bhanubhakta Acharya
File:Bhanubhakta letter.jpg, Letter of Bhanubhakta Acharya to his son (1858)
File:Bhanubhakta statue.JPG, Statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chowrasta, Darjeeling
Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
File:Bhanu Ghansi Memorial ParkTanahu Ward No. 12 Byas Municipility Gandaki Pradesh Nepal Rajesh Dhungana (28).jpg, alt=Bust of Bhanubhakta at Bhanu Ghansi Memorial Park, Tanahun, Bust of Bhanubhakta at Bhanu Ghansi Memorial Park, Tanahun
Tanahun District ( ne, तनहुँ जिल्ला , or ), a part of Gandaki Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Damauli as its district headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2011) ...
See also
*
Ghansi
Ghansi or Ghasi () was a Nepali grasscutter who is best remembered for inspiring Bhanubhakta Acharya to translate the Sanskrit epic Ramayana into the Nepali language. He made money by cutting grass and selling it. Ghansi built a well in order to ...
, who inspired Bhanubhakta Acharya to translate the Sanskrit epic ''Ramayana''
*
Shakti Ballav Aryal
Shakti Ballav Aryal (; also known as Shakti Ballav Arjyal or Shakti Ballabh Aryal) was a Nepalese writer, translator, and a Hindu priest.
Aryal has translated numerous Sanskrit works in the Nepali-language including ''Mahabharat Virat Parva'' ...
References
External links
Bhanubhakta Acharya: Personalities of Literature from NepalBooks about Bhānubhakta Acharya in
Nepali
Nepali or Nepalese may refer to :
Concerning Nepal
* Anything of, from, or related to Nepal
* Nepali people, citizens of Nepal
* Nepali language, an Indo-Aryan language found in Nepal, the current official national language and a language spoken ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acharya, Bhanubhakta
Nepalese male poets
Nepali-language poets
1814 births
1868 deaths
Hindu poets
Nepalese Hindus
Nepalese translators
Translators of the Ramayana
Translators to Nepali
Translators from Sanskrit
People from Tanahun District
19th-century translators
19th-century poets
Bahun
19th-century Nepalese poets
Khas people
National heroes of Nepal