Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh
BHANUBHAKTA was a pioneer poet of Nepali language and literature. He was a multi-talented leading litterateur of his time. .He was a good translator and well versed writer widely read in Nepal and India especially in the whole Nepalese literary world. First of all this great poet of talent translated the great epic Ramayan from Sanskrit to Nepali. So he is respected and remembered every year on the auspicious occasion of his birth anniversary. He was a famed scholar of Sanskrit. That’s why he dared to translate the great epic Adhyatm Ramayan composed by Brahmarshi Balmiki. Sanskrit is the mother of all languages because of its rich and renowned vocabulary. Sanskrit was the dominant language in his time. So he began to write in Nepali which was the language of general people. This way he popularized Nepali among ordinary people whether they were literate or not. This was his greatest contribution to the Nepali language and literature. He used to write for the common people. So he wrote Prasnottari, Badhu Siksha, Bhaktamala and Ram Geeta. He tried his level best to represent common people in his writings.
He was the well -wisher of common people. So he wrote for their welfare.
He started his monumental work the Ramayan to fulfill this purpose. He has expressed his inner desire in the following poetic verse”
“Ek din Narad Satyalok pugigaya lokko garaun hit bhani.” This is the whole and sole subject of his Ramayan in short. He proved himself a perfect preacher to reform his contemporary society. To fulfill his purpose, he wrote Badhu Siksha. He gives good lessons to daughter-in-law to behave with her mother-in-law well. This is not limited to one family only but for all the families. So his work Badhu Siksha became the source of inspiration for many. This was his practical experience when he was the guest of Giridhar Soti. He heard the heated argument between the mother- in-law and daughter-in-law. He understood the true psychology of womenfolk. He was determined to eradicate these social evils from his contemporary. He was not only a poet but a true preacher also. He was also a successful satirist poet. So he expressed satirical remarks to the wife of Gajadhar Soti. He was compelled to pass some satirical remarks to reform her.
He was a devoted devotee of Lord Rama. So he wrote the story of Rama in lyrical rhythm. This made him popular far and wide. There is a vast scope of comparative study but unfortunately there is no comparative study department in any universities of Nepal at present. He can be compared with the great poet Balmiki of Sanskrit language , a prominent poet Tulasi Das of Awadhi language and Chanda Jha, a meritorious poet of Maithili language. Prof. Surdeo Singh Prabhakar has earned his PhD in ‘comparative study of Bhanubhaka and Tulasi Das’ from the University of Allahabad, India long time back. But his thesis is unpublished up till now. Prof. Dhundhiraj Bhandari wrote an article ‘a comparative study of Bhanubhakta and Tulasi Das’ which appeared in the research magazine of the Royal Nepal Academy named Pragya. I also wrote an article on the comparative study of Bhanubhakta and Tulasi Das which also appeared in the same magazine .I presented a detailed study of comparative study of the Ram Katha (the Story of Ram) of Bhanubhakta and Ram Katha of Tulasi Das in the World Sanskrit Seminar held in Kathmandu, organized by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu two years back. Scholar Ram Chandra Poudel has also done research on the comparative study of Bhanubhakta and Balmiki. Prof Jayraj Acharya has written a book named’ Bhanubhakta Acharya: His life and Selected Poems (2011) in which he has highlighted his valuable contribution in Nepali language and literature. He has also touched upon slightly on the need of comparative study about of Bhanubhakta and other some Asian poets especially Tulasi Das of neighboring country India .He also encountered the sufficient influence of Sanskrit but he chose to compose and complete Ram Charit Manas in Awadhi language. Sanskrit dominated most of the written texts of South Asia and its influence was especially strong in Nepal also. Brahmins were especially fond of Sanskrit language and literature. They were the torch-bearers of the then high caste society. They were the teachers, preachers, scholars and priests of their contemporary society by virtue of high caste. But Bhanubhakta was bold enough to break this stronghold of Sanskrit. So he became very famous overnight. He caught the pulse of the common people and wrote his Ramayan in Nepali because he was a foresighted poet like other great poets. .When he completed his translation work, his translation of the Ramayan proved so lyrical that it became very favorite of his fraternity. His total ideas and inspirations were original. He made it possible to reach the true story of Lord Rama to every common Nepali. He is pioneer in this field and we respect him as one of the propagator and popular architects of Nepali language and literature.
He was highly influenced and inspired by an ordinary grass cutter. He was laboring hard to save some money to dig a well for his villagers to quench their thirst. Bhanubhakta was born with silver spoon in his mouth. He had everything to support himself. He considered that it is his pious duty to do something for the welfare of his villagers. He was very kind to his villagers. Since he was a true poet at his heart, who was also very sensitive, so he moved at the pitiable plight of poor villagers. Now he has become household name.
The Ramayana is considered fountainhead of happiness, bliss and spiritual satisfaction for the religious minded people. It is also a source of salvation for some votaries of Lord Ram. He dwells again and again on the all-pervading and all-encompassing wonders of Ram’s bountiful grace. Ram is the Lord of all creations and who is adored by Brahma, Shiva, Sheshnag, and all the high sages, masters of the Vedas. The eternal source of all good for Bhanubhakta is devotion to Ram and the essence of wisdom is undying faith in Him; trust in his sovereignty. Now he is a national icon. He will shine in the firmament of Nepali language and literature forever. Credit should be given to Dr. Micheal Hutt.
Who translated his Ramayan into English?
The main motto of these three great poets was to describe the story of Lord Ram and highlight his pious deeds. So the comparative study has become an urgent need of the day. The essence of righteousness is to hold fast to this doctrine, and worship the lotus.-feet of Ram. The source of all glory is love of Ram.
In the end I would like to quote:
“Bhanubhakta Acharya( 1814-1869) had to his credit a number of poetical works including the acclaimed Bhanubhakta Ramayana as an adapted form of the Balmiki Ramayana. The lyrical poem included here has depicted impression of the capital city of Kathmandu when he first arrived from his Native village of Tanahun in the hills.
“The City of Kantipur
Where damsels, lively and fair,
With narcissus in their hair
Wander about in pairs,
Kantipur is an Amaravati in itself.”
(Trans. Keshar Lal: Nepalese Literature, p. 1)