Madhava Kandali is the author of the Assamese version of the
Valmiki Ramayana. Madhava Kandali was patronized by the Barahi king Mahamanikya
of Jayantapura. The poet was regarded as a powerful and sensitive poet and for this reason he was known as Kaviraja Kandali, the king of poets..
Among the translations of Valmiki’s Ramayana, the Assamese version
of Madhava Kandali was the earliest – 14th
century AD. The Ramayana of Krittivasa was composed in the 15th century
AD, while Ramacharitamanasa by Tulsidas was composed in the 16th century AD.
The translations of Madhava Kandali are written in graceful
Assamese verse, without deviating from the original, however adding local
flavor with commendable ability.
…the Madhava Kandali version of Ramayana undergoes almost a
generic transformation. An idyllic beauty replaces the heroic tone of the
original. Where there was martial atmosphere and heroism, we now have the charm
of the sweet domestic life of an ideal father, mother, son and daughter and
brother. Much emphasis has been laid on homely virtues like devotion to
parents, veneration of the guru, affection for wife, importance of husband and
wife in family life, brother and friends, kindly feelings and courtesy to
common men. (B.K. Barua)
Sankaradeva, a distinguished saint-poet of Assam, learned
in philosophy and arts, praised Kandali as a flawless poet of a very high
order.
The poet never allowed autobiographical fragments to come into his works.
The poet never allowed autobiographical fragments to come into his works.
The 14th century Ramayana of Madhava Kandali
makes it clear that Sanskrit language was very much in use among the educated
Assamese people of that time. However, the Assamese language itself had a
tremendous growth and had reached its full grown status by then; otherwise, it would
not have been possible to translate such epics as the Ramayana.
The first as well as a final kanda of the work is still missing and is yet to be retrieved.
Another work of Madhava Kandali is Devajit, a work in which the greatness of Krishna over other incarnations of Lord Vishnu is attempted to establish.
The first as well as a final kanda of the work is still missing and is yet to be retrieved.
Another work of Madhava Kandali is Devajit, a work in which the greatness of Krishna over other incarnations of Lord Vishnu is attempted to establish.
Source –
Madhava Kandali Ramayana (2000) – Shanti Lal Nagar –
Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi
Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume VI page 312 - IHRF