মধ্যযুগের বাংলা সাহিত্যে মালাকার, মালী ও মালিনী : বিদ্যাপতির কবিতায় মালার অবিস্মরণীয় শিল্পরূপ/ Garland makers in Bengali medieval literature -- remarkable art form of garland in Vidyapati's poetry

Abstract

Allusion of garland comes frequently in poetry of Vidyapati. The community of garland- makers, weaving garlands of flowers, a beautiful artistry, are Lord Biswakarma's sons, according to Brahmabaibarta Puran. Defying the angry glares of Brahmanism, they all sought for their independent entity, but fell as a consequence of their curse. In Bengali literature, we get the existence of garland-maker community in the folktale 'Puspamala' of 'Thakurdadar Jhuli' by Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumdar. We find garland-makers in 'Padmapuran' by Bijoy Gupta. Garland maker Kajla Kamini is an amazing artisan in 'Manasamangal' of Ketakadas Kshemananda. In Kablkankan's 'Chandimangal' the community of garland-makers settle themselves in Gujrat city at the time of its set up. Hira malini is a wonderful craftsman in 'Annadamangal' by Bharatchandra'. She decorates garlands of different flowers exquisitely. Hence poetry becomes poetry of flowers. Sri Chaitanyadev himself is a unique garland-maker in Krishnadas Kabiraj's 'Chaitanyacharitamrita'. Vidyapati is always allured by garlands of malati most besides lotus and kadamba. Garland of diamond, pearl and rudraksha also are found in plenty in Vidyapati's poetry. In his poetry, tenderness of flowers brilliantly signifies the beauty and passion of love. Garlands also are the symbol of the exhaustive union of Lord Krishna and Radha. With mastered sensibility and tolerance he uses garlands as the open space for love. Unlike reverent Baisnabas of sixteenth century, garlands in Vjdyapati's poetry are resounding in vitality of life.