আখ্যানের অন্তঃস্থলে লোকায়ত সমাজ : বিজয় গুপ্তের পদ্মাপুরাণ/ Folk Society at the Core of the Narrative : Bijay Gupta’s Padmapurana

Abstract

This article explores the folk elements and folk traditions embedded in Bijay Gupta’s Padmapurana, one of the significant texts of medieval Bengali Mangal-Kavya literature. Written in the late fifteenth century, the poem

reflects the life, beliefs, customs, and cultural practices of rural Bengal. The study argues that Mangal-Kavyas originated from indigenous Bengali traditions and incorporated numerous aspects of folk culture into their narratives.

         The article begins by discussing the concept of folklore, a term first used by William John Thoms in 1846. Folklore is understood as the collective cultural heritage of a community, including its customs, beliefs, rituals, stories, songs, and everyday practices. The author emphasizes that folklore serves as an important medium through which the identity and worldview of common people are preserved and transmitted across generations.

         Drawing upon Padmapurana, the study identifies several categories of folk traditions, including verbal traditions, belief- and ritual-centered traditions, material culture, gesture-based traditions, action-centered traditions, and artistic or graphic traditions. Folk sayings, proverbs, tales, songs, and oral narratives appear frequently in the text, revealing the experiences and collective wisdom of rural society.

         The poem also preserves a rich record of folk customs associated with birth, education, marriage, and social ceremonies. Rituals such as prenatal observances, annaprashan (first rice-feeding ceremony), horoscope consultation, auspicious date selection, wedding ceremonies, and the singing of Mangal songs illustrate the social practices of the period. Folk beliefs concerning dreams, omens, astrology, magical practices, and snake-related customs are also prominently represented.

         Furthermore, Padmapurana offers valuable insights into the material culture of medieval Bengal. The text contains descriptions of food habits, cooking practices, clothing, ornaments, musical instruments, houses, boats, elephants, horses, and other aspects of everyday life. Seasonal songs such as the Baromasya and Behula’s lyrical expressions vividly portray the joys, sorrows, hopes, and struggles of ordinary people.

         The article concludes that Bijay Gupta successfully integrated folk life and folk culture into the narrative structure of Padmapurana. As a result, the poem serves not only as a literary work but also as an important cultural document that preserves the collective memory, traditions, and social life of medieval Bengali folk society.