Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/220

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Laksman Bandyo- padhaya. Valaram Bandyo- padhaya, 1838 A. D. Ram’s character loses human interest. 190 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [ Chap plete manuscript of Cankara's works which, however, Kavi- chandra lived about the end of the 16th century. he is not able to publish for want of funds. The Ramayana by Laksmah Bandyopadhaya, was composed in the middle of the 17th century. The Ramayana, by Valaram Bandyopadhaya, was written in comparatively modern times. It was completed in 1838 A.D. Valaram Bandyopadhaya was born in the village of Meteri in the district of Nadia; he dedicated his works to Madhava, his household God. In the original poem of Valmiki, Ram chiefly In Adikanda and last— figures as a great man only. Uttarakanda,—the first which, according to scholars, did not form part of canto and the the original poem, there are incidents that prove In the other five kandas, or cantos, however, which we believe him to be an incarnation of Visnu. to be the genuine epic of Valmiki, he mainly appears to us as a great man guided by the noblest of impulses, and this high character requires no help of a mythological kind to commend him to the The Hindu mind, how- ever, has undergone a change since the original reverence of the people. epic was composed. Ram has now become, in the eyes of the people, an incarnation of Visau and his name for millions is asynonym for God. Toa writer

(42) Angad Raybar. (43) Kumbha Karner Raybar. (44) Draupadir Lajjanivaraha, (4s) Durvasar Paran. 46) Laksmaner Gakti Cela. Besides these honour of Civa. Kavichandra wrote a voluminous work ih