Jadumani Mahapatra

Jadumani Mahapatra (alternatively spelled Mohapatra; Jadumaṇi Mahāpātra, ; 1781–1866) also known as Utkala Ghanta was an Odia language poet, humorist and satirist, who was principal poet during the rule of King Vinayak Singh Mandhata of Nayagarh princely state in present day Odisha. He was known for his devotional songs and poems, and also his wit and satire.

Biography

Born at Athagada Patana of Ganjam, his family shifted to Itamati in present Nayagarh district of Odisha when Jadumani was just a child. He studied Sanskrit grammar from Vidyadhar Mohapatra of Mandhatapur. There is a story about his being the humorist poet in Odiya language. It is said that once given a mantra by a yogi (saint) he meditated upon Lord Hayagriba (one of the incarnations of lord Vishnu according to Hindu mythology) for His blessing. When the Lord appeared before him and asked him to express his wish, he to the God's utmost pleasure told how He cleans His nose as He is occupied with different aayudhas (weapons and other armaments) in all his hands, to which the God could not prevent Himself laughing, and blessed him to be a humorist poet from that day and he can write poems instantly without any imagination and thinking at any place, not only restricted to study rooms as poets usually do to write poems. It is also said that as he used the bamboo mat usually left by a dead person's family members at samshan (cremation ground) while chanting the Hayagriba mantra, for that reason (chanting of Hayagriba mantra sitting on bamboo seat is prohibited in tantra shastra, and thus results with negative effects—poverty) he was poor throughout the life even though he was the dewan (administrative officer) of the king of Nayagarh. He composed invocations and prayers for Lord Jagannath, the deity of Jagannath Temple at Puri. His noted works include two longer poems in ornate riti-kal style, Raghava Vilasa and Prabandha Purnachandra.

He was a contemporary of Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha. Once when he was in Puri at lord Jagannath temple while offering his prayer for his son's death, he met Baladeba Ratha who was also singing the sarpa janana (a song comparing Jagannath with a snake) after his son's death. Both great poets of Odisha knew each other from the caliber of each one's song (the depth and meaning of the song which are very high).

It is said that he once asked a question to the elderly Bakrabak Chakrapani Pattanayaka who had first asked a question to Jadumani. Jadumani easily answered the question put by Chakrapani but the latter could not provide the former's. For readers fond of riti kavya (classic poetry—ornamented with word mastery), below is that very question asked by Utkal Ghanta Jadumani Mohapatra.

The answer to the above question is abira (or fagu / falgu in Odiya or color used in Holi). The meaning justifies as follows: abira'''s vibrant color defeats the color of the sun (Answer 1), 'abira' means who is not bira (or warrior) he can sell his weapon to earn a living (Answer 2), 'abira' = abi (goat in Odiya)+ ra (possessive)meaning that goat always fears to go near to water (Answer 3), and 'abira' = (a (vishnu)+bi (pakshi or [bird])+ ra (possessive)) which means Garuda the vahana of Lord Vishnu who never fears snakes (Answer 4). This single question raised as a poem shows the versatility of Jadumani's word mastery and the depth and breadth of his poetry.

There are many books written about Jadumani and his literature. Many books were written about his witty replies to people. One of such books is Utkala Ghanta Jadumanikruta Prabandha Purnachandra ra Chandrakanti Tika'', written by ୰Pandita Chandramani Pradhan and Dr. Sukanti Mohanty, resident of Itamati, Dist. Nayagarh district.

Jadumani died in 1868 in the village Itamati, Dist. Nayagarh district.