Ramacharitam, the masterful Sanskrit kavya by Sandhyakar Nandi, is more than a literary composition—it is an indispensable historical document that sheds light on the socio-political landscape of Bengal between the late 11th and early 12th century AD. Unique in structure and purpose, it is the only known Sanskrit work from ancient Bengal that uses contemporary historical events as its central theme, specifically the Varendra rebellion and the reign of Rampala of the Pala dynasty.
Born in a scholarly family and nurtured in the intellectual heartland of Varendra, Sandhyakar Nandi not only preserved the poetic traditions of classical India but also gave future historians a window into one of Bengal’s most turbulent periods.
Author and Historical Background
Sandhyakar Nandi was born around 1084 AD in a Kayastha family of Brihadbatu, a village near Pundravardhanapura (possibly modern Mahasthan in Bogura district). His father, Prajapati Nandi, served as Sandhivigrahika (Minister of Peace and War) in the court of Rampala (r. c. 1082–1124 AD), the mighty ruler of Gauda (Bengal).
Sandhyakar lived during a transformative time for Bengal—marked by political upheavals, religious flourishing, and literary excellence. He served under Madanapala (r. c. 1143–1162 AD), the last known significant ruler of the Pala dynasty, and ended his poetic work by wishing the king a long and prosperous reign.
The Ramacharitam: A Kavya of Dual Narratives
Ramacharitam is a Sanskrit kavya (poetic composition) consisting of 215 verses (though a Buddhist scribe, Shilachandra, mentions 220) and an appendix of 20 verses known as Kaviprashasti. This work is extraordinary for its use of the rare rhetorical device śleṣa (double entendre), wherein each verse conveys two simultaneous meanings:
- One narrative recounts the mythological story of Ramachandra, the hero of the Ramayana.
- The second narrative tells the contemporary political history of Rampala, king of Bengal.
This dual storytelling style is not only a literary marvel but also a political strategy—elevating Rampala by equating him with Rama, the epitome of dharma and kingship.
Structure and Style
The text is divided into four cantos (kāṇḍas):
- First Canto: Begins with mythical references to Rama’s life.
- Second Canto: Starts revealing the historical parallels with Rampala. The prose commentary (ṭīkā) preserved in one of two known manuscripts ends here at verse 35, making interpretation of the remaining verses difficult.
- Third Canto: Offers a detailed account of Varendra, the region of North Bengal, including its geography, flora, fauna, cities (notably Ramavati), pilgrimage sites, and monastic institutions like Jagaddala Mahavihara.
- Fourth Canto: Continues the historical narrative to the early reign of Madanapala.
The Kaviprashasti at the end provides autobiographical details. Here, Sandhyakar refers to himself as Kalikalavalmiki—the Valmiki of the Kali age—positioning his work within the great epic tradition.
Historical Significance
1. Documentation of the Varendra Rebellion
One of the most critical contributions of Ramacharitam is its first-hand account of the Varendra rebellion. During the reign of Mahipala II, the region of Varendra fell into the hands of the Kaivarta chief Divya (Divyoka). This event is symbolically equated with Ravana's abduction of Sita, while Rampala's campaign to recapture Varendra is compared with Rama’s expedition to Lanka.
This symbolic equivalence lends the kavya a deeper moral and religious justification for Rampala’s military actions and elevates him to epic stature. It also provides rare historical data about the causes, nature, and resolution of the uprising.
2. Geographical and Cultural Description of Varendra
In the first 18 verses of the third canto, Sandhyakar gives a vivid, though hyperbolic, description of Varendra—its fertile lands between the Ganges and the Karatoya rivers, its cities, temples, palaces, and monastic centers. These verses offer valuable insight into the physical and cultural geography of ancient North Bengal.
3. Political History of the Pala Dynasty
Beyond Rampala, Sandhyakar briefly covers the early Pala rulers in about ten verses, and then extensively narrates the achievements and lineage of Rampala up to the ascension of Madanapala. Thus, the text offers a continuous historical thread linking mythic ancestry with contemporary rule, presenting the Palas as upholders of dharma in the lineage of Rama.
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Limitations and Literary Caution
Despite its historical richness, Ramacharitam is not free from bias. It is a courtly panegyric, and Sandhyakar’s portrayal of Rampala is unabashedly glorifying. He minimizes the roles of others and sidesteps criticisms. Therefore, while Ramacharitam is a precious historical document, historians must approach it with critical caution, separating fact from poetic exaggeration.
Rediscovery and Editions
The modern world owes its knowledge of Ramacharitam to Haraprasad Shastri, who discovered a palm-leaf manuscript and published the Sanskrit text in 1910. Later editions followed:
- 1939: Included English translation.
- 1953: Bengali translation was published.
Only two manuscripts of Ramacharitam have been discovered so far—one with a prose commentary, which helps decode the historical narrative embedded in the poetic double meaning. However, the commentary ends midway, leaving parts of the kavya open to scholarly interpretation.
Conclusion
Sandhyakar Nandi’s Ramacharitam is not merely a Sanskrit kavya—it is a rare fusion of epic imagination and contemporary historiography, an elegant vessel of literary art, political thought, and cultural memory. Through his unique use of śleṣa, Sandhyakar succeeded in creating a multilayered masterpiece that places Bengal's political struggles into the framework of divine epic narratives.
For students of Indian literature, Bengali history, or Sanskrit poetics, Ramacharitam is an invaluable primary source—a poetic chronicle that breathes life into a long-past era, with all its heroism, upheaval, and splendor.