Parasuramer Krsnamangala – Review
Summary
This review discusses Nalini Nath Das Gupta’s edition of Parasurama’s Bengali mangala-kavya ‘Krsnamangala’. The reviewer notes that Krsna legends evoke strong emotions and are widely popular; medieval Bengal produced many mangala-kavyas celebrating deities, providing insights into religious and social life. While local ballads about Candi and Manasa were based on folk tales, the Krsna story drew on Puranic sources and had priestly approval. Authors adapted these sources with regional characteristics. Parasurama’s Krsnamangala is little known; Das Gupta edited the text using two manuscripts and provided a 192-page introduction that traces the evolution of the Krsna legend from early Upanishadic and Paninian references through Jataka tales to elaborate Puranic accounts. The introduction examines how Krsna evolved from historical figure to incarnate deity and assesses the reliability of Puranic sources. It also evaluates how Bengali authors preserved Bhagavata traditions and appraises Parasurama’s poetic style. The reviewer concludes that the edition will enrich studies of Bengali literature and Vaishnavism.
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Conclusion
The reviewer applauds Das Gupta’s edition of Parasurama’s Krsnamangala for illuminating the evolution of the Krsna legend and its adaptation in Bengal. By combining textual analysis with an extensive introduction the book offers valuable insights into Bengali Vaishnavism and devotional literature. It is expected to become an important resource for scholars of Bengali culture and religious history.