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Question

' Chandimangala ' was composed in which one of the following languages during the 16 th century CE ?

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2019 Elementary Mathematics Previous Year Paper (03-Feb-2019)
The correct answer is

Bengali

Understanding the Chandimangala Kavya

The question asks about the language in which the literary work 'Chandimangala' was composed during the 16th century CE. The Chandimangala is a significant piece of medieval Indian literature, specifically within the Mangalakavya tradition.

Language of Composition: Chandimangala

The 'Chandimangala' Kavya is primarily associated with the literary tradition of Bengal. It is a major work written in the Bengali language.

  • The composition flourished during the 16th century and into the 17th century CE.
  • One of the most famous and widely accepted versions is by the poet Mukundaram Chakrabarty, who composed his 'Chandimangala' around the late 16th century.
  • These works narrate the story of the goddess Chandi and her interactions with devotees, aiming to glorify the deity and promote her worship.
  • The language used is medieval Bengali, reflecting the linguistic developments of the time in the Bengal region.

Examining the Options

Let's look at why the other options are not correct based on the historical and regional context of the 'Chandimangala':

  • Sanskrit: While Sanskrit was the language of classical literature, scriptures, and scholarly works across India, the Mangalakavya tradition, including 'Chandimangala', developed in regional languages to reach a wider audience. 'Chandimangala' is a regional literary tradition, not a Sanskrit one.
  • Tamil: Tamil is a prominent Dravidian language spoken predominantly in South India. The 'Chandimangala' tradition belongs to the Eastern Indian linguistic and cultural sphere, specifically Bengal.
  • Oriya: Oriya (or Odia) is the language of Odisha, a state neighboring West Bengal. While Odisha has its own rich literary tradition, the 'Chandimangala' Kavya is distinctly a Bengali literary form and was composed in Bengali.

Therefore, based on the literary history of the period and region, the 'Chandimangala' was composed in the Bengali language.

Literary Work Probable Century of Flourishing (Prominent versions) Language of Composition Region of Origin
Chandimangala 16th - 17th Century CE Bengali Bengal

Conclusion

The 'Chandimangala' was a significant literary work of the 16th century CE composed in the Bengali language.

Revision Table: Chandimangala Kavya Facts

Feature Description
Name Chandimangala
Literary Genre Mangalakavya
Primary Language Bengali
Key Period of Composition 16th - 17th Century CE (Mukundaram Chakrabarty's version: late 16th Century)
Region Bengal (present-day West Bengal, India and Bangladesh)
Theme Glorification of Goddess Chandi, her myths and interactions with devotees.

Additional Information: Mangalakavya Tradition

The Mangalakavya is a genre of Bengali religious poetry. These poems were composed to glorify various deities and narrate their stories, often focusing on how the worship of the deity was established on Earth, usually overcoming resistance from humans or other gods. The term 'Mangala' means auspicious, suggesting these poems were recited or sung for welfare and prosperity.

Key characteristics of Mangalakavyas:

  • They are typically long narrative poems.
  • They mix mythical elements with descriptions of everyday life and society of the time.
  • Prominent Mangalakavyas include Manasamangala (for goddess Manasa), Chandimangala (for goddess Chandi), and Dharmamangala (for Dharma Thakur).
  • They played a crucial role in the spread of Puranic and local deity cults among the populace in medieval Bengal.
  • They are valuable sources for understanding the social history and religious beliefs of the period in Bengal.

The composition of Mangalakavyas flourished during the medieval period in Bengal, making significant contributions to the development of Bengali literature.

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