Bhanu Jayanti

Bhanujayanti: A tribute to Bhanubhakta from Nepal

"Background of Bhanu jayanti"

On the day of Asar 29th, every year Bhanu Jayanti is celebrated. Bhanubhakta Acharya was born in 1871 BS in a place called Chundi Ramgha in present-day Tanahu district to a wealthy family.

Bhanu Bhakta and the rise and fall of Khas language

As a Brahmin family was born, the education and upbringing of Bhanubhakta was done accordingly in religious and cultural disciplines. The present-day Nepali language was then called "Khas" language and this language was limited to general expressions rather than written ones. With the defeat of the "Khas" kings in the 15th century, the "Khas" language was also gradually ignored. He was the first Nepali language poet to express the essence of emotion inside the alphabetic map of Nepali language and words. That is why Bhanubhakta is called Adikavi. Bhanubhakta has immortalized his name because of his good deeds and outstanding contribution to Nepali language. His father Dhananjaya Acharya was a government official, who worked for General Amar Singh Thapa. Later Bhanubhakta, the son of Dhanjaya Acharya became the first poet of Nepal to write in Nepali language.

Bhanubhakta then transcribed the entire Ramayana from Sanskrit into simple Nepali. Surprisingly, even though it was translated, the Ramayana of the Nepali version is divinely a combination of verse and emotion. To put it more broadly, Bhanubhakta can be said to have expanded the easy access of all Nepali by simplifying study and knowledge through language.

Inspiration of the grass cutter/ Ghasi

Bhanubhakta has learned from his society and environment, so his work is a confluence of society and practicality. In the life of a Bhanubhakta, a grass cutter has inspired him, simple grass cutter magnificently inspired Bhanubhakta and thus Bhanubhakta started to his pursuit of words and meanings. Even though the grass cutter is poor, the money earned by cutting the grass digs a well for drinking water for the society.

Even though Bhanubhakta is richer than Ghansi (Grasscutter), he feels remorse for not doing anything for the society. Assimilating the fact of contributing to society, Bhanubhakta starts to contribute in his way, through words, meanings, poetry, and Nepali simplification of complex Sanskrit creations. The stories and sub-stories of Balakanda, Aranyakanda, Sunderkanda, Yuddhakanda, etc. in the Ramayana have provided entertainment, social, moral, and character education to the Nepali readers.