The Pancha Sakha or the Five Friends were a group of five poet-philosophers who heralded great change in Medieval Odisha (also known as Udra Desa). These scholars translated Hindu texts written in Sanskrit into simple prose, that could be easily understood by the common folk.  

The Pancha Sakha resided in the court of Gajapati Prataprudra (1497-1533/4 AD). Here they met, at different periods in time, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was their mentor. They were also inspired by Sarala Dasa, a farmer belonging to the Shudra caste, who also translated epics into Odia. The Pancha Sakha poets followed in the tradition of Sarala Dasa. They wrote against social inequalities and these works became a form of ‘protest literature’. 

However, not much is known about these great men. Mystery shrouds their induction to the royal court and their knowledge of Sanskrit caused wonder, for they were from different castes. How and where did they learn Sanskrit? Did they listen to the chanting of mantras by the Brahmins at court and master the language? Who helped them understand these verses? It is fascinating to know that they shaped Vaishnava philosophy, spiritualism and literature in Odisha. 

Balarama Dasa (1472-1556) 

Balarama Dasa was the eldest of the poets. He was the son of a minister in the king’s court, named Somanatha Mahapatra, who hailed from the village Erabaga in the district of Puri. Somanatha was well-educated and proficient in Sanskrit. Balarama too, learnt Sanskrit and became a devotee of Lord Jagannatha. In his later years, he met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who spent his last years in Puri. Balarama translated the Ramayana into Odia and called it Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana. In this work, he deviated from the original and created new narratives. He also faced persecution from priests for his temerity in translating the Bhagavad Gita, since theological and philosophical texts and scriptures had been handed down from generation to generation only in Sanskrit. 

Jagannatha Dasa (1490/1-1550) 

Jagannatha Dasa was born into a Brahmin family in Kapileswar Sasana village in Puri. His learned father was bestowed the title of ‘Purana Panda’ for his rendering of the holy verses. Jagannatha was trained by his father to become a scholar as well. Deemed to be ‘very great’, it is said Chaitanya Mahaprabhu  bestowed Jagannatha Dasa with the title of ‘Ati Abdi’. It was he who composed lyrical poems from the traditional Radha- Krishna themes, with their devotional fervour, in colloquial speech. He also introduced poetry on ‘Rasa Lila’ (the wondrous dance of Krishna and the gopis). His notable works include Sri Krishna Lila and Artha Tattva. 

Achyutananda Dasa (1510-1631) 

Achyutananda Dasa was born near Cuttack and his grandfather, Gopinatha Mohanty, had served in the army of the Gajapati king. He was the most prolific writer in this group. Achyutananda had studied Ayurveda, Yoga and other sciences. His books were called Pothis. A poet-philosopher, he changed the narrative ballads and wrote short lyrical poems that were intensely devotional and found favour with the commonfolk. Some of his poems even bordered upon the erotic and were disapproved of by older Sanskrit scholars. 

Yasobanta Dasa (b. 1487) 

Born into a Kshatriya family in the village of Adhanga in present-day Jagatsinghpur, Yasobanta Dasa was married to the sister of a king. However, he renounced family ties and took the vow of a Sanyasi.  Yasobanta journeyed to Puri inspired by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was then resident at Court. He was initiated into Vaishnavism whilst in Puri. Yasobanta Dasa’s noted translations are Gobinda Chandra, Siba Swarodaya and Prema Bhakta Brahma Gita. 

Ananta Dasa (b. 1475) 

Born in Balipatana near Bhubaneswar, Ananta Dasa dreamt he must go to Puri and meet Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He remained in Puri and began his writing. He was noted for his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, ‘Amrutakana’, which was widely acclaimed. In his Udaya Bhagavata, he portrays Lord Jagannatha as the combined form of Radha and Krishna. His poetry too, was appreciated during his time. Ananta Dasa crusaded for the removal of caste discrimination, child marriage and widow remarriage – six hundred years ago! 

These inspirational men were rebels of a kind, who brought our ancient culture and literature into the lives of all in their region. 

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The Sufis were saints or mystics of Persia who formed themselves into several orders and spread out to distant lands. Some of them lived as householders.

Khwaja Muinnudin

Khwaja Muinnudin of the Chishti order came to India in the 12th century and settled down at Ajmer. His piety and humility endeared him to Hindus and Muslims alike. They affectionately called him Garib Nawaz, one who cherishes the humble. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for his following all over the world.

Baba Farid

After his raid on Delhi in 1398, Taimur was returning home to Samarkand, laden with gold and riches. Suddenly, at a place in Punjab, the caravan stopped. The horse refused to move. Taimur became furious. When told that the place was sanctified, Taimur demanded to know by whom. A voice answered:

“Baba Farid, the king of kings.”

Taimur, the story goes, bowed to the memory of the saint and spent the night at the Dargah (or tomb) of Baba Farid.

Baba Farid was popularly known as Ganj-Shakkar or the treasurer of sweetness. It is said that, as a child, he would get some sugar from his mother after every prayer. One day, she forgot to put it under the prayer mat. But, by some divine power, sugar did appear when Farid turned to take his reward! His hymns are included in the Granth Sahib, the Holy book of the Sikhs. He would say,

“Do not give me scissors. Give me a needle. I sew, I do not cut.”

Nizamuddin Auliya

Another great Sufi was Nizamuddin Auliya who settled in Delhi and spent his life in the service of God and his creatures. Around his tomb has grown a settlement popularly referred to as “Sufi Basti”.

Sheikh Salim 

Sheikh Salim Chishti, a Sufi saint during the reign of Emperor Akbar, had settled down at Sikri near Agra. It was with his blessings that a son was born to Akbar. The child, named Salim after the saint, later became known as Emperor Jahangir. Akbar built a marble tomb for the saint at Fatehpur Sikri.

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