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Satyanarayaner Panchali a work of Middle Age Bangla pir (spiritual guide) literature, based on the stories of Satyanarayan or satya
pir. After the spread of Islam in Bengal, popular belief of pirs, modelled on Hindu deities, developed among the masses.
This is how the tradition of Satyapir, Satyanarayan,
Manikpir, Gazipir and the like evolved. Satyapir is the same person as
Satyanarayan; only one is associated with the Hindu and the other with
the Muslim community. The story of their births, legends, greatness and
vows are almost similar. It is largely because the newly converted Bengali
Muslims held on with many of their traditional beliefs and practices.
Poet Chandra (late 16th century) is said to be the earliest writer of
such panchali
(ballad-type poems). The later poets who wrote based on these stories
include Ghanaram Chakrabarty, Rameswar Bhattacharya, Dwija Bisweswar,
Fakir Chand, Kabi Shankar, Devakinandan, Shibchandra Sen, Bharatchandra
Ray. The vangiya
sahitya prishad published the works of poet Ballabh as Satyanarayaner
Punthi, and they were edited by abdul
karim sahityavisharad. [Ali Nawaz] |
