Religion of Kavikankana Mukundarama Cakravarti

Summary

Examining the religious views of the Bengali poet Mukundaram Chakravarti, also known as Kavikankana, this article argues that his works reveal an eclectic synthesis of medieval Hindu beliefs rather than a strict adherence to Vaishnavism. By analysing passages from his poems and commentaries, the author shows that Mukundaram revered multiple deities—Rama, Krishna, Durga, Shiva—and acknowledged the teachings of the Smritis. He praised bhakti but did not condemn Vedic rituals; he portrayed Vaisyas as devotees of Vishnu while appreciating Saiva and Shakta traditions. The essay contends that Mukundaram’s emphasis on social duties and his inclusion of detailed descriptions of food, festivals and household customs suggest that he was rooted in the Smarta tradition of Bengal, which balanced devotion to several gods. In conclusion, the poet’s work illustrates the pluralistic religious milieu of late medieval Bengal, where personal devotion coexisted with respect for scriptural orthodoxy.