Mangalakavyas and Its Tryst with Islam: The Creation of a Unique Regional Tradition in Bengal

Abstract

The Mangalakavya literature evolved during the somewhat violent cross currents of competing religious cultures during the political ascendancy of Islam in the region, hence the functional meanings of these texts cannot be grasped without underling their relationship with the threats posed by Islam. Basically Mangalakavyas are seen as texts composed to contain Islamic influence, but in the process of resisting Islam how it contributed in the creation of a unique regional tradition of Bengal, that is actually an amalgam of myriad beliefs and cultures, shall be the scope of this present discussion.