Volume-XI, Issue-VI, November 2025 |
Different Treatment of non-Aryan Gods and Goddesses in Bengali Maṅgalkavyas Arati Sharma, Research Scholar, Department of History, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India |
Received: 02.11.2025 | Accepted: 12.11.2025 | Published Online: 30.11.2025 | Page No: 135-140 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.06W.166 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
Maṅgalkavyas were found in Bengal from the thirteenth century to the eighteenth century. It was praises of gods and goddesses, dedicated to various deities in medieval Bengal. Maṅgalkavya glorifies both male and female deities, but at times, it undervalues male deities. There is a differentiation between female and male deities, women deities portrayed as evil and despicable, and men as the opposite. A dual approach is evident here: women are portrayed as ferocious, while male deities are depicted as beyond this. Surprisingly, male and female deities came from non-Aryan backgrounds, and most writers of Maṅgalkavyas belong to a higher social status. They should then treat both male and female deities equally. So, why was there such discrimination between them? This paper explores the reasons behind the differential treatment of female and male non-Aryan deities. Gender and Brahmanical patriarchy were the main factors behind this inequality. This paper employs textual analysis of Maṅgalkavya, including Manasāmaṅgal and Dharmamaṅgal, as well as secondary sources. | ||
Keywords: Brahman Hierarchy, Goddesses, Hindu Pantheon, Maṅgalkavya, Non-Aryans, Treatments |