{{Short description|18th-century Odia writer}} {{Use British English|date=July 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox writer | embed = | honorific_prefix = | name = Brajanath Badajena | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Brajanath Patnaik | birth_date = {{Birth date text|1729}} | birth_place = [[Dhenkanal, India|Dhenkanal]], [[Odisha]], [[India]] | death_date = {{Death year and age|1799|1729}} | death_place = [[Puri]] | resting_place = | occupation = | language = [[Odia Language|Odia]] | nationality = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | home_town = | period = | genres = Poetry, Fictional Prose <!-- or: | genres = --> | movement = Riti Juga | notableworks = Samara Taranga, Chatura Binoda<!-- or: | notablework = --> | children = | relatives = | awards = Kabi Bhusana | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = | module = | portaldisp = <!-- "on", "yes", "true", etc.; or omit --> }}

'''Brajanath Badajena''' (1729–1799) was an [[Odia Language|Odia]] poet best known for his historical ballad ''[[Samara Taranga]]''. He was born in [[Dhenkanal, India|Dhenkanal]]. Brajanath was patronized by several local rulers. His work was ''Samara Taranga'' appreciated the king of Dhenkanal for which he was given the title of Badajena.<ref name="Indian History Congress 1976 p.245-251 ">{{cite book | author=Indian History Congress | title=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress | issue=v. 37 | year=1976 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5eBtAAAAMAAJ | access-date=2019-07-12 | pages=245–251}}</ref><ref name="Mohanty Patnaik Ratha Das p.333 ">{{cite book | last1=Mohanty | first1=G. | last2=Patnaik | first2=J.K. | last3=Ratha | first3=S.K. | last4=Das | first4=H.C. | last5=Pattanayak | first5=A.K. | last6=Satpathy | first6=H. | title=Cultural Heritage of &#91;Orissa&#93;: Dhenkanal | publisher=State Level Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Smruti Samsad | series=Cultural Heritage of Orissa | year=2002 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cENQAQAAIAAJ | access-date=2019-07-12 | page=333| isbn=9788190276153 }}</ref>

==Family== Brajanath Badajena was born Brajanath Patnaik to Balukeswar Patnaik in a [[Karan (caste)|Karan]] family.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Congress |first=Indian History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5eBtAAAAMAAJ&q=Brajanath+badajena+Karan |title=Proceedings |date=1976 |publisher=Indian History Congress |language=en}}</ref> His family were descendants of 16th century poet [[Raghu Arakhita]]. He had three siblings who were serving the king of Dhenkanal. He was well versed in many languages such as Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali and Telugu.<ref name="Dāsa Mishra Baḍajenā Behera 1987 p. 7">{{cite book | last1=Dāsa | first1=J. | last2=Mishra | first2=P.K. | last3=Baḍajenā | first3=B. | last4=Behera | first4=S.C. | author5=Sambalpur University. Museum | title=The Bhāgavata Purāna, an Illustrated Oriya Palmleaf Manuscript, Parts VIII-IX | publisher=Abhinav Publications | year=1987 | isbn=978-81-7017-219-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgUS6I_Rd3EC&pg=PA7 | language=en | access-date=2019-07-12 | page=7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Baḍajenā |first=Brajanātha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFIuAAAAMAAJ&q=brajanath+badajena |title=War Waves |date=1980 |publisher=Prativa Kumari Devi |language=en}}</ref>

==Writing==

His major works were before introduction of printing press in Odisha. So all of his works are found in the form of Palm leaf manuscript.<ref name="Dāsa Mishra Baḍajenā Behera 1987 p. 7" /> He has experimented with different forms of and styles of writing. He wrote ''Chatura Binoda'' (English translation "Four Tales of amusement" ) around 1770.<ref name="Mukherjee 1998 p. 73">{{cite book | last=Mukherjee | first=S. | title=A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 | publisher=Orient Longman | year=1998 | isbn=978-81-250-1453-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC&pg=PA16 | access-date=2019-07-12 | page=73}}</ref> This is regarded as one of the earliest Odia Fictional prose.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi 2001 p. ">{{cite book | author=Sahitya Akademi | title=Indian Literature | publisher=Sahitya Akademi. | issue=v. 45, nos. 4–6 | year=2001 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=71XhAAAAMAAJ | access-date=2019-07-12 }}</ref> The main story of this work is the romance between a prince and a rich merchant's daughter. There are several stories that follow when these 2 characters meet which in turn have more subplots. This form of fiction writing was not new but the usage of language makes it a nearly modern work.

His magnum opus is ''Samara Taranga'' (English translation "Wave of war"), ballad written on Maratha -Dhenkanal war of 1781. He was an eyewitness to the battles and the poem is a testimony to the events. It has been historically accurate as the events and places mentioned have been corroborated by other sources. The king of Dhenkanal was pleased with his work and granted him a village named Nuagaon near the river Brahmani.<ref name="Indian History Congress 1976 p.245-251 "/>

His known works are listed below<ref name="Datta 1987 p. 320">{{cite book | last=Datta | first=A. | title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo | publisher=Sahitya Akademi | year=1987 | isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA320 | access-date=2019-07-12 | page=320}}</ref>

=== Odia Poems and Ballads === * Ambika Bilasa * Bidesha Anuchinta * Bichakshana * Chandi Malasri * Dasapoi * Gopi Bilapa * Kelikalanidhi * Rajananku Chalokti * Janana O Sangeeta * Rajasabha * Samara Taranga * Syamarasotsava

===Odia Prose=== * Chatura Binoda

===Hindi Poem=== * Gundicha Bije

==Later life==

While a gifted poet/author he has had a difficult life. He was patronized by many kings such as Dhenkanal, [[Keonjhar State|Keonjhar]]. He however moved around from place to place to earn a livelihood. He spent later part of his life at [[Puri]] during the reign of Gajapati DibyaSimha Deva II .<ref name="Datta 1987 p. 320"/>

==See also== * [[List of Indian poets]]

==References== {{Reflist}}{{Odissi music}}{{Odia literature}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Badajena, Brajanath}} [[Category:18th-century Indian poets]] [[Category:People from Dhenkanal district]] [[Category:Odia-language poets]] [[Category:Poets from Odisha]] [[Category:Odissi music composers]] [[Category:1729 births]] [[Category:1799 deaths]]