Banamali Dasa

Banamali Dasa (1720-1793) is an Indian medieval Odia bhakta-poet from the state of Odisha. "Dinabandhu daitari", "Kete chanda jane lo sahi" and "Manima he etiki maguni mora" are some of his notable writings that are used in Odissi. His songs are popularly sung in festivals, public gatherings and in Odissi dance. He is considered as the foremost poet of the medieval Odia bhakti-literature Started with writing rustic Erotic Poetry, he later began to compose "bhakti"-poetry which gained larger acceptance and popularity among the other contemporary poets of his time. Typically, his poems are eyewitness accounts, and their simple, rustic language is much appreciated.

As Dasa's birth and death are unrecorded various researchers speculate various years. In a research publication, researcher Janaki Ballabh Mohanty has cited his birth year around 1720-30 and death year as unknown whereas in other publications has his birth year as 1720 and death year as 1793.

That he was born in a Karana family is proved by one of his earlier poems where he explicitly mentions his surname Pattanayaka, used by the karanas (scribes) of ancient Odisha. The surname is in use till now.

He spent most of his life in Puri.

Poetry

• "Dinabandhu daitari"
• "Manima he eitiki maguni mora"
• "Kete chanda jane lo sahi"
• "Dukhanasana he sukha na paili dine"
• "Jaya Jagannatha he Jasoda kumara"