Sarala Dasa

Sarala Dasa () was one of the great scholars of Oriya literature whose work formed a perennial source of information for succeeding generations.

He was the first scholar who wrote his works in Oriya in the 15th century AD. The life of Sarala Dasa is very obscure. The date of his birth can't be accurately determined, but he can safely be placed on the second half of the 15th century AD. He was born at Kanakavati Patana, known as Kanakapura, one of the Sidhikshetras in Jagatsinghpur District. His early name was Siddheswar Parida, later he was known as Sarala Dasa by the boon of goddess Sarala.

There is a story, which tells us that Siddheswar in his boyhood was once ploughing his father's field and singing so melodiously that the goddess Sarala stopped and listened to his song and endowed him with her power of composing beautiful poems. Such stories are similar to those told of the early life of other Indian poets. Particularly of the great poet Kali Dasa, who is said to have illiterate in his early life but he could become a great poet through the grace of goddess Saraswati. Sarala Dasa belongs to Sudra Caste and was a cultivator by profession.

The title "Dasa" means a slave or a servant of a particular god or goddess. We have this a long list of poets preceding and succeeding Sarala Dasa; whose names end with Dasa e.g. Vatra Dasa, Markanda Dasa, Sarala Dasa, Jagannatha Dasa, Balarama Dasa, Yasovanta Dasa etc.

Sarala Dasa was famous for his three books - Mahabharata,...... ...
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