Khana (poet) - Revision history

Kiloforce123: further updated article and improved wording

2026-03-27T01:31:50Z

further updated article and improved wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:01, 27 March 2026
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	{{Short description\|Bengali ~~poet~~ and ~~astrologer~~}}		{{Short description\|Bengali philosopher and polymath}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2018}}
	{{Infobox writer ~~<!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->~~		{{Infobox writer
	\| name = Khôna		\| name = Khôna
	\| birth_date = {{circa}} ~~8th-12th~~ century CE		\| image = খনা - প্রচার পুস্তিকা (১৯৩৮).pdf
			\| caption = Khôna - Propaganda Booklet (1938).pdf
			\| birth_date = {{circa}} 8th–12th century CE
	\| birth_place = [[Bengal]]		\| birth_place = [[Bengal]]
	\| period = [[Pala Empire]]		\| period = [[Pala Empire]]
	\| occupation = [[Poet]], [[~~astrologer~~]]		\| occupation = [[Philosopher]], [[Mathematician]], [[Poet]], [[Astrologer]]
	\| notable_works = ''Khanar Bachan''		\| notable_works = ''Khanar Bachan''
	}}		}}
	'''Khana''' ~~(pron.~~ ''~~khaw-naa~~'') was an Indian [[poet]] and legendary [[astrologer]], who composed in the [[medieval]] [[Bengali language]] between the ninth and 12th centuries AD. She is associated with the village Deulia ([[Chandraketugarh]], near [[Berachampa]]), in [[Barasat]], [[North 24 ~~parganas~~]] district, [[West Bengal]].		'''Khana''', also known as '''Dak or Lilavati''', was an Indian [[poet]], [[philosopher]] and legendary [[astrologer]], who composed in the [[medieval]] [[Bengali language]] between the ninth and 12th centuries AD. She is associated with the village Deulia ([[Chandraketugarh]], near [[Berachampa]]), in present-day [[Barasat]], [[North 24 Parganas]] district, [[West Bengal]].

	Her poetry, known as ''Khanar Bachan'' (or ''vachan'') (খনার বচন~~) (~~meaning "khana's words"), among the earliest compositions in [[Bengali literature]], is known for its agricultural ~~themes~~.<ref>http://www.infobridge.org/asp/documents/4341.doc {{~~deadlink~~\|date=June 2018}}</ref> The short [[couplet]]s or [[quatrain]]s reflect a robust common sense, as in this paean to industry:		Her philosophical poetry, known as ''Khanar Bachan'' (or ''vachan'') ({{langx\|bn\|খনার বচন}}; meaning 'khana's words'), among the earliest compositions in [[Bengali literature]], is known for its agricultural philosophy.<ref>http://www.infobridge.org/asp/documents/4341.doc {{dead link\|date=June 2018}}</ref> The short [[couplet]]s or [[quatrain]]s reflect a robust common sense, as in this paean to industry:
	:''thakte balad na kare chas''		:''thakte balad na kare chas''
	:''tar dukhkha baro mas''		:''tar dukhkha baro mas''
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	[[File:Excavated Brick Structure - Khana-Mihir Mound - Berachampa - North 24 Parganas 2015-04-11 7158.JPG\|thumb\|Excavated Brick Structure of Khana-Mihir Mound at [[Chandraketugarh]].]]		[[File:Excavated Brick Structure - Khana-Mihir Mound - Berachampa - North 24 Parganas 2015-04-11 7158.JPG\|thumb\|Excavated Brick Structure of Khana-Mihir Mound at [[Chandraketugarh]].]]

	The legend of Khana (also named Lilavati elsewhere) centers around her association with ~~Pragjyotishpur (the [[Bengal]]/[[Assam]] border), or possibly~~ [[Chandraketugarh]] in southern Bengal (where a mound has been discovered amongst ruins with the names of Khana and Mihir associated with it~~) and~~ that she was the daughter-in-law of the famous astronomer and mathematician, [[Varahamihira]], ~~a jewel among Chandragupta II Vikramaditya's famed Navaratna sabha~~.		The legend of Khana (also named Lilavati elsewhere) centers around her association with [[Chandraketugarh]] in southern Bengal where a mound has been discovered amongst ruins with the names of Khana and Mihir associated with it, which likely gave rise to the legend that she was either the wife or the daughter-in-law of the famous astronomer and mathematician, [[Varahamihira]]. There is no historical basis to the legend of her being the wife of Varahamihira who was born several centuries earlier (<abbr>c.</abbr> 505 – <abbr>c.</abbr> 587) and lived in [[Ujjain]].<ref>{{Citation \|title=Varāhamihira and His Times \|date=1991 \|work= \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mf0MAQAAMAAJ \|access-date= \|language=en\|last=Shastri\|first=A.M.\|pages=248\|publisher=Kusumanjali Prakashan}}</ref> However, Khana was an astrologer herself.

	Daivajna Varāhamihir (505–587), also called Varaha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer born in [[Ujjain]] (or Bengal, according to some legends). The Indian Parliament building contains pictures of Varahamihira and [[Aryabhata]], among other astronomers. Though little is known about his life, he supposedly hailed from [[South Bengal]], where in the ruins of Chandraketugarh there is a mound called the mound of Khana and Mihir. Khana was the daughter-in-law of Varaha and a famous astrologer herself.		In all likelihood, Khana lived her life in Bengal, but a number of legends have grown up around her life. According to one legend, she was born in [[Sri Lanka]] and was either married to the mathematician-astronomer [[Varahamihira]] or was her daughter-in-law. However, she exceeded him in the accuracy of her predictions, and at some point her tongue was cut off to silence her prodigious talent. This is a theme that resonates in modern Bengali [[feminism]], as in this poem by [[Mallika Sengupta]], ''khanaa's song'':

	In all likelihood, ~~she~~ lived her life in Bengal, but a number of legends have grown up around her life. According to one legend, she was born in [[Sri Lanka]] and was married to the mathematician-astronomer [[Varahamihira]]~~, but it is far more widely believed that Khana~~ was ~~Varahamihira's~~ daughter-in-law~~, and an accomplished astrologer, becoming thereby a potential threat to Varahamihira's scientific career~~. However, she exceeded him in the accuracy of her predictions, and at some point~~, either~~ her ~~husband (or father-in-law) or a hired hand (or possibly Khana herself under great duress)~~ cut off ~~her tongue~~ to silence her prodigious talent. This is a theme that resonates in modern Bengali [[feminism]], as in this poem by [[Mallika Sengupta]], ''khanaa's song'':
	: Listen o listen :		: Listen o listen :
	: Hark this tale of Khanaa		: Hark this tale of Khanaa
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	: The first Bengali woman poet		: The first Bengali woman poet
	: Her tongue they severed with a knife		: Her tongue they severed with a knife
	:   - Mallika Sengupta, ''Amra ~~hasya~~ amra larai'', tr. Amitabha Mukerjee<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/books/sengupta-2001-amra-lasya-amra.html\|title=আমরা লাস্য আমরা লড়াই\|author=Mallika Sengupta\|publisher=iitk.ac.in}}</ref>		:   - Mallika Sengupta, ''Amra lasya amra larai'', tr. Amitabha Mukerjee<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/books/sengupta-2001-amra-lasya-amra.html\|title=আমরা লাস্য আমরা লড়াই\|author=Mallika Sengupta\|publisher=iitk.ac.in}}</ref>
	Shrii P.R. Sarkar writes about her:"Based on the all-pervasive influence of the celestial bodies, a branch of knowledge arose in day-to-day life. And this branch of knowledge was beautifully nurtured, with all its flowers, leaves and twigs, by Kshana, a beloved daughter of Ráŕh, the offspring of the Ráŕhii Vaidyas caste of Bankura /Senbhum."		Shrii P.R. Sarkar writes about her:"Based on the all-pervasive influence of the celestial bodies, a branch of knowledge arose in day-to-day life. And this branch of knowledge was beautifully nurtured, with all its flowers, leaves and twigs, by Kshana, a beloved daughter of Ráŕh, the offspring of the Ráŕhii Vaidyas caste of Bankura /Senbhum."

	Through the centuries, Khana's advice has acquired the character of an [[oracle]] in rural Bengal (modern [[West Bengal]], [[Bangladesh]] and parts of [[Bihar]]). Ancient versions in [[Assamese language\|Assamese]] and [[Oriya language\|Oriya]] also exist. Advice such as "A little bit of salt, a little bit of bitter, and always stop before you are too full" is considered timeless.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Khana\|title=Khana\|publisher=[[Banglapedia]]\|author=Azhar Islam\|accessdate =28 July 2015}}</ref><ref>		Through the centuries, Khana's advice has acquired the character of an [[oracle]] in rural Bengal (modern [[West Bengal]], [[Bangladesh]] and parts of [[Bihar]]). Ancient versions in [[Assamese language\|Assamese]] and [[Oriya language\|Oriya]] also exist. Advice such as "A little bit of salt, a little bit of bitter, and always stop before you are too full" is considered timeless.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Khana\|title=Khana\|publisher=[[Banglapedia]]\|author=Azhar Islam\|accessdate =28 July 2015}}</ref><ref>
	{{Cite web \|url=http://www.saptarishisastrology.com/filedownload.php?v=7&a=y&b=y&f=48-KhannarVachan-1BW.pdf \|title=Archived copy \|access-date=5 June 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004845/http://www.saptarishisastrology.com/filedownload.php?v=7&a=y&b=y&f=48-KhannarVachan-1BW.pdf \|archive-date=16 July 2011 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy-all }}		{{Cite web \|url=http://www.saptarishisastrology.com/filedownload.php?v=7&a=y&b=y&f=48-KhannarVachan-1BW.pdf \|title=Archived copy \|access-date=5 June 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004845/http://www.saptarishisastrology.com/filedownload.php?v=7&a=y&b=y&f=48-KhannarVachan-1BW.pdf \|archive-date=16 July 2011 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy-all }}
	</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/index.php/2009031096/Varahmihir.html \|title=siddhagirimuseum.org \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728021927/http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/index.php/2009031096/Varahmihir.html \|archivedate=2011-07-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://issuu.com/saptarishisastrologyvol7/docs/48-khannarvachan-1\|title=ISSUU - 48-KhannarVachan-1 by Saptarishis Astrology\|author=Saptarishis Astrology\|work=Issuu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \| url=~~http~~://hindunationalismmuslimunity.blogspot.com/2009/08/maharaja-pratapaditya-roy-last-hindu.html \|title = Hinduism in Indian Nationalism & role of Islam: Maharaja Pratapaditya Roy - Last Hindu King, Icon & Saviour of Bangabhumi\|date = 14 August 2009}}</ref>		</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/index.php/2009031096/Varahmihir.html \|title=siddhagirimuseum.org \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728021927/http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/index.php/2009031096/Varahmihir.html \|archivedate=2011-07-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://issuu.com/saptarishisastrologyvol7/docs/48-khannarvachan-1\|title=ISSUU - 48-KhannarVachan-1 by Saptarishis Astrology\|author=Saptarishis Astrology\|work=Issuu\|date=26 November 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \| url=https://hindunationalismmuslimunity.blogspot.com/2009/08/maharaja-pratapaditya-roy-last-hindu.html \|title = Hinduism in Indian Nationalism & role of Islam: Maharaja Pratapaditya Roy - Last Hindu King, Icon & Saviour of Bangabhumi\|date = 14 August 2009}}</ref>

	==Popular culture==		==Popular culture==
	In 15 June 2009, Indian-Bengali television channel [[Zee Bangla]] started to telecast a TV serial called ''Khona'' based on the life of Khana. The show follows the legend that states she was born and thereby lived in 'Sinhal' ([[Sri Lanka]]).		On 15 June 2009, Indian-Bengali television channel [[Zee Bangla]] started to telecast a TV serial called ''Khona'' based on the life of Khana. The show follows the legend that states she was born and thereby lived in 'Sinhal' ([[Sri Lanka]]).

	In 2019, [[Colors Bangla]] channel started a new serial named ''Khanar Bachan'' based on Khana's words and her conflicts with her father-in-law Varaha.		In 2019, [[Colors Bangla]] channel started a new serial named ''Khanar Bachan'' based on Khana's words and her conflicts with her father-in-law Varaha.
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	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	{{~~authority~~ control}}		==External links==
			*{{Commons category-inline\|Khana (poet)}}

			{{Authority control}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Khana (Poet)}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Khana (Poet)}}
	[[Category:~~Medieval~~ Indian poets]]		[[Category:12th-century Indian poets]]
	[[Category:Hindu poets]]		[[Category:Hindu poets]]
	[[Category:~~Ancient~~ Indian philosophers]]		[[Category:12th-century Indian philosophers]]
	[[Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians]]		[[Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians]]
	~~[[Category:Ancient Asian women writers]]~~		[[Category:Bengali women poets]]
	[[Category:Bengali ~~female poets]]~~
	~~[[Category:Indian~~ women poets]]
	[[Category:Women religious writers]]		[[Category:Women religious writers]]
	[[Category:Indian women philosophers]]		[[Category:Indian women philosophers]]
	[[Category:People from Barasat]]		[[Category:People from Barasat]]
	[[Category:Women writers from West Bengal]]		[[Category:Women writers from West Bengal]]
			[[Category:Medieval Indian astrologers]]
			[[Category:Scholars from West Bengal]]
			[[Category:12th-century Bengali people]]
			[[Category:Indian women poets]]
	[[Category:Indian astrologers]]		[[Category:Indian astrologers]]
	[[Category:~~Ancient astrologers]]~~		[[Category:12th-century women writers]]
	~~[[Category:Scholars from West Bengal~~]]

imported>Whiteguru: Importing Wikidata short description: "Bengali poet and astrologer" (Shortdesc helper)

2021-07-23T10:13:18Z

Importing Wikidata short description: "Bengali poet and astrologer" (Shortdesc helper)

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:43, 23 July 2021
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			{{Short description\|Bengali poet and astrologer}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2018}}

>JJMC89 bot III: Merging :Category:Hindu philosophers to :Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2021 June 6#Category:Hindu theologians

2021-06-16T01:25:38Z

Merging Category:Hindu philosophers to Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2021 June 6#Category:Hindu theologians

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Khôna
| birth_date = {{circa}} 8th-12th century CE
| birth_place = [[Bengal]]
| period = [[Pala Empire]]
| occupation = [[Poet]], [[astrologer]]
| notable_works = ''Khanar Bachan''
}}
'''Khana''' (pron. ''khaw-naa'') was an Indian [[poet]] and legendary [[astrologer]], who composed in the [[medieval]] [[Bengali language]] between the ninth and 12th centuries AD. She is associated with the village Deulia ([[Chandraketugarh]], near [[Berachampa]]), in [[Barasat]], [[North 24 parganas]] district, [[West Bengal]].

Her poetry, known as ''Khanar Bachan'' (or ''vachan'') (খনার বচন) (meaning "khana's words"), among the earliest compositions in [[Bengali literature]], is known for its agricultural themes.<ref>http://www.infobridge.org/asp/documents/4341.doc {{deadlink|date=June 2018}}</ref> The short [[couplet]]s or [[quatrain]]s reflect a robust common sense, as in this paean to industry:
:''thakte balad na kare chas''
:''tar dukhkha baro mas''
::"He who owns oxen, but does not plough, his sorry state lasts twelve months of the year."

==Legend==
[[File:Khana-Mihir Mound - Berachampa 2012-02-24 2346.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The mound of Khana-Mihir or Baraha-Mihir on Prithiba road, [[Chandraketugarh]], [[Berachampa]], [[West Bengal]].]]
[[File:Excavated Brick Structure - Khana-Mihir Mound - Berachampa - North 24 Parganas 2015-04-11 7158.JPG|thumb|Excavated Brick Structure of Khana-Mihir Mound at [[Chandraketugarh]].]]

The legend of Khana (also named Lilavati elsewhere) centers around her association with Pragjyotishpur (the [[Bengal]]/[[Assam]] border), or possibly [[Chandraketugarh]] in southern Bengal (where a mound has been discovered amongst ruins with the names of Khana and Mihir associated with it) and that she was the daughter-in-law of the famous astronomer and mathematician, [[Varahamihira]], a jewel among Chandragupta II Vikramaditya's famed Navaratna sabha.

Daivajna Varāhamihir (505–587), also called Varaha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer born in [[Ujjain]] (or Bengal, according to some legends). The Indian Parliament building contains pictures of Varahamihira and [[Aryabhata]], among other astronomers. Though little is known about his life, he supposedly hailed from [[South Bengal]], where in the ruins of Chandraketugarh there is a mound called the mound of Khana and Mihir. Khana was the daughter-in-law of Varaha and a famous astrologer herself.

In all likelihood, she lived her life in Bengal, but a number of legends have grown up around her life. According to one legend, she was born in [[Sri Lanka]] and was married to the mathematician-astronomer [[Varahamihira]], but it is far more widely believed that Khana was Varahamihira's daughter-in-law, and an accomplished astrologer, becoming thereby a potential threat to Varahamihira's scientific career. However, she exceeded him in the accuracy of her predictions, and at some point, either her husband (or father-in-law) or a hired hand (or possibly Khana herself under great duress) cut off her tongue to silence her prodigious talent. This is a theme that resonates in modern Bengali [[feminism]], as in this poem by [[Mallika Sengupta]], ''khanaa's song'':
: Listen o listen :
: Hark this tale of Khanaa
:
: In Bengal in the Middle ages
: Lived a woman Khanaa, I sing her life
: The first Bengali woman poet
: Her tongue they severed with a knife
:   - Mallika Sengupta, ''Amra hasya amra larai'', tr. Amitabha Mukerjee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/books/sengupta-2001-amra-lasya-amra.html|title=আমরা লাস্য আমরা লড়াই|author=Mallika Sengupta|publisher=iitk.ac.in}}</ref>
Shrii P.R. Sarkar writes about her:"Based on the all-pervasive influence of the celestial bodies, a branch of knowledge arose in day-to-day life. And this branch of knowledge was beautifully nurtured, with all its flowers, leaves and twigs, by Kshana, a beloved daughter of Ráŕh, the offspring of the Ráŕhii Vaidyas caste of Bankura /Senbhum."

Through the centuries, Khana's advice has acquired the character of an [[oracle]] in rural Bengal (modern [[West Bengal]], [[Bangladesh]] and parts of [[Bihar]]). Ancient versions in [[Assamese language|Assamese]] and [[Oriya language|Oriya]] also exist. Advice such as "A little bit of salt, a little bit of bitter, and always stop before you are too full" is considered timeless.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Khana|title=Khana|publisher=[[Banglapedia]]|author=Azhar Islam|accessdate =28 July 2015}}</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |url=http://www.saptarishisastrology.com/filedownload.php?v=7&a=y&b=y&f=48-KhannarVachan-1BW.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004845/http://www.saptarishisastrology.com/filedownload.php?v=7&a=y&b=y&f=48-KhannarVachan-1BW.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/index.php/2009031096/Varahmihir.html |title=siddhagirimuseum.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728021927/http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/index.php/2009031096/Varahmihir.html |archivedate=2011-07-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/saptarishisastrologyvol7/docs/48-khannarvachan-1|title=ISSUU - 48-KhannarVachan-1 by Saptarishis Astrology|author=Saptarishis Astrology|work=Issuu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://hindunationalismmuslimunity.blogspot.com/2009/08/maharaja-pratapaditya-roy-last-hindu.html |title = Hinduism in Indian Nationalism & role of Islam: Maharaja Pratapaditya Roy - Last Hindu King, Icon & Saviour of Bangabhumi|date = 14 August 2009}}</ref>

==Popular culture==
In 15 June 2009, Indian-Bengali television channel [[Zee Bangla]] started to telecast a TV serial called ''Khona'' based on the life of Khana. The show follows the legend that states she was born and thereby lived in 'Sinhal' ([[Sri Lanka]]).

In 2019, [[Colors Bangla]] channel started a new serial named ''Khanar Bachan'' based on Khana's words and her conflicts with her father-in-law Varaha.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khana (Poet)}}
[[Category:Medieval Indian poets]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians]]
[[Category:Ancient Asian women writers]]
[[Category:Bengali female poets]]
[[Category:Indian women poets]]
[[Category:Women religious writers]]
[[Category:Indian women philosophers]]
[[Category:People from Barasat]]
[[Category:Women writers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian astrologers]]
[[Category:Ancient astrologers]]
[[Category:Scholars from West Bengal]]