Camunda in Mythology, Art and Iconography

Sakti is the Mother of the Universe: the highest primal power. She is the all-pervading, intangible energy principle that propels the cosmos and its endless human dimensions with the life-throbs of activity and culture. Camunda, the Divine Mother is one of the manifestations of Sakti. She is the most ferocious goddess of the Hindu pantheon. The cult of Cămunda is of considerable antiquity. The Mahabharat, the Purānas and other literary texts have provided vivid accounts of the origin of the goddess. The author besides emphasizing on the literary descriptions of the deity has also discussed the emergence and representation of the goddess who has occupied a prominent place in the sculptural history of India through the ages.

Here the author presents a rich and variegated picture of the Camunda art of Orissa, highlighting the iconography of individual images with special reference to the Silpa and Tantric texts. He focuses on different depictions of Camunḍā images. The book also incorporates the genesis of Sakti cult, sākta pithas of Odisha, origin and evolution of the goddess Camunda, survey of Camundā sculptures found both in Odisha and Indian sub-continent. The work abounds in photographs revealing the variety forms of the goddess which will create interest for scholars and students of Indology, particularly those studying religious art, architecture and sculpture of Odisha in particular and that of India in general.

Dr. Sanjaya Kumar Mahapatra (born 1963), presently working as the principal in the Janata College, Kuhuri, Khurda, Odisha is the recipient of prestigious Rastriya Gaurav Award. He is an eminent scholar of history and Archaeology who has devoted two decades of his illustrious career to the study of Archaeology, History and Culture of our land. His valuable writings have not only enriched the art, architecture and sculpture of India but also paved the way for the growth of cultural heritage of our sub-continent.

Dr. Mahapatra is well versed in Yoga, Tantra and Astrology and has got the credit to publish seventy articles in the different national and state journals which brought him state and national repute in recognition. His valuable book "Mahişäsuramardini in Art, Iconography and Cult Practices" is well appreciated by the scholars. Besides, he has co-edited the two volume work "A Bouquet of Indian Heritage, Research and Management". He has also been the editor of the book "Social Changes under British Crown". For the attainment of spiritual goal he was initiated into the path of Kriya Yoga in 1988.

Saktism, the concept of Sakti, the source of all energies of the Universe plays a vital role in the religious tradition of India since the dawn of human civilization. Originated from the primitive mother goddess cult prevalent among the aboriginal society, Saktism gradually assimilated various heterogeneous traits and finally emerged as an independent religious thought forming a significant aspect of mainspring of Indian religious system. Unlike other religious sects, Saktism has a continuous and colourful history of its own. Although Saktism crept into other religions as the energizing power of male divinities, it has close affinity to Saivism and has conceptualized that the procreation is possible only through the union of Śiva with Sakti.

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