Tantra
and Sakta Art of Orissa/Thomas Eugene Donaldson. New Delhi, D.K. Printworld,
2002, 3 Vols., xxxxiii, 1398 p., maps, figs., coloured ills., $286
(set). ISBN
81-246-0196-8.Tantra
and Sakta Art of Orissa/Thomas Eugene Donaldson. New Delhi, D.K. Printworld,
2002, 3 Vols., xxxxiii, 1398 p., maps, figs., coloured ills., $286
(set). ISBN
81-246-0196-8.
Contents: Introduction. Vol. I : I. Saktism in Orissa : 1. Tribal Goddesses, sacrifice, fertility and Durga-puja. 2. Aniconic form and Hinduisation. 3. Mangala, Tara and other navigation and maritime Goddesses. 4. Fort Goddesses (durga-devata or ista-devata) and Dasahara. 5. Sitala, Sasthi and Goddesses of disease and health. 6. Sakta-pithas in Orissa : A. Viraja (Jajpur). B. Ekamra-ksetra (Bhubanesvar). C. Purusottama-ksetra (Puri). D. Mahendragiri. E. Jalesvara-pitha. F. De-Bhogaka-ksetra (Belkhandi). 7. Sakta temples in Orissa : A. Bhubanesvar: Vaital Deul. B. Bhubanesvar: Mohini, Kalika Devi and Daksina-candi temples. C. Baidesvar: Durga temple. D. Sakta temples in eighth-ninth-century Saiva temple compounds. 8. Early Sakta shrines in western Orissa: Kalahandi and Bolangir districts. 9. Khakhara temples in north-eastern Orissa: Kisorpur/Avana/Shergarh. 10. Ninth-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in Mayurbhanja and Balasore districts. 11. Ninth-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts. 12. Ninth-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in Dharmasala/Jajpur area. 13. Ninth-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in the Mahanadi valley. 14. Ninth-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in the Praci valley. 15. Caurasi: Varahi temple. 16. Bhubanesvar: Gauri temple. 17. Ninth-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in the Kusabhadra and Daya river valleys. 18. Nine-eleventh-century Sakta shrines in southern Puri and Ganjam districts. 19. Bhubanesvar: later Sakta temples. 20. Beyalisbati: Gangesvari temple. 21. Kakatpur: Mangala temple. 22. Twelfth-fourteenth-century Sakta shrines in coastal Orissa. 23. Later Sakta shrines in western Orissa. 24. Sonepur: Sakta temples. 25. Later Sakta shrines in eastern and northern Orissa. II. Sakti mythology and iconography : 1. Destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha. 2. Destruction of Mahisasura. 3. Mahisamardini images in Orissa : A. Demon in hybrid form with a human body and buffalo-head. B. Demon in human form issuing from the buffalo-carcass. C. Demon in Theriomorphic form. 4. Durga iconography : A. Simhavahini/enthroned Durga images in Orissa. B. Standing/dancing Durga images in Orissa. 5. Parvati: mythology and iconography : A. Tapasvini Parvati images in Orissa. B. Standing Parvati images in Orissa. C. Seated Parvati images in Orissa. 6. Sri-Laksmi: mythology and iconography : A. Sri-Laksmi images in Orissa. 7. Sarasvati: mythology and iconography : A. Sarasvati images in Orissa. III. Camunda/Kali and Matrkas : 1. Matrka images in Orissa: iconography : A. Brahmi. B. Mahesvari (Sivani). C. Kaumari. D. Vaisnavi. E. Indrani. F. Eighth matrka: Nrsimhi/Mahalaksmi. G. Virabhadra (Viresvara). H. Varahi: mythology and iconography : i. Varahi as a matrka. ii. Varahi as a presiding deity. iii. Varahi as a parsva-devata/avarana-devata. 2. Camunda/Kali: non-matrka mythology, sacrifice and the graveyard : A. Camunda: iconography. B. Camunda as a matrka. C. Camunda as a presiding deity/parsva-devata. D. Standing/dancing images of Camunda. E. Bhairava as the consort of Camunda and as a Sakta/Tantra deity. F. Standing/dancing Bhairava images. G. Seated Bhairava images. H. Ekapada Bhairava. 3. Andhakasura-samhara-murti. 4. Bhiksatanamurti.
Vol. II : IV. Naga/Nagi images and the cult of Manasa/Astika Jaratkaru : 1. Manasa/Jaratkaru: mythology and iconography. 2. Manasa images in Orissa. 3. Astikajaratkaru images in Orissa. 4. Naga/Nagi-stambhas on Orissan temples. V. Kali/Tara and Mahavidyas : 1. Avarana-Saktis on early Sakta temples of Orissa. 2. Mahavidyas: mythology and number. 3. Kali: mythology and iconography : A. Kali as a presiding deity, parsva-devata and apotropaic motif. B. Kali as an Avarana-Sakti and Mahavidya. 4. Tara: iconography : A. Tara as a presiding deity. B. Tara as an Avarana-Sakti and Mahavidya. 5. Mahavidya images in Orissa : A. Sodasi (Tripurasundari/Srividya/Lalita). B. Bhuvanesvari. C. Chinnamasta/Pracandacandika. D. Bhairavi/Tripura and Annapurna : i. Multi-armed Bhairavi images. ii. Dhumavati. iii. Bagala. iv. Matangi. v. Kamala/Sri-Laksmi. 6. River Goddesses: Ganga and Yamuna. 7. Brahmanical/Sakta dvarapalas. VI. Yoginis, Dakinis, Sakinis and witchcraft : 1. The Yogini cult: mythology and Tantric affiliation : A. Yoginis: number. B. Yoginis: iconography. C. Yoginis: Sadhana/rituals. 2. The Yogini cult in Orissa : A. Hirapur: Causat-yogini pitha. B. Ranipur-Jharial: Causat-yogini pitha. 3. Dakinis, Sakinis and witchcraft. VII. Purusa/Prakrti, Agni/Soma, and Linga/Yoni (Siva/Sakti) : 1. Linga/Yoni: mythology and iconography. 2. Ardhanarisvara: mythology and iconography : i. Ardhanarisvara images in Orissa. 3. Hara-Parvati: mythology and iconography : i. Hara-Parvati images in Orissa. 4. Laksmi-Narayana: mythology and iconography : A. Laksmi-Narayana images in Orissa. B. Laksmi-Nrsimha images in Orissa. C. Laksmi-Nrsimha seated on Sesa images. D. Laksmi-Purusottama/Trailokyamohana images. E. Linga-Mahisamardini-Purusottama trinity images in Orissa. 5. Baladeva-Ekanamsa-Krsna trinity images. 6. Jagannatha trinity images in Orissa. 7. Radha/Krsna and Gopinatha images in Orissa. 8. God/consort-sakti imagery : A. Kama-consort images in Orissa. B. Sakti-Ganapati images in Orissa. C. Sakti-Karttikeya images in Orissa. D. Surya-consort and composite Surya images in Orissa. E. Dikpala-patni images in Orissa. 9. Halahala Lokesvara images in Orissa. 10. Jain Sasana-devi images in Orissa. VIII. Erotic and secular imagery : 1. The nature of woman : A. Kumari/Kanya (virgin/maiden) and devadasi (temple dancer). B. Auspicious exhibitionism and personified yoni. 2. Sakta/Tantra sadhana and erotic imagery : A. Erotic rituals on Orissan temples. B. Mithuna/Maithuna images on Orissan temples. C. Pleasure gardens and the pursuit of love. 3. Secularisation of the iconographic programme : A. Guru and siksadana images on Orissan temples. B. Royal figures on Orissan temples. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.
Vol. III : 1. List of figures (black and white illustrations). 2. List of coloured illustrations. 3. Figures and coloured illustrations : A. Figures. B. Coloured illustrations.
"The emergence of Tantrism and Saktism in the sixth-seventh centuries in ancient India symbolised a belief in fertility worship, worship of the female principle with the Devi/Goddess supreme as the Energy/Power—the substance of everything, pervading everything. In Orissa in particular, the sakta/tantra cults played a major role in the religion and culture of the region and this is testified by its many temples and sculptural wonders therein.
"In this work, Prof. Donaldosn presents a rich and variegated picture of the sakta/tantra art of Orissa, highlighting the evolving iconography of individual images. Based on largely first-hand study of the temples and their iconography and also referring to various textual sources, he deals with, in detail, the sakta mythology of the region along with its depiction in iconography. He focuses on different forms and depictions of the Goddess – the Matrkas, Camunda, Naga/Nagi, Manasa/Jaratkuru, Tara, the Mahavidyas, the Yoginis and Dakinis and images of Purusa/Prakrti, Agni/Soma and Linga/Yoni, painstakingly analysing the architecture of a number of temples and their images. The work abounds in photographs (more than seven hundred) revealing the variety of forms of the Goddess and their wide-spread distribution and provides many maps, diagrams and iconographical charts as well.
"A thorough research giving attention to minute details even while studying a wide range of iconographical traditions and forms, this work will prove an indispensable source book for young as well as established scholars." (jacket)