Archaeology, History and Culture of Orissa

Contents: Foreword. Introduction. I. Archaeology: 1. Pre and proto-history of South Orissa. 2. Pre and proto-history of Khurda. 3. Pre and proto-history of Kalahandi. 4. The Neolithic culture of Orissa: a typo-technological analysis. 5. Chalcolithic and Copper-bronze Age cultures in Orissa. 6. Sankerjang: A Chalcolithic site in Orissa. 7. The iron and other objects from Gudavella and Kharligarh. 8. Ancient potteries of Orissa: a study. 9. Buddhist art and architecture in the Langudi Hills (After the first phase of excavation). 10. Ratnachira Valley: a preliminary survey. II. History: 11. Vishnusarma, the author of Panchantantra and his times. 12. New light on the origin of the Bhaumakara Dynasty. 13. Development of the iconography of Purusottama Jagannatha in the inscriptions of Orissa. 14. Dharma-Sastras as referred to in the inscriptions of Orissa. 15. The martial tradition of Orissa as reflected in the inscriptions of Orissa. 16. Vaishnava perceptors during the later Eastern Ganga Rule in Orissa. 17. Vaisnava teachers and the Suryavamsi Gajapati Rule in Orissa. III. Culture: 18. 'Madhava' worship in Orissa and the Gitagovinda. 19. The depiction of Orissan society and culture in the Gitagovindam. 20. The background of Saiva culture: a techno-evolutionary approach. 21. Fasts and festivals of Orissa. 22. Tribal Art of Orissa: its roots and continuity. 23. Plant domestication to Shifting cultivation: a technical change in Orissa. 24. Rhythm from the Hills.

"The present volume contains 24 papers written by Dr. R.N. Dash on different aspects of archaeology, history and culture of Orissa. Based on his field work as well as comments on the excavated remains, the section on 'Archaeology' has ten papers covering pre-history, proto-history ceramics as well as the excavated remains of Langudi Hills and survey work of Ratnachira Valley.

The section on 'History' has seven papers. Heavily dependent on inscriptions, Dash has tried to shed new light on the origin of Bhaumakara Dynasty, the development of Purushottama Jagannatha, the question of marital traditions as well as reference to Dharmasastras. The accounts on Vaishnavism during the Late Eastern Gangas and Gajapatis, constitute an important aspect of religious history of Orissa.

With seven papers in the section on 'Culture', Dash has depicted the Madhava worship as well as depiction of Orissan society and culture in the text Gitagovindam. Besides, discussion has been made with regard to Saiva culture, tribal art, fair and festivals and rhythm from the Hills.

In short, this book is the work of a versatile scholar nourished under local traditions of Orissa." (jacket)