Columnist on History and Travel related subjects for the Financial Express and The Daily Guardian. Guest writer for the Goti Doinik (an Assam based Bengali daily) and Bonik Barta (a Bangladeshi daily ).
The worship of Mother Goddess or the feminine principle can be easily placed among the oldest and... more The worship of Mother Goddess or the feminine principle can be easily placed among the oldest and longest surviving religious elements of the primitive world. The practice can be traced in India and across many other ancient cultures of the world from a very remote past, and continues as the worship of Devi-Sakti among the Sakta sect of Hindu worshippers. In primitive societies, women were not only seen as symbol of regeneration, but they were also viewed as the actual creators of life. For this reason her organs and attributes were seen to be holding magical powers for creating life; hence became associated with life producing symbols. Thus, maternity or mothers, in the earliest phase of human civilisation, became the central figure of religion, and that formed the basis for worship of mother goddesses. The various ancient fertility rituals connected with the worship of mother goddesses, still hold a significant meaning for the Sakta sect under the Tantric form of worship (such as ambuvaci). This article will examine how the concept of Mother goddess took form in remote past and developed into the Sakta-Tantric form of worship, with a special focus on ringstones which symbolised the matrika/ mother goddess from prehistoric times.
The Imperial Cholas not only had a succession of able rulers, but the kings were also experts at ... more The Imperial Cholas not only had a succession of able rulers, but the kings were also experts at global diplomacy; and under them, the kingdom enjoyed a great deal of prosperity owing to skilful governance, and flourishing overseas commercial and naval activities.
Haya Sophia which is facing recent controversy over its conversion into a mosque has a long hi... more Haya Sophia which is facing recent controversy over its conversion into a mosque has a long history of destruction, reconstructions, and conversions under the various regimes that ruled the area. This article (written in Bengali) takes a close look at the history and architecture of this famous historical monument.
In all ancient cultures or primitive societies women formed to be the foundation pillars upon who... more In all ancient cultures or primitive societies women formed to be the foundation pillars upon whom rested the important tasks of giving birth and rearing the young, while teaching them what were seen as social norms, culture-heritage, behavioral habits, and traditions of those times. The women were seen as life producers with regenerative capacities, hence her organs that helped in procreation became the symbols of new life, and motherhood became the core figure in magico-religious cults of those times. The Paleolithic female figures found in abundance from various excavation sites with exaggerated maternal organs, stand as an evidence, showing the popularity of Mother Goddess worship in prehistoric times; a practice still popular in India, in a more developed form of worship of the Sakti or the feminine principle.
This blogpost covers a 2015 exhibition by the ASI on the varying and changing hairstyles as seen ... more This blogpost covers a 2015 exhibition by the ASI on the varying and changing hairstyles as seen in the context of Indian art. It is an interesting compilation by the ASI on coiffures throughout the ages starting with the Harappan culture, showing the innate human desire to appear beautiful. I have added a short introduction to it, discussing the various texts that talk of hairstyles and coiffure types.
The Puranic Vishnu is a powerful god, and this powerful sect was developed by the fusion of three... more The Puranic Vishnu is a powerful god, and this powerful sect was developed by the fusion of three god-concepts: Vasudeva-Krsna of Vrisni clan, cosmic god Narayana, and Vedic Vishnu. The Vasudeva-Krsna along with some of his close relatives form the bhagavatam group and are said to be the basis of the Bhakti cult. They are best represented in the Vaikuntha Vishnu murti, where the deity has multiple faces representing the four Vyuhas: Vasudeva, Samkarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha; a concept largely developed from the vyuha concept of Pancaratras of the Narayana sect. Another image with the same multiplicity concept is seen in the Viswarupa Vishnu. The article examines the vyuha concept behind the Vaikuntha Vishnu murtis, and the multiplicity in the Viswarupa image with an example of a rather unique Viswarupa Vishnu murti from Bajoura in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
Garuda in Indian literary history has had a long run, starting its flight from the Vedas as the S... more Garuda in Indian literary history has had a long run, starting its flight from the Vedas as the Surya or Sun imagined as a bird. The Rigvedic hymn describes how beautiful Garutman looks with his splendid wings: divyah sa suparno Garutman. Garuda is also referred to as Tarksya in the Puranas and epics, though RV in its late verses denote Tarksya as a horse. In the Mahabharata, Garuda is shown as directly connected to the Vedic Garutman, and is the younger brother of Aruna (the charioteer of Surya); while in the Puranas and later developed parts of the epics we find Garuda as the son of rishi Kashyap and Vinata.
The journey of Surya deva or the Sun god, the most prominent one among the other celestial lumina... more The journey of Surya deva or the Sun god, the most prominent one among the other celestial luminaries, has been a long one in the arena of India history. As seen from the study of other ancient cultures and religions, sun has been an object of reverence and worship from the start of human settlements, and though the Harappan scripts still remain undecipherable, it would not be very surprising if the circular disc seen in many of its seals and tablets symbolised the sun. While there are very little available archaeological evidences to determine the nature of sun worship among the pre-historic Indians, in the context of literary evidences it is found that the Vedas are filled with praises for this life sustaining celestial luminary. In the Rig Veda there are many mentions of Surya and his different aspects, Savitr, Pushan, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Mitra, Aryama, and Vishnu. Savitr, referred to the abstract qualities of the sun, mentioned him as the stimulator of everything on earth (sarvasya prasavita- Nirukta). Pushan shows him as a pastoral god, with a focus on the beneficial effects of the sun. Bhaga, as per Yaska, presides over the forenoon, is a distributor of wealth, and is often associated with his Iranian counterpart Baga or Bagho. Vivasat, who could have represented the rising sun, is referred to in the RV as the first sacrificer and ancestor of human beings. His counterpart was seen in the Avestan Vivanhant, who had first prepared the haoma (homa). Mitra and Aryama both had their Iranian counterparts in Mithra and Aryaman. From a study of the Vedic hymns it becomes clear that the highly revered atmospheric/cosmic deity later turned into the god of light with the name Surya.
Interestingly India has seen many folk or tribal deities from ancient and medieval eras being wor... more Interestingly India has seen many folk or tribal deities from ancient and medieval eras being worshipped from time to time, especially during the time of epidemics, and other physical and natural calamities. Derivatives of the Mother Goddess, some of these deities, which retain their primitive aspects, are still venerated by many, and temples dedicated to them are seen spread across the rural parts of India. I have listed some of the better known tribal/folk devis that were once highly venerated in ancient and medieval India; among them some have lost their relevance over the sands of time, while few are still respected and worshipped by their faithful followers.
Within the realms of Hinduism, the concept of god (Brahman, or the Paramatma-Supreme Soul) comes ... more Within the realms of Hinduism, the concept of god (Brahman, or the Paramatma-Supreme Soul) comes as both saguna (with attributes, where there is a form and gender) and nirguna (where god is formless and infinite). The nirguna concept, which is based on higher level philosophical thoughts is difficult to comprehend or even visualise. It has always been easier for the common people to follow the saguna form of worship, where their revered god takes an anthropomorphic form. This need to see the revered deity in front led to the development of murtis and their worship. Thus, we see the Shaivites worship Shiva as their supreme god, and the Vaishnavites worship Vishnu as their supreme god. There is a third group that worship the female Energy or Sakti as their supreme god, the Devi. This group of worshippers is known as the Saktas, and they worship the feminine power as the main god. Here the Devi is not limited to being just a consort of a male devta (as we see in Shaivism and Vaishnavism), but she is the one in focus as the main deity.
The ugra aspect of the devi is best characterised by her Mahishasuramardini image, which has been... more The ugra aspect of the devi is best characterised by her Mahishasuramardini image, which has been depicted in various ways over the centuries. The Vedic text such as Vajasaneyi Samhita, Taittiriya Aryanaka, Kena, Mundaka Upanishads, Sankhayana grihasutras mention Durga in her various forms; the soumaya (quiet/placid) forms among them being that of Gauri, Parvati, etc. Her fiercer aspects are named as Kali and Karali (same as the two names of the seven tongues ascribed to Agni, Rudra), Chandi, Chamundi, and the Nava Durgas. The Nava Durgas are named as Ugra Chanda, Prachanda, Chandanayika, Chandogra, Chandavati, Chanda, Ati Chandika, ChandraRupa, and Rudra Chanda. The Devi’s motherly aspect prevalent as the Mother Goddess from pre-historic times is well represented in her Shakambari ruup (MarkandyaPurana), also beautifully expressed in the worship of the Navapatrika during the ashwin (autumnal) Durga puja in Bengal. Among the principal murtis of the Devi worshipped by the Saktas is her form: Durga-Mahishasuramardini. The article explores through photos some of the Mahishasuramardini images found over the ages in India and Java
Examining and understanding the weapons that we see in the hands of our deities as per the Hindu ... more Examining and understanding the weapons that we see in the hands of our deities as per the Hindu iconography
Abhaneri, a small village located near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is famous for its exquisite 1200 year... more Abhaneri, a small village located near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is famous for its exquisite 1200 year old step-well known as the Chand baori. This baori or step-well, which is considered as the deepest step well in the world, is located opposite to a partially ruined temple known as the Harshat Mata mandir. Named after a local 8 th c. CE Rajput ruler King Chanda, the imposing square shaped baori measures 35m on each side, and is around 19 m in depth. There are double flights of 3500 stairs on ten landings on three sides of the well, which run parallel to the baori rim. These stairs are perfectly proportioned in a way that they form stair-triangles along a very sharp descent. The walls of this baori are so steep that when one looks down from the top edge the stair-triangles alternately hide and show the people going down. The fourth wall of the baori has a multi-storied corridor with pillars and two projecting niches that have two beautiful murtis of Ganesha and Mahisasuramardini in them. There is a small room inside the corridor known as the Andheri-Ujala.
Tracing how the Devi iconography evolved withhin the Hindu temple iconography starting from Hara... more Tracing how the Devi iconography evolved withhin the Hindu temple iconography starting from Harappan times where worship of mother goddesses were prevalent, to the Gupta period where a strong devi or Shakti cult had already started forming.
The worship of Mother Goddess or the feminine principle can be easily placed among the oldest and... more The worship of Mother Goddess or the feminine principle can be easily placed among the oldest and longest surviving religious elements of the primitive world. The practice can be traced in India and across many other ancient cultures of the world from a very remote past, and continues as the worship of Devi-Sakti among the Sakta sect of Hindu worshippers. In primitive societies, women were not only seen as symbol of regeneration, but they were also viewed as the actual creators of life. For this reason her organs and attributes were seen to be holding magical powers for creating life; hence became associated with life producing symbols. Thus, maternity or mothers, in the earliest phase of human civilisation, became the central figure of religion, and that formed the basis for worship of mother goddesses. The various ancient fertility rituals connected with the worship of mother goddesses, still hold a significant meaning for the Sakta sect under the Tantric form of worship (such as ambuvaci). This article will examine how the concept of Mother goddess took form in remote past and developed into the Sakta-Tantric form of worship, with a special focus on ringstones which symbolised the matrika/ mother goddess from prehistoric times.
The Imperial Cholas not only had a succession of able rulers, but the kings were also experts at ... more The Imperial Cholas not only had a succession of able rulers, but the kings were also experts at global diplomacy; and under them, the kingdom enjoyed a great deal of prosperity owing to skilful governance, and flourishing overseas commercial and naval activities.
Haya Sophia which is facing recent controversy over its conversion into a mosque has a long hi... more Haya Sophia which is facing recent controversy over its conversion into a mosque has a long history of destruction, reconstructions, and conversions under the various regimes that ruled the area. This article (written in Bengali) takes a close look at the history and architecture of this famous historical monument.
In all ancient cultures or primitive societies women formed to be the foundation pillars upon who... more In all ancient cultures or primitive societies women formed to be the foundation pillars upon whom rested the important tasks of giving birth and rearing the young, while teaching them what were seen as social norms, culture-heritage, behavioral habits, and traditions of those times. The women were seen as life producers with regenerative capacities, hence her organs that helped in procreation became the symbols of new life, and motherhood became the core figure in magico-religious cults of those times. The Paleolithic female figures found in abundance from various excavation sites with exaggerated maternal organs, stand as an evidence, showing the popularity of Mother Goddess worship in prehistoric times; a practice still popular in India, in a more developed form of worship of the Sakti or the feminine principle.
This blogpost covers a 2015 exhibition by the ASI on the varying and changing hairstyles as seen ... more This blogpost covers a 2015 exhibition by the ASI on the varying and changing hairstyles as seen in the context of Indian art. It is an interesting compilation by the ASI on coiffures throughout the ages starting with the Harappan culture, showing the innate human desire to appear beautiful. I have added a short introduction to it, discussing the various texts that talk of hairstyles and coiffure types.
The Puranic Vishnu is a powerful god, and this powerful sect was developed by the fusion of three... more The Puranic Vishnu is a powerful god, and this powerful sect was developed by the fusion of three god-concepts: Vasudeva-Krsna of Vrisni clan, cosmic god Narayana, and Vedic Vishnu. The Vasudeva-Krsna along with some of his close relatives form the bhagavatam group and are said to be the basis of the Bhakti cult. They are best represented in the Vaikuntha Vishnu murti, where the deity has multiple faces representing the four Vyuhas: Vasudeva, Samkarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha; a concept largely developed from the vyuha concept of Pancaratras of the Narayana sect. Another image with the same multiplicity concept is seen in the Viswarupa Vishnu. The article examines the vyuha concept behind the Vaikuntha Vishnu murtis, and the multiplicity in the Viswarupa image with an example of a rather unique Viswarupa Vishnu murti from Bajoura in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
Garuda in Indian literary history has had a long run, starting its flight from the Vedas as the S... more Garuda in Indian literary history has had a long run, starting its flight from the Vedas as the Surya or Sun imagined as a bird. The Rigvedic hymn describes how beautiful Garutman looks with his splendid wings: divyah sa suparno Garutman. Garuda is also referred to as Tarksya in the Puranas and epics, though RV in its late verses denote Tarksya as a horse. In the Mahabharata, Garuda is shown as directly connected to the Vedic Garutman, and is the younger brother of Aruna (the charioteer of Surya); while in the Puranas and later developed parts of the epics we find Garuda as the son of rishi Kashyap and Vinata.
The journey of Surya deva or the Sun god, the most prominent one among the other celestial lumina... more The journey of Surya deva or the Sun god, the most prominent one among the other celestial luminaries, has been a long one in the arena of India history. As seen from the study of other ancient cultures and religions, sun has been an object of reverence and worship from the start of human settlements, and though the Harappan scripts still remain undecipherable, it would not be very surprising if the circular disc seen in many of its seals and tablets symbolised the sun. While there are very little available archaeological evidences to determine the nature of sun worship among the pre-historic Indians, in the context of literary evidences it is found that the Vedas are filled with praises for this life sustaining celestial luminary. In the Rig Veda there are many mentions of Surya and his different aspects, Savitr, Pushan, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Mitra, Aryama, and Vishnu. Savitr, referred to the abstract qualities of the sun, mentioned him as the stimulator of everything on earth (sarvasya prasavita- Nirukta). Pushan shows him as a pastoral god, with a focus on the beneficial effects of the sun. Bhaga, as per Yaska, presides over the forenoon, is a distributor of wealth, and is often associated with his Iranian counterpart Baga or Bagho. Vivasat, who could have represented the rising sun, is referred to in the RV as the first sacrificer and ancestor of human beings. His counterpart was seen in the Avestan Vivanhant, who had first prepared the haoma (homa). Mitra and Aryama both had their Iranian counterparts in Mithra and Aryaman. From a study of the Vedic hymns it becomes clear that the highly revered atmospheric/cosmic deity later turned into the god of light with the name Surya.
Interestingly India has seen many folk or tribal deities from ancient and medieval eras being wor... more Interestingly India has seen many folk or tribal deities from ancient and medieval eras being worshipped from time to time, especially during the time of epidemics, and other physical and natural calamities. Derivatives of the Mother Goddess, some of these deities, which retain their primitive aspects, are still venerated by many, and temples dedicated to them are seen spread across the rural parts of India. I have listed some of the better known tribal/folk devis that were once highly venerated in ancient and medieval India; among them some have lost their relevance over the sands of time, while few are still respected and worshipped by their faithful followers.
Within the realms of Hinduism, the concept of god (Brahman, or the Paramatma-Supreme Soul) comes ... more Within the realms of Hinduism, the concept of god (Brahman, or the Paramatma-Supreme Soul) comes as both saguna (with attributes, where there is a form and gender) and nirguna (where god is formless and infinite). The nirguna concept, which is based on higher level philosophical thoughts is difficult to comprehend or even visualise. It has always been easier for the common people to follow the saguna form of worship, where their revered god takes an anthropomorphic form. This need to see the revered deity in front led to the development of murtis and their worship. Thus, we see the Shaivites worship Shiva as their supreme god, and the Vaishnavites worship Vishnu as their supreme god. There is a third group that worship the female Energy or Sakti as their supreme god, the Devi. This group of worshippers is known as the Saktas, and they worship the feminine power as the main god. Here the Devi is not limited to being just a consort of a male devta (as we see in Shaivism and Vaishnavism), but she is the one in focus as the main deity.
The ugra aspect of the devi is best characterised by her Mahishasuramardini image, which has been... more The ugra aspect of the devi is best characterised by her Mahishasuramardini image, which has been depicted in various ways over the centuries. The Vedic text such as Vajasaneyi Samhita, Taittiriya Aryanaka, Kena, Mundaka Upanishads, Sankhayana grihasutras mention Durga in her various forms; the soumaya (quiet/placid) forms among them being that of Gauri, Parvati, etc. Her fiercer aspects are named as Kali and Karali (same as the two names of the seven tongues ascribed to Agni, Rudra), Chandi, Chamundi, and the Nava Durgas. The Nava Durgas are named as Ugra Chanda, Prachanda, Chandanayika, Chandogra, Chandavati, Chanda, Ati Chandika, ChandraRupa, and Rudra Chanda. The Devi’s motherly aspect prevalent as the Mother Goddess from pre-historic times is well represented in her Shakambari ruup (MarkandyaPurana), also beautifully expressed in the worship of the Navapatrika during the ashwin (autumnal) Durga puja in Bengal. Among the principal murtis of the Devi worshipped by the Saktas is her form: Durga-Mahishasuramardini. The article explores through photos some of the Mahishasuramardini images found over the ages in India and Java
Examining and understanding the weapons that we see in the hands of our deities as per the Hindu ... more Examining and understanding the weapons that we see in the hands of our deities as per the Hindu iconography
Abhaneri, a small village located near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is famous for its exquisite 1200 year... more Abhaneri, a small village located near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is famous for its exquisite 1200 year old step-well known as the Chand baori. This baori or step-well, which is considered as the deepest step well in the world, is located opposite to a partially ruined temple known as the Harshat Mata mandir. Named after a local 8 th c. CE Rajput ruler King Chanda, the imposing square shaped baori measures 35m on each side, and is around 19 m in depth. There are double flights of 3500 stairs on ten landings on three sides of the well, which run parallel to the baori rim. These stairs are perfectly proportioned in a way that they form stair-triangles along a very sharp descent. The walls of this baori are so steep that when one looks down from the top edge the stair-triangles alternately hide and show the people going down. The fourth wall of the baori has a multi-storied corridor with pillars and two projecting niches that have two beautiful murtis of Ganesha and Mahisasuramardini in them. There is a small room inside the corridor known as the Andheri-Ujala.
Tracing how the Devi iconography evolved withhin the Hindu temple iconography starting from Hara... more Tracing how the Devi iconography evolved withhin the Hindu temple iconography starting from Harappan times where worship of mother goddesses were prevalent, to the Gupta period where a strong devi or Shakti cult had already started forming.
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