| Abstract: | The working of the female principle in the form of a Divine Mother appears very early in Orissa. This is attested by Ashoka's Rock Edict XIII, and a 3rd century BCE inscription at Bhadrak. By the Gupta period, the primitive forms of the divine mother became gradually "Hinduized". The Bhauma-kara, Ganga, and Gajapati rulers were also devoted to Shaktism. Viraja (Jajpur) was and is the primary centre for the worship of Devi, as evident from literary and epigraphic references, and the images of Chamunda, Dantura, Durga, Mahishamardini, Ambalika, the Saptamatrikas, Mahalakshmi, Varahi, Yoginis, and Mahabhairavi in the temple shrines of the region. Source of Abstract: Provided by Publisher |
