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From
the Publisher
Orissa is a land of pure Hindu culture as evidenced by the
concentration of temples there. The collection of hundreds of
old palm leaf manuscripts on the epics and the puranas is
another pointer to this. In the villages of Orissa even now
the institution of 'Bhagavata ghara' has survived to play a
vital role, influencing the religious and social life of the
rural masses. The recitation of Bhagavata Purana describing
the efficacy of devotion in Vaisnavite faith is a very popular
event in village life. This prompted Ghanashyam Patnaik in the
18th century to transcribe the great Purana and his
illustrious father Brajanath Badajena to prepare the
fascinating sketches and drawings illustrating the Puranic
episodes. It is a rare contribution to Hindu culture in its
subregional manifestation. Apart from the religious contents,
the paintings of the manuscript are of rare aesthetic value
representing an aspect of Odissi culture, tradition and art.
Author Description
Editor Dr. P.K. Mishra, Ph. D., D.
Litt. (b. 1937),
Professor and Head, Department of History, Sambalpur
University, is the author and co-author of Political History
of Orissa (New Delhi, 1979); Madhusudan Das, the Legislature
(Ranch, 1980); History of Orissa (Cuttack, 1980); Evolution of
Orissa and Her Culture (Calcutta, 1984), and five other books.
He edited the Journal of Orissan History (1978-82),
Proceedings of the Orissa History Congress (1978-82), New
Aspects of History of Orissa (1985-86) and Utkala Gaurava
(1986). He served as Secretary of the Orissa History Congress
(1978-82) and its President in 1986-87. At present he is
engaged in the Survey and Documentation of Monuments in the
Upper Mahanadi Valley.
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