Ramakatha in Odishan Art and Culture

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The book is a sincere attempt to understand the beginning and development of Ramakatha in Odisha in a historical perspective. It takes into account the impact of the Ramayana in the art, culture and traditions of Odisha. The Ramakatha scenes in the sculptural art of Odisha have been documented and analyzed. The Rama temples along with mathas associated with Shree Rama and temples for Hanuman provide an idea of the huge popularity of the Ramakatha in Odishan architecture. The literary traditions of Odisha, both in Sanskrit and Odiya from 9th century C.E. and onwards are presented to delve deep into the literary heritage of Odisha, associated with Ramakatha. The regional traditions of Odisha associated with the Ramayana in the context of place/village names, hills and mountains, water bodies, castes and tribes, dances, festivals and rituals, archaeological sites and monuments are very interesting. The work throws welcome light on the tradition of the Ramayana in Odisha, both in tangible and intangible form and a contribution to the growing literature on Ramayana in India.

Prof. Byomakesh Tripathy, teaches History at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Amarkantak. Earlier he was Professor and Head Department of History, Arunachal University Itanagar. He was Vice Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar from January 2020 to January 2023. He specialises in Ancient History, Archaeologyand Indian Culture. His publication includes, A Comprehensive History of Arunachala Pradesh, Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh, Buddhism in North East India, Sources of History of Arunachal Pradesh, Tribes of Central India, Ethnographic Museum in Central India etc.

Dr. Dibishada Brajasundar Garnayak, is presently working as Superintending Archaeologist, of Puri Circle, Archaeological Survey of India. Earlier he was an Assistant Professor in Asmara University, Eritrea and Associate Professor in Mekelle University, Ethiopia. Dr. Garnayak has authored monographs entitled Early Historic Archaeology of Odisha, Prehistoric Art in Odisha, Rock Art in Coastal Odisha and edited a book entitled Rock Art in India. Being a field archaeologist he has explored and excavated various sites such as Hastianpur (Uttar Pradesh), and Asurgarh, Bhartihuda, Jhadiamba, Parabhadi (Odisha) etc.

The monograph entitled Ramakatha in Odishan Art and Culture, encompasses an account of the beginning and development of Ramakatha in Odisha in a historical perspective. The history of Lord Ram is reflected in the art, architecture, paintings, literature, culture and regional traditions of Odisha. The Ramayana for Odiya people is not a mere story of Lord Ram but a documents par excellence of the ideals of a perfect human life based on respect for truth, obedience to parents, fight for righteousness and spiritual experiences. Over the ages, the Ramayana has been an eternal source of religious inspiration and spiritual awakening of masses. The epic embraces all that is inherent in the men as a creation of the God and beautifully depicts traits of human mind that are universal and eternal. The epic has played a significant role in uniting different geographies and culture of India.

The monograph has been discussed in five chapters, starting with a brief discussion about the beginning and development of Ramakatha in India in general and in Odisha in particular. The second chapter throws welcome light on representation of Ramakatha in the context of Odishan Art and painting. Shree Rama temples, Rama mathas and shree Hanuman temples of Odisha are documented in chapter third. The fourth chapter, discusses the Ramakatha as depicted in the regional literary tradition of Odisha in Sanskrit as well as in Odiya. The fifth and the last chapter takes into account the regional tradition of the Ramakatha in Odisha with special reference to place/village names, mountains, water bodies, castes and tribes, archaeological sites and monuments, dances, performing arts, fair and festivals etc.

We, are grateful to the Almighty Shree Rama who empowered to accomplish this work by his blessings and enable us to draw a holistic presentation of Lords presence in the tangible and intangible heritage of Odisha.

The authors are extremely thankful and grateful to Shri Dharmendra Pradhanji Hon'ble Minister of Education, Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India, New Delhi, who has not only inspired us but also kindly has written a foreword of the book.

It gives me immense pleasure to write a forward of the book entitled "Ramakatha in Odishan Art and Culture", authored by Byomakesh Tripathy and Dibishada Brajasundara Garnayak. The book, for the first time, takes into account a study of the beginning and development of Ramakatha in Odisha in a historical perspective. The Ramayana is considered to be the earliest epic of the world and reflects ethos of the great tradition of Indian culture. The Maryada Purusha Shree Rama stands for everything that embodies Indian identity. With the growth of early Bhakti tradition, the Avatarvad came into existence and Shree Rama became identified as the seventh avatar of Vishnu at least from the pre-Christian era. The literary and archaeological traditions clearly point out Odisha as a great centre of Rama cult, throughout the ages.

In Balmiki Ramayana, it has been narrated that Shree Rama advised devotee hanuman and the King Vibhisana to worship Sri Jagannath after the age of Tretaya yuga. The kings of Odisha patronize the Rama cult from early historical periods which is reflected in Odishan sculptural art. The Ramayana frieze motifs in early group temples of Bhubaneswar, Simhanath temple, Varahi temple at Chaurasi etc. provide beautiful specimens of Ramayana panel. No less interesting are the images of Shree Rama denoting as avatar of Vishnu. The rich tradition of Odishan painting in the form of mural, manuscript paintings etc. reveal various episodes from Ramakatha.