Orissa Review * October - 2004

Sakti Worship in Orissan Inscriptions

Bharati Pal

The Supreme deity of the Tantra is known as Kautilya mentioned "Devi" in his Arthasastra the Sakti, inseparable from Siva. It is the Sakti as a spirit of vegetation in connection with the in the Tantra which is said to have brought the sowing of seeds. From the Earth Goddess she Universe into existence, and that preserves it was later conceived as the war Goddess for from the disruptive forces. She governs the the protection of her devotees. The cult of Sakti Universe and overwhelms us with wonder and worship is thus wide and varied both in space awe. In other words it can be said that Sakti and time. Her most common feature is that she denotes divine energy, glorifying the Mother has beautiful yellow complexion and her arms aspect of God. This Universe, is begotten of holds weapons to kill Mahisasura. her free will, who is the beginning of all. She In the earliest epigraphical evidence is , Tara, Bhubanesvari, Bagala, Bhairavi, regarding Sakti worship in Orissa, we find Chinnamasta, Matangi and Kamala. She mention in the Teresingha Plate of Maharaja appears at times to destroy the Asuras and Tushtikara, who worshipped the goddess Sakti assumes four hands and occasionally two, six, in the name of Stambhesvari. He ruled as an eight, ten or even thousand hands. She resides independent king over the Kalahandi region in the cremation ground, where all the worldly during 5th - 6th century A.D and worshipped objects are being reduced to ashes. Maha Sakti Goddess Stambhesvari (Stambhesvari Pada is Maha Yogini connecting the links of creation, Bhakta). It is also revealed from the copper preservation and destruction of the Universe. plate grants of Sulki family, who ruled as She creates the Universe, preserve it and subordinate rulers under the Bhaumakaras in destroy it with all its animate and inanimate 9th -10th century A.D that they were the great objects. She is worshipped as Adya, being the devotees of goddess Stambhesvari. She was beginning of all. She is the origin of all and, worshipped as a 'Kula-' or She is said to be the great creator and the of the Sulki dynasty. It is written in the plates commander of all. of Ranastambha 'Asya Kuladevata-- In the form of the Mother Goddess she Stambhesvari-Bhattarikam-Sakshini-Krutva'. was the popular deity in the ancient period. A The Hindol Plate of Kulastambha also refers terracotta figurine from Harappa represent a to the grant having been made the 'Kuladevata nude female with a plant issuing out of her -Stambhesvari- Bhattarika'. Futher it is written womb. She represents mother Sakambhari. 'Asmad Kula-Devata Stambhesvari-

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Bhattarika -Pramani Krutya'. The Hindol In the Image Inscription of Plate of the same king contains a similar Vatsadevi of Bhumakara dynasty , we get statement, with some addition to the epithet of reference of Sakti worship. Queen Vatsadevi Stambhesvari. It describes the gift as having installed the image of goddess Chamunda in been witnessed by the 'Kuladevata' the Trilochana temple at Jajpur. The inscription Stambhesvari who is worshipped by the gods, simply refers that "Siddham-Rajni- demons, learned men and ascetics, as "danam- Vatsadevayah Kirttih" (Let there be success. idam-asmad-adi-Kuladevatam-bhoga-vtim- This image of goddess Chamunda is the fame Sur-asura-vidvainMuni-manuja- of the queen Vatsadevi.) Vandita-Srimat Stambhesvari-Bhattarikam- In the Jatesingha and Dungri Plates of Pramani Krutya Pratipaditam -asmai". Mahasivagupta of Somavamsi dynasty there is Besides the king Sulki, in the Plates of mention of the establishment of goddess 'Sri Bhanja Ranabhanjadeva, we get reference of Panchambari Bhadrambika' in Suvarnapura, goddess Stambhesvari. The epithet written as who at the prayer of all people grant them boons 'Samadhigata-Pancha-Mahasabda' describe in her mercy. We also get reference of Sakti worship during the Suryavamsi period. In the him as having obtained the favour of the Warangal Inscription of Raghudeva we get the goddess Stambhesvari. (Stambhesvari- name goddess 'Gangamangalam '. It is Labdha-Vara- Prasada). mentioned that he was the devotee of goddess As regards the Stambhesvari, the family Gangamangala Chandi or and also deity of the Sulkis, it is said that the having been a favourite son of the goddess represention of goddess was probably made Durga. out on a Stambha indicating a Siva-Linga, Such In the Balasore Plate of Purushottama a Linga with the representation of the Sakti is deva, the charter begins with the line "Sri Jaya no doubt found among the sculptural remains Durgayai Namah". of Eastern India. It should, however be pointed out that whatever may have been the form of References the goddess worshipped by the Sulkis, the deity 1. Sakti and Her Episode -Pushpendra Kumar- Stambhesvari is still adored by the people of PP 1-5 the different castes of Orissa and in some parts 2. Hindol Plates of Kulastambha, Epigraphia Indica -Vol -28- PP 111 -112, D.C Sircar of the country under the Prkritic name 3. Chamunda Image Inscription-E.I. Vol-28-P- Khambesvari and in the shape of a post or 184 - D, C Sircar pillar. Therefore the word Stambhesvari seems 4. Inscriptions of Orissa - Vol-IV, P-219, S.N to indicate merely the goddess of the pillars Rajguru. without any special association with the Siva 5. King, Brahamanas and Temples of Orissa- linga. Upinder singh PP -106 The cult of this goddess is an instance of 6. Inscriptions of Suryavamsi Gajapati, the Hinduization of an autochthonous deity, R. Subramanyam, PP -64 & P -127- whose worship is still prevalent in Western Orissa, although she is no longer always Bharati Pal is an Asst. Curator (Epigraphy) in the Orissa represented by a post. State Museum at Bhubaneswar.

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