Mother-Goddess in Pre-Mediaeval Bengal:A Study of the Evolution of Concept & Forms of Female-Divinities

Book Description

About the Author

Dr. Sikha Sarkar (Aditya) hails from a respected family in Rangpur, Bangladesh, and was raised in Burdwan, where she completed her M.A. in History with First Class honors at the University of Burdwan in 1977. With over ten years of teaching experience at various colleges in Purulia and Burdwan, she currently serves as a senior member of the History Department at Burdwan Raj College. Additionally, she is the secretary of the research organization Bhārata Vidyā Charcha Kendra and has delivered lectures at various literary and cultural societies.

Foreword

The foreword highlights the significance of the Mother-goddess cult in the cultural history of India, noting its inseparable connection to the nation’s religious and socio-economic life. Dr. Sikha Aditya's research focuses on the origin and growth of this cult specifically in Bengal, aiming to understand its supremacy among Puranic deities in the region. Her study is rooted in a thorough examination of the Märkandeya-Purāṇa, suggesting that it may have been composed in Eastern India, possibly Bengal. This work not only provides a micro-level analysis of a pan-Indian phenomenon but also enriches the understanding of Bengal's unique religious landscape.

Introduction

In the introduction, Dr. Aditya argues that what appears to be a study of religious history is, in fact, intertwined with the societal and economic history of India. She emphasizes that many indigenous texts, primarily religious, can offer insights into the stages of societal development when analyzed from a material perspective. Her investigation, guided by archaeological and anthropological data, focuses on the Mother-goddess cult's origins and development in Bengal from ancient times to the medieval period. Dr. Aditya posits that this cult characterizes Bengal's culture, reflects its socio-economic evolution, and bestows a distinctive place on the region within India's religio-cultural framework. She acknowledges the contributions of eminent scholars in the field while establishing her own research within this rich scholarly tradition.