DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk – Kharavela : His Life and Times – G.Santhanam

Santhanam explores, with the help of N K Basu’s book, the accomplishments of this celebrated king of Kalinga whose achievements are inscribed on the wall of Hathigumpha cave at Udayagiri Hill on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. While being a mighty warrior with successful military expeditions and victories across the sub-continent, Kharavela was also a dynamic … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk – Tribes of Odisha – Sharada Chandrasekar

Odisha claims to be the second largest tribal dominant state in the country. The Adivasi (aborigine), Vanabasi (forest dweller) and Girijana (mountain dweller) constitute over 22% of the population of Odisha. The Government of India has notified 62 endogamous tribal groups of Odisha. Tribal communities range from hunter gatherers, shifting cultivators to settled peasantry. As … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk – Puri Jagannath Temple – History, Structure and Architecture – Usha Krishnamoorthy

The Puri Jagannath temple has a rich and varied history. It was invaded 18 times! The stories of the how and why different rulers plundered the temple are as fascinating as the ways in which the deities were protected every time. In this presentation, Usha discusses the present structure of the temple, its various sections … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk – Buddhist Centres of Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri + Buddhist Iconography of Odisha – by Shyam C Raman

A large number of sites in Odisha have yielded Buddhist remains. The major centres are Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri, about two and a half hours away from Bhubaneswar. While the area has been mentioned in official records since 1870, periodic archaeological excavations from 1958 and more recently in 1997-2000 have unearthed the ruins of a … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk – Gita Govinda – by Kishore Mahadevan

Gita Govinda composed by poet Jayadeva in the 12th century is considered one of the classics in Indian literature, and a source of religious inspiration. The poem celebrates Krishna’s love with cowherdess Radha. Till date Gita Govinda continues to play a big part in the cultural landscape of Odisha. Several rituals involving the Gita Govinda … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk on Samant Chandrasekar – Gopu R

In this talk, Gopu introduces to Mahamahopadhyaya Pathani Chandrashekhar Singh Samant Harichandana Mahapatra (a.k.a Samant Chandrashekar), a Sanskrit astronomer who lived in Odisha in the 19th century   Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 Preparatory Talk – Parasurameswara Temple – Vallabha Srinivasan

The Parasurameswara is a small but lavishly decorated temple.It is dated to the 7th Century CE and is one of the oldest temples we will see in Bhubaneswar.  The carvings in this temple include narrative reliefs, elaborate decorative motifs, parsva devatas, and much more. In this presentation Vallabha takes us through the highlights of this … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 – Preparatory Talk -Visits of Sri Sankara and Sri Ramanuja to Orissa and their lasting influence

Adi Shankaracharya, in the 9th century, made Puri a centre of his spiritual ideology & message, and established the Govardhan Pitha there. Another great saint, Ramanujacharya, the propounder of Visishtadvaita philosophy established the Embar Matha in Puri.  Ramanujacharya is also said to have influenced the Ganga King Anantavaraman Chodaganga into turning to Vaishnavism. He tried … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 Preparatory Talk – Lingaraja Temple – by Siva Thiagarajan

The Lingaraja Temple is the product of accumulated and crystallised experience of several centuries and represents the quintessence of Orissan architecture. It is one of the most finished and refined manifestations of temple architecture in India.  Every element of the temple displays the consummate skill of its designers and craftsmen. The graceful contour of its … Continue reading →

DUJ 2017 Preparatory Talk – Puri Jagannath: The Festive Aspects – by Siddharth Chandrasekar

Lord Jagannatha at Puri is the Supreme Ruler of Purushottama Ksetra.  He is lavishly worshiped with royal rituals and sumptuous food offerings and is attended by a great family of servants. His rituals are elaborate and involve over a thousand functionaries – from the morning Homa celebrated in His name to worship Surya, to the … Continue reading →