Sculptural Art of Upper Mahanadi Valley (Set of 2 Volumes)

About the Book

The present book is the outcome of the extensive explorations undertaken from 1984 to 1993 and from 1998 to 2000, as a result of which more than fifty hitherto unknown temple sites of the period from the 6th century A.D. to the 14th century A.D. came to lime-light, adding new chapters in the history of the temple architecture and sculptural art & iconography of the Upper Mahanadi Valley of Odisha.

It includes the discovery of two major temples in situ, one the Paficayatana Temple complex at Daspur Surda of the ninth century A.D. and the other being the Kusan gat (Ten-handed Mahisasuramardini Durga) Temple of the eleventh century A.D. at Kusang, besides minor Triratha temples at Sirekela, Gandharla and Badpada, all in the Balangir district of Odisha. The contents of this book add new dimensions to the study of Iconography and Art of the Upper Mahanadi Valley of Odisha, thereby throwing new lights on the art history of Eastern India and Central India (Daksina Kosala Region) as a whole.

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About the Author

Sasanka Sekhar Panda graduated from Sambalpur University with a 1st class Honors Degree in History in the year 1974. Thereafter he received M.A. Degree in History and M.Phil. Degree in Buddhist Studies from the University of Delhi in 1977 and 1978 respectively. In pursuit of higher studies, he went to the United States of America and did the research for two years commencing from January 1996 in the University of Virginia. He has the experience of teaching “Ancient Indian Temple Art” to the American students in the university. Being adjudged as the best Doctoral Scholar for the year 1997-98 he was awarded with the most prestigious Du Pont Fellowship. He has contributed substantially to the field of temple art of Odisha and has published sixty-two research articles in various national and international journals. At present, he is working as the Joint Director in the Information & Public Relations Department of the Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar.

He is the life member of the Institute of Historical Studies, Kolkata, and the Founder Convener of the Upper Mahanadi Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) New Delhi since 1986. He has been honored as the Best Historian by the P.C. Rath Foundation in 2010 and begged Best Poet Award by the Hirakhand Trust in 1987, besides many other awards and felicitations.