Heroic Shaktism
The Cult of Durga in Ancient Indian Kingship
Bihani Sarkar
Reviews and Awards
"This book's eclecticism offers something to every scholar interested in the goddess tradition... Sarkar's book considerably enhances our historical ability to recognise the goddesses at the heart of both households and state-formations in the early subcontinent." -- Indrani Chatterjee, The English Historical Review
"a paradigm-shifting work that forces scholars of South Asian religions, history, and goddess traditions rethink the role of royal goddesses and kings' devotion in the broader shifts of the political process. It is essential for anyone interested in religion and kingship in Gupta/post-Gupta India." -- Caleb Simmons, newbooks.asia
"[an] interesting and absorbing book ... the result of 10 years of research, is the first detailed historical study of the evolution of the cult of Durgā and the role it played in shaping civilizational ideals in India."--Pravrajika Prabuddhaprana, The Telegraph India
"Heroic Shāktism is a paradigm-shifting work that forces scholars of South Asian religions, history, and goddess traditions rethink the role of royal goddesses and kings' devotion in the broader shifts of the political process. It is essential for anyone interested in religion and kingship in Gupta/post-Gupta India. Portions might be useful for advanced undergraduate readers, but it is primarily geared toward specialists." -- Caleb Simmons, University of Florida, newbooks.asia