The Kalika Purana (Sanskrit: कालिकापुराणम्, Kālikā Purāṇa), also called the Kali Purana, Sati Purana or Kalika Tantra, is one of the eighteen minor Puranas (Upapurana) in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism.[1][2][3] The text was likely composed in Assam or Cooch Behar[4] region of India and is attributed to the sage Markandeya. It exists in many versions, variously organized in 90 to 93 chapters. The surviving versions of the text are unusual in that they start abruptly and follow a format not found in either the major or minor Purana-genre mythical texts of Hinduism.[1] Various types of animal sacrifices for devi are detailed in the Purana.
The text starts off with the legends of Devi trying to bring Shiva back from ascetic life into that of a householder's by making him fall in love again.[1] According to Ludo Rocher, Markandeya describes how Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu are "one and the same" and that all goddesses (Sati, Parvati, Menaka, Kali and others) are manifestation of the same feminine energy.[1][2] It glorifies the goddess Kamakhya, or Kamakshi, and details the ritual procedures required for worshiping her. It also describes in detail the rivers and mountains at Kamarupatirtha and mentions the Brahmaputra River and the Kamakhya Temple.[1][5]
Rudhiradhyaya
Chapters 67 through 78 of the text constitute the Rudhiradhyaya which discusses bali (animal sacrifice) and of Vamacara Tantrism.[1] The Rudhiradhyaya section is notable for its uncommon discussion of human sacrifice. The text states that a human sacrifice may be performed to please the goddess, but only with the consent of prince before a war or cases of imminent danger. The text also states that anyone who is physically disabled, related to a Brahmin, or "is not willing to die" through the sacrifice is unfit for the ritual. The text describes the rituals associated with a bali, or a rice-paste substitute for enemies prior to a war, but does not describe how the sacrifice was actually done.[6]
History
The work belongs to the goddess-oriented Shakta branch of Hinduism. Most probably it was composed in or near medieval Kamarupa (modern Assam). It is a late work, states Hazra, by Nibandha writers regarding Shakti worship.[3] It is also one of the rare Hindu texts that actually mentions the word "Hindu".
Date
According to Hazra, there existed a text that was older than the extant one, and that the origin of that text was Bengal.[3] This is denied by Shastri, who claims that the evidence provided by Hazra for an earlier text can be explained by other means, without invoking an older text.[7] According to Shastri, the local descriptions; the exposition of the myth of Naraka from who all the dynasties of Kamarupa drew their lineage; the description of the myth of Brahmaputra river; and the claim in the text that Kamarupa was holier than even Varanasi points to the text having been composed in Kamarupa.[8]
References to Kālidāsa and Magha suggests that it is not one of the early Puranas.[8] The mention of places and events associated with Ratna Pala (920-960) of Kamrupa region places the text to after the 10th-century.[9] The explanation in the text for the Mlechchha population, and the indication of a parallel explanation in Harjaravarman's (815-832) Hyunthal copper plate inscription places the text closer to his reign.[9] According to Rocher, the mention of king Dharmapala of Kamarupa has led to proposals of Kalika Purana being an 11th or 12th-century text. However, estimates for different sections of the text range from 7th to the 12th-century.[10][1]
Printed editions
The earliest printed edition of this text was published by the Venkateshvara Press, Bombay in 1829 Saka Era (1907 CE), followed by the Vangavasi Press, Calcutta in 1316 Bangabda (1909 CE).
^(Rosati 2017, p. 5): "This story is recounted also in the Kālikāpurāṇa—the earliest text devoted to the worship of Kāmākhyā, probably compiled no later than the tenth–eleventh century in a region between Assam and Koch Bihar (a district of West Bengal)."
Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books. ISBN978-0-14-341421-6.
Dowson, John (1984) [1879]. A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, and Religion, Geography, History. Calcutta: Rupa & Co.
Hazra, R.C. (2003) [1962]. "The Upapuranas". In Radhakrishnan, S. (ed.). The Cultural Heritage of India. Vol. 2. Kolkata: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. ISBN81-85843-03-1.
Lawrence, Bruce B. (1976). Shahrastani on the Indian Religions. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN978-3-11-080099-9.
Rosati, Paolo (2017), "The Goddess Kāmākhyā: Religio-political Implications in the Tribalisation Process", History and Sociology of South Asia, 11 (2): 137-155, doi:10.1177/2230807517703014, S2CID 157265661
Shin, Jae-Eun (2018), "Region Formed and Imagined: Reconsidering temporal, spatial and social context of Kamarupa", in Dzüvichü, Lipokmar; Baruah, Manjeet (eds.), Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation, London & New York: Routledge, pp. 23–55
External links
Contents of 18 Puranas and a list of Upapuranas (lesser Puranas)
July 01, 2023
kalika, purana, sanskrit, णम, kālikā, purāṇa, also, called, kali, purana, sati, purana, kalika, tantra, eighteen, minor, puranas, upapurana, shaktism, tradition, hinduism, text, likely, composed, assam, cooch, behar, region, india, attributed, sage, markandeya. The Kalika Purana Sanskrit क ल क प र णम Kalika Puraṇa also called the Kali Purana Sati Purana or Kalika Tantra is one of the eighteen minor Puranas Upapurana in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism 1 2 3 The text was likely composed in Assam or Cooch Behar 4 region of India and is attributed to the sage Markandeya It exists in many versions variously organized in 90 to 93 chapters The surviving versions of the text are unusual in that they start abruptly and follow a format not found in either the major or minor Purana genre mythical texts of Hinduism 1 Various types of animal sacrifices for devi are detailed in the Purana Contents 1 Content 1 1 Rudhiradhyaya 2 History 2 1 Date 2 2 Printed editions 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksContent EditThe text starts off with the legends of Devi trying to bring Shiva back from ascetic life into that of a householder s by making him fall in love again 1 According to Ludo Rocher Markandeya describes how Brahma Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same and that all goddesses Sati Parvati Menaka Kali and others are manifestation of the same feminine energy 1 2 It glorifies the goddess Kamakhya or Kamakshi and details the ritual procedures required for worshiping her It also describes in detail the rivers and mountains at Kamarupa tirtha and mentions the Brahmaputra River and the Kamakhya Temple 1 5 Rudhiradhyaya Edit Chapters 67 through 78 of the text constitute the Rudhiradhyaya which discusses bali animal sacrifice and of Vamacara Tantrism 1 The Rudhiradhyaya section is notable for its uncommon discussion of human sacrifice The text states that a human sacrifice may be performed to please the goddess but only with the consent of prince before a war or cases of imminent danger The text also states that anyone who is physically disabled related to a Brahmin or is not willing to die through the sacrifice is unfit for the ritual The text describes the rituals associated with a bali or a rice paste substitute for enemies prior to a war but does not describe how the sacrifice was actually done 6 History EditThe work belongs to the goddess oriented Shakta branch of Hinduism Most probably it was composed in or near medieval Kamarupa modern Assam It is a late work states Hazra by Nibandha writers regarding Shakti worship 3 It is also one of the rare Hindu texts that actually mentions the word Hindu Date Edit According to Hazra there existed a text that was older than the extant one and that the origin of that text was Bengal 3 This is denied by Shastri who claims that the evidence provided by Hazra for an earlier text can be explained by other means without invoking an older text 7 According to Shastri the local descriptions the exposition of the myth of Naraka from who all the dynasties of Kamarupa drew their lineage the description of the myth of Brahmaputra river and the claim in the text that Kamarupa was holier than even Varanasi points to the text having been composed in Kamarupa 8 References to Kalidasa and Magha suggests that it is not one of the early Puranas 8 The mention of places and events associated with Ratna Pala 920 960 of Kamrupa region places the text to after the 10th century 9 The explanation in the text for the Mlechchha population and the indication of a parallel explanation in Harjaravarman s 815 832 Hyunthal copper plate inscription places the text closer to his reign 9 According to Rocher the mention of king Dharmapala of Kamarupa has led to proposals of Kalika Purana being an 11th or 12th century text However estimates for different sections of the text range from 7th to the 12th century 10 1 Printed editions Edit The earliest printed edition of this text was published by the Venkateshvara Press Bombay in 1829 Saka Era 1907 CE followed by the Vangavasi Press Calcutta in 1316 Bangabda 1909 CE References Edit a b c d e f g Rocher 1986 pp 179 183 a b Dalal 2010 p 187 a b c Hazra 2003 p 280 Rosati 2017 p 5 This story is recounted also in the Kalikapuraṇa the earliest text devoted to the worship of Kamakhya probably compiled no later than the tenth eleventh century in a region between Assam and Koch Bihar a district of West Bengal Dowson 1984 p 143 Lawrence 1976 pp 232 234 with footnotes Shastri 1994 p 23 a b Shastri 1994 p 24 a b Shastri 1994 p 25 Shin 2018 p 32 Bibliography EditDalal Roshen 2010 Hinduism An Alphabetical Guide Penguin Books ISBN 978 0 14 341421 6 Dowson John 1984 1879 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion Geography History Calcutta Rupa amp Co Hazra R C 2003 1962 The Upapuranas In Radhakrishnan S ed The Cultural Heritage of India Vol 2 Kolkata The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture ISBN 81 85843 03 1 Lawrence Bruce B 1976 Shahrastani on the Indian Religions Walter de Gruyter ISBN 978 3 11 080099 9 Shastri Biswanarayan 1994 Kalikapurane Murtivinirdesah Motilal Banarsidass Publications Rocher Ludo 1986 The Puraṇas Otto Harrassowitz Verlag ISBN 978 3 447 02522 5 Rosati Paolo 2017 The Goddess Kamakhya Religio political Implications in the Tribalisation Process History and Sociology of South Asia 11 2 137 155 doi 10 1177 2230807517703014 S2CID 157265661 Shin Jae Eun 2018 Region Formed and Imagined Reconsidering temporal spatial and social context of Kamarupa in Dzuvichu Lipokmar Baruah Manjeet eds Modern Practices in North East India History Culture Representation London amp New York Routledge pp 23 55External links EditContents of 18 Puranas and a list of Upapuranas lesser Puranas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kalika Purana amp oldid 1148645741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
