{"product_id":"heroic-shaktism-the-cult-of-durga-in-ancient-indian-kingship-hardback-9780197266106","title":"Heroic Shāktism; The Cult of Durgā in Ancient Indian Kingship (Hardback) 9780197266106","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eHeroic Shāktism\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Cult of Durgā in Ancient Indian Kingship\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780197266106, OUP Oxford\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 26 October 2017\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e310 pages, 3 maps and 3 black and white illustrations\u003cbr\u003e24.2 x 16.8 x 2.5 cm, 0.648 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHeroic Śāktism is the belief that a good king and a true warrior must worship the goddess Durgā, the form and substance of kingship. This belief formed the bedrock of ancient Indian practices of cultivating political power. Wildly dangerous and serenely benevolent at one and the same time, the goddess's charismatic split nature promised rewards for a hero and king and success in risky ventures.\n \nThis book is the first expansive historical treatment of the cult of Durgā and the role it played in shaping ideas and rituals of heroism in India between the 3rd and the 12th centuries CE. Within the story of ancient Indian kingship, two critical transitions overlapped with the rise of heroic Śāktism: the decline of the war-god Skanda-Mahāsena as a military symbol, and the concomitant rise of the early Indian kingdom. As the rhetoric of kingship once strongly linked to the older war god shifted to the cultural narratives of the goddess, her political imagery broadened in its cultural resonance. And indigenous territorial deities became associated with Durgā as smaller states unified into a broader conception of civilization. \n \nBy assessing the available epigraphic, literary and scriptural sources in Sanskrit, and anthropological studies on politics and ritual, Bihani Sarkar demonstrates that the association between Indian kingship and the cult's belief-systems was an ancient one based on efforts to augment worldly power.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Asian history [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Asian history\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Asian%20history%20%5BHBJF%5D%22\"\u003eHBJF\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"OUP Oxford","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52501406286104,"sku":"9780197266106","price":67.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9780197266106.jpg?v=1786236043","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/heroic-shaktism-the-cult-of-durga-in-ancient-indian-kingship-hardback-9780197266106","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}