Author Description

Created as a symbol of imperial power by the south Indian conquerors of Orissa in the 12th century, the temple of Jagannatha endures as one of India's great monuments and centres of pilgrimage. This authoritative study assembles all the evidence, old and new, to produce a definitive account of the building and its cult. Topics include Puri as a Sacred City of Light and its major festivals; the architecture, sculpture, and associated paintings of the Temple; and a new analysis of the origins of the extraordinary icons worshipped in it. The only exhaustive account of this major shrine, this study includes unique 19th century and contemporary photographs, the latter revealing features in its ongoing restoration. Its new, integrated interpretation of the Purusottama cult places its iconography firmly in the traditions of Hindu festival art.