The Rise of Mahalaksmİ Cult in the Deccan (A Goddess of Power, Kingdom and Salvation)

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"The Rise of Mahalaksmi Cult in the Deccan: A Goddess of Power, Kingdom and Salvation' is the book version of the research titled "The Archaeology of Religious Ideas at Kolhapur with special reference to Shaivism and Shaktism: 9th-13th century CE' submitted for the PhD degree in AIHC and Archaeology. The idea of Mahalaksmi, which soon manifested into the most important deity of the Sakta text Durga-Saptasati aka Devi-Mahatmya, was an outcome of sectarian synthesis. The deity was designed to be served by the royalty or polity mainly. From the archaeological evidences it has come up to the surface that the manifestation of the idea of 'Maha-Lakṣmi' took place in the Deccan region in general and in Kolhapur (then Kollapura) in particular. The location of Kolhapur proved important in propagating the cult of Mahālakṣmī so much so that apart from Kolhapur she was distinctly recognized as 'Kollapura- Mahalakṣml' elsewhere. Her temples and eventually cult began to rise in places other than Kolhapur through the means of Kings and merchants. The present work focuses on understanding the Mahalaksmī as a concept, as a cultic deity by studying sectarian synthesis that caused into rise of her cult, its effect on polity and society through the texts, inscriptions and architecture, keeping Kolhapur as a main centre for her cultic activities in the Deccan. The research is a contribution in the field of Indology, Archaeology, Saktism, Saivism, ancient and early medieval history.

Yogesh Prabhudesai is an artist and has pursued his G.D. Art course. He has obtained Masters degree in Indology from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune and PhD in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Deccan College Post-Graduate Research Institute, Pune.

He has authored books such as 'Temples of Kolhapur', 'Shri- Mahalakshmi Samagra Darshan' in English and these books have been translated in Marathi as well. Of them 'Temples of Kolhapur' received a good attention from scholars and has reached in the University and Museum libraries from US, UK and France.

He has various research papers, public articles, research-based documentaries to his account in addition.

**Contents and Sample Pages**