Exploring Kingship and Religious Identity (c.4th–14th century)
Exploring Kingship and Religious Identity (c.4th–14th century)
Covering the 4th–14th centuries, this book shows how Deccan rulers used the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahabharata in politics and public culture. Through epigraphic evidence, it traces shifting uses of epic heroes—from royal models to temple deities—and how diverse communities engaged these traditions.
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Spanning a millennium from the 4th to the 14th century, this book explores the dynamic role of the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata in shaping the political and socio-cultural landscape of the Deccan. Drawing on a wealth of epigraphic evidence, especially royal praśastis (eulogies), it reveals how ruling dynasties like the Kadambas and Hoysaḷas strategically appropriated epic motifs, heroes, and narratives to craft ideologies of kingship and divine legitimacy. Far from being confined to the religious sphere, the epics were actively woven into the public and political discourse, influencing not just elites but various social groups across the region. This study probes how different communities engaged with these traditions, beyond worship, to express identity, authority, and aspiration. Notably, it traces a significant shift around the 10th century, when epic heroes such as Rāma and Hanumān transitioned from royal exemplars to temple deities, marking an evolution in their cultural and symbolic significance. This work offers a compelling insight into the enduring power of epic traditions in South Indian history.
