Epics Oral epics of Kalahandi
By: Mahendra Kumar Mishra
Contributors: National Folklore Support Centre (India)
Edition: First
Publisher: National Folklore Support Centre
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Chennai
Language: eng
Number of pages: 303
ISBN-13: 9788190148191
Genres: oral epics  and  oral narrative
First sentence: Situated in the South-western part of Orissa and surrounded by hills, rivers, and
valleys, Kalahandi has magnifi cent natural and cultural resources.
Before the merging of the princely states of Orissa with the union of India in
1948, Kalahandi was a princely state ruled by the Naga kings. In the ancient period,
Kalahandi was a part of Mahakantara, Mahavana, South Kosala,and Trikalinga.
Kalahandi was popularly known as Karunda mandala during the medieval period.
Royal dynasties such as the Parvata Dvaraka, the Nalas, the Saravapuriyas, the Somavamsi,
and the Gangas ruled over Kalahandi. The Naga dynasty was the last one to rule over
it, as known from the pages of history.
Description: India, as a land of living epic traditions has retained its many epics through its caste
(jati) and language systems. Each caste has its own caste history associated either with a
sage/god/goddess or with kings of the solar/lunar dynasty. Before the 1980s, the study
of folklore was gaining ground in India, but it was mainly based on textual analysis.
Notes: India is the motherland of epics, where parallel streams of oral and written epics
have fl own for centuries. The confl ux of these streams has brought about changes
in ideology; the classical epic story has been used in post-classical folk epics as
a tool in propagating a new religious worldview and a new legitimating of ritual.( Lauri Honko :An eminent folklorist of Finland )
Table of contents: title: Contents