Orissa is a land of pure Hindu culture as evidenced by the concentration of temples there. The collection of hundreds of old palm leaf manuscripts on the epics and the puranas is another pointer to this. In the village of Orissa even now the institution of ‘Bhagavata ghara’ has survived to play a vital role, influencing the religious and sociallife of the rural masses. The recitation of Bhagavata Purana describing the efficacy of devotion in Vaisnavite faith is a very popular event in village life. This prompted Ghanashyam Patnaik in the 18th century to transcribe the great Purana and his illustrious father Brajanath Badajena to prepare the fascinating sketches and drawings illustrating the Puranic episodes. It is a rare contribution to Hindu culture in its subregional manifestation. Apart from the religious contents, the paintings of the manuscript are of rare aesthetic value representing an aspect of Odissi culture, tradition and art.
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