Kampilyamahatmya of Durgadatta Sharma

The mahatmyas constitute an important streams of the Indian tradition, putting in evidence the greatness either of a place or of a character. Among the many mahatmyas, the Kampilyamahatmya, focusing its attention on the region of Kampilya, has a unique significance, as the exact identification and location of the holy tirtha of Kampilya remains a subject of mystery and controversy even today. Kampilya was the capital of the ancient realm of Pancala. The area around Kampilya, also known as Kaliksetra was the environment where king Drupadas’s daughter, Draupadi, manifested herself and where the tournament for the choice of her husband took place. Dronacarya, the weapon teacher of the Pandavas, Dhrstadyumna, the brother of Draupadi, and many other famous warriors of the Mahabharata have their names joint with this place. Written in the twentieth century, the Kampilyamahatmya is a harmonic compilation on the greatness of Kampilya composed from different references of Indian traditional sources; it is the result of a research begun by the grandfather of the author, that has been accomplished, through family transmission and with the help of other poets’ previous works. The book, presenting the original Sanskrit text, with its fluent translation in English, provides a plethora of information on ancient legends and dynasties of pre-Pauranic and Pauranic times, will be useful to scholars of ancient Indian mythology and history. It will prove extremely absorbing and informative for general readers as well.