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The chronicles of the royal family of Bonai—now a sub-division of Sundargarh district in Odisha—are memories of the past complex relations between overlords and tribal chiefs and between gods and communities. The chronicles were produced, modified and fabricated under specific historic circumstances stimulated by internal and external factors. They reflect the wider socio-religious context that in turn shaped them. They begin with the conquering of ...
Mahima Dharma ('the Dharma of Glory') is one of the most fascinating living religious traditions of Orissa. It originated during the nineteenth century as an autochthonous reform movement, emerging out of the nirguna bhakti tradition of India. The earliest authentic testimonies of this movement are the impressive compositions of Bhima Bhoi, a lay guru, who fought against social evils such as caste and ritualized piety and initiated women into his ...