Śakti is the Mother of the Universe: the highest primal power. She is the all-pervading, intangible energy principle that propels the cosmos and its endless human dimensions with the life-throbs of activity and culture. Vaiṣṇavī, the Divine Mother is one of the manifestations of Śakti. She is the most benign goddess of the Hindu pantheon representing the Vaiṣṇava female energy depicted in the Saptamātṛkā panel of India. The cult of Saptamātṛkā is of considerable antiquity. The Mahābhārata, the Purāṇas and other literary texts have provided vivid accounts of the origin of the little Mother Goddesses. The author besides emphasizing on the literary descriptions of Matrikas has also discussed the emergence and representation of the Goddess Vaiṣṇavī along with the iconographical interpretation as the goddess has occupied a prominent place in the sculptural history of India through the ages.

        Here the author presents rich and variegated pictures of the Goddess Vaiṣṇavī which glorify the Art History of India highlighting the iconography of individual images with special reference to the Śilpa and Tantric texts. He focuses on different depictions of Vaiṣṇavī images. The book also incorporates the genesis of Śakti cult, sāktapiṭhas of Odisha, origin and evolution of the goddess Vaiṣṇavī, survey of prominent sculptures found both in Odisha and Indian sub-continent. The work abounds in photographs revealing the variety forms of the goddess which will create interest for scholars and students of Indology, particularly those studying religious art, architecture and sculpture of Odisha in particular and that of India in general.

Dr. Sanjaya Kumar Mahaptra (born 1963), presently working as the principal in the Janata College, Kuhuri, Khordha, Odisha is the recipient of prestigious RastriyaGaurav Award. He is an eminent scholar of history and Archaeology who has devoted two decades of his illustrious career to the study of Archaeology, History and Culture of our land. His valuable writings have not only enriched the art, architecture and sculpture of India but also paved the way for the growth of cultural heritage of our sub-continent.

Dr. Mahapatra is well versed in Yoga, Tantra and Astrology and has got the credit to publish seventy articles in the different national and state journals which brought him state and national repute in recognition. His valuable books “Mahiṣāsuramardinī in Art, Iconography and Cult Practices, Mahiṣāsuramardinī:The Great warrior Goddess, Cāmuṇḍā in Mythology, Art and Iconography and The Khākharā Temples” are  well appreciated by the scholars. Besides, he has co-edited the two volume work “A Bouquet of Indian Heritage, Research and Management”. His edited treatise “Social History of Orissa in 19th Century” is also a unique reference work. For the attainment of spiritual goal and ever blissful state he was initiated into the path of Kriya Yoga in 1988.