About the Book
The mythological heritage of India, preserved across millennia in its sacred texts and oral traditions, is a magnificent monumental artifact with intricate motifs of divinity, destiny, and human aspiration. In this vast canvas of myth, where gods and mortals weave their destinies amidst cosmic cycles, the twin forces of śāpa (curse) and vara (boon) stand as luminous threads, binding the ephemeral to the eternal. These potent acts of divine or human will ripple through the narratives of ancient texts, shaping the fates of heroes, sages, kings, and demons alike.This book, "Curses and Boons in Indian Mythology", emerges from a keen scholarly desire to unravel the profound significance of these narrative devices and explore their roles as instruments of justice, transformation, and cosmic balance. Far from being mere supernatural pronouncements or miraculous endowments, śāpa and vara serve as critical catalysts within the mythic framework shaping destinies, altering cosmic order, and revealing the complex moral fabric of Indian philosophy. They reflect the eternal interplay of dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness), embodying metaphysical principles of karma, ṛta (cosmic order), and divine will.The purpose of this work is threefold: first, to document and analyze significant episodes of curses and boons from the primary mythic sources of India; second, to discern their symbolic and didactic functions within these narratives; and third, to contextualize these concepts within the broader canvas of Indian religious thought, emphasizing their enduring relevance in the contemporary cultural imagination. Through meticulous analysis and evocative storytelling, this book aims to guide readers into the heart of these narratives, offering insights into their spiritual, moral, and philosophical dimensions.
About the Author :
Dr. Sashikanta Barik, Asst. Prof. of English (Stage-III) and HOD, is presently teaching in the Post Graduate Department of English, Shailabala Women's (Auto.) College, Cuttack, Odisha. He has his M.A. (English) from Utkal University, Vani Vihar, M.Phil. from Berhampur University, and Ph.D. from Fakir Mohan University, Balasore. Apart from seven years Hons. teaching experience in a Govt. Aided College from 1992-1999, he has more than 26 years teaching experience in various Govt. colleges of Odisha such as Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and Shailabala Women's (Auto.) College, Cuttack, after confirmation of Odisha Public Service Commission in 1998. He is currently devoting his time for the research work in Literature and a full time Ph.D. supervisor of Ramadevi Women's University, Bhubaneswar and Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar. To his credit, he has published many articles in International Journals. His major area of research is Indian Classical Literature, Indian English Literature, Translation studies, European Existentialism, Regional Odia Literature and Culture Studies. Laxman Majhi, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, holds an M.A. and an M.Phil., and is presently pursuing his Ph.D. at Utkal University with specialization in Classical Literature and Manuscriptology. With 51 peer-reviewed articles, 3 book chapters, 4 edited volumes, and presentations at 35 national and international seminars, Majhi has emerged as a leading voice in Indian knowledge systems. He serves as Assistant Editor of the Odia Catalogus Catalogorum and sits on the editorial boards of 17 academic journals. Honoured with seven prestigious awards, including the Kalpataru Pratibha Sammana (2024) and the Brahmavak Award (2025), Shri Majhi is widely recognized as a dedicated researcher and educator.
