The Lalita Cult

by V.R. Ramachandra Dikshitar

The Lalita Cult has figured and still figures prominently among the countless cults of ancient India. Lalita is looked upon by the Hindus as a divine manifestation of the goddess Durga. The cult of Lalita is intimately associated with the Sakti cult or the worship of the Divine as Energy in the feminine form.

The present book studies the cult of Lalita from a historical point of view. Though this study is mainly based on the Lalitopakhayana section of the Brahmanda Purana, an endeavour is made to review other phases of the Sakti cult and its place in Vedic literature, and particularly to examine its philosophical basis. The study also aims to remove certain misconceptions and improved theories which have obscured the true import and value of the Sakti cult.

About the Author:

V.R. Ramachandra Dikshitar teaches Indian History and Archaeology in the University of Madras. He contributed innumerable research papers to scholarly journals in India and abroad. He was General Editor of Madras University Historical Series. His works covering various dimensions of Indian history include original treatises, translations and volumes edited by him.