SHORT DESCRIPTION:

“Odia Sahityara Itihasa Part III” by Prof. Bansidhar Mohanty is the third volume in his comprehensive “History of Oriya Literature” series. This particular part focuses primarily on the Panchasakha era of Odia literature. The book provides a detailed discussion of the religion and literary contributions of the five leading Vaishnava poets of Odisha, known as the Panchasakhas. It delves into the origin and development of Vaishnavism in Odisha and explores ancient Odia literature from the pre-Panchasakha period as well. Prof. Mohanty attempts to bring to light new information that had not been widely published previously, emphasizing the significant, though often under-publicized, legacy of Panchasakha literature.. It highlights the importance of Jagannath as a central figure in theological discussions and the vast saintly literature produced during this time, which Prof. Mohanty believes is unparalleled in modern Indian languages.