Downloads: 2 | Views: 51 | Weekly Hits: ⮙1 | Monthly Hits: ⮙1

Research Paper | History | India | Volume 13 Issue 3, March 2024 | Rating: 4.5 / 10

Rate This Article!

Revanta in Odishan Art and Iconography

Priyaranjan Sahoo

Abstract: Revanta, the son of Surya and Sanjna is an important deity of Hindu pantheon according to mythology. Visnudharmottara Purana mentioned that he is to be shown riding on horseback like Surya and is to be placed on one side of the images of the Sun - god. In art, he always depicted as riding on horseback as a valiant warrior. Again, the deity is always holds either a sword or a spear in his right hand and whip in the left besides an attendant holding a chhatra on his back. This indicates that Revanta might have worshipped for victory in wars and expeditions. Odisha was stronghold of Saura cult and the grand Sun temple of Konarak is located in Puri district in the eastern coast of Bay of Bengal. The deity was not known to the scholars of Art History of Odisha up to 1990. P. K. Mishra for the first time published an article when he came across an image of Revanta in the collection of N. K. Sahu Museum of Sambalpur University. In the present paper an attempt has been made to show the art and iconography of this rare deity of Hindu pantheon. The survey yielded ten images throughout the state of Odisha with varying dimensions, date and iconographic features.

Keywords: Revanta, Visnudharmottara Purana, Odisha, Visnu Puana, Brhatsamhita, Dasavatara, Somavamsis

Edition: Volume 13 Issue 3, March 2024,

Pages: 1739 - 1741