MATCHBOX

    The Literature of the Deity

    Maa Durga and Maa Tara- portraits by Arghya Dipta

    Dr. Arghya Dipta Kar did his PhD on Tantric Shaktism from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2016. He is the young scholars group coordinator of  Tantra Foundation, directed by Professor Madhu Khanna. He also functions as a member of the editorial board of the ‘Journal of Dharma Studies: Asian and Transcultural Religion, Philosophy, & Ethics’, under Springer Nature; and is a member of Caesurae: Poetics of Cultural Translation. He has published academic articles on the Shakta Tantras in various reputed journals and books.  Also a painter specializing in Tantric Art, he is a student of Sri Swapan Das, who descends from the line of Nandalal Bose. Bearing the legacy of the Bengal School of Art, Dr. Kar has his paintings displayed in various solo and group exhibitions. His paintings have been published in a number of books on Tantric studies and art journals. In 2022, he had his ‘Kalipura’ printed on the coverpage of Julias Strubebsis’s book ‘Global Tantra’ published by OUP. He has also contributed as a researcher to the making of mythological shows aired on TV channels like Star Jalsa and Colors Bangla. At present Dr. Kar teaches English at Sonarpur Mahavidyalaya. His first book on Tantric Shaktism ‘Shakta Darshan o Dashamahavidya’, was published in 2023.

    EDITOR’S NOTE

    Truth cannot be said without taking the help of a story or poem. A storyteller named Ankit Chadha, who passed away a few years ago, used to narrate a story about two sisters named Satya and Kahaani. Both of them stood out for their beauty. One day a Fakir came to their village and both the sisters served him with devotion and compassion. In return the Fakir gave them a mirror. When Satya looked at the mirror she thought she was the most beautiful woman in this village. The same happened with Kahaani too. Their competition came to a halt when Satya said that both of them would go to the market and whoever gets a louder applause will be the winner. Satya takes the first step and walks in the market. Looking at her the villagers rush to their homes and close their doors. She thought that if she strips all her clothes then they will definitely notice. She strips and now even the animals flee back to the jungle. Kahaani saw everything and decides to do a makeover. She wears anklets, bindi and a well-knitted ghagra. When she enters, the sound of her anklet forces everyone to come out of their houses and they start hooting and applauding. She holds Satya’s hand and says ‘whenever anyone has to convey the truth (satya), he/she has to take the help of a kahaani  (story). Even your nudity would scare the hell out of them’. We are here to bring stories and the truth holding their hands.

    Kabir Deb