Vaishnava Worship in Eastern India: A Study in the Context of the Chotanagpur Region

Abstract: The Chotanagpur plateau is not only a region of immense scenic, anthropological, and geological significance but is also home to a vast array of Vaishnava cultural artifacts. Nourished by the spiritual essence of Vaishnava movements, this vast plateau witnessed the emergence of a distinctive "Vaishnava sphere" alongside indigenous tribal cultures. A prime example of this is the ancient temple in Sirpur, Chhattisgarh, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, depicted in his reclining posture under the canopy of Anantanaga. Furthermore, the narrative of Sri Chaitanya’s ‘Jharkhand’ journey serves as a poignant reminder of the ascendancy of Vaishnava culture in this region. This paper explores the rise and expansion of Vaishnava culture in the Chota Nagpur region through an iconographic lens, spanning the pre-Chaitanya era (Pal and Sen dynasties) to the post-Chaitanya period. It examines the debates and scholarly opinions surrounding this cultural phenomenon and analyzes how the synthesis of cultural elements from the Ganges and Mahanadi valleys facilitated the formation of this Vaishnava sphere, which was later further propelled by the Chaitanya movement. Finally, the study provides a brief analysis of the shifts observed in this Vaishnava belt following the advent of Islamic culture in India.