Kālañjara, or Kalinjar, the hill-fort situated in present-day Uttar Pradesh near Khajuraho, played a pivotal role in the worship of the skeleton goddess from the 9th to the 13th centuries—a period during which this emaciated deity emerged as a key form of the Goddess across India. In South Asia, pilgrimage sites, or tīrthas, are often associated with specific goddesses, such as Kāmākhya in Assam and Vindhyāchal in Uttar Pradesh. These sacred locales anchor deities within the landscape, intertwining mythology, natural phenomena, and religious beliefs with geographical space. Despite the significance of the fierce goddess, her medieval history and associated tīrthas remain largely underexplored. This project seeks to address this gap by investigating Kalinjar’s critical role within the context of goddess worship.
Kalinjar vividly illustrates the rise of the ferocious goddess, with her imagery displayed across the fort’s rock faces. The site’s extensive inscriptions, sculptures, caves, and the surviving temple collectively testify to its rich and complex history. Amply referenced in Sanskrit literature, from the Mahābhārata to the Purāṇas, Kalinjar is recognised as a major religious, cultural, and political hub. The fort served as a strategic stronghold for dynasties including the Guptas and Chandellas, and its secluded location at the foot of the Vindhya mountains provided an ideal sanctuary for ascetics, particularly the Pāśupatas.
This project engages with a range of sources, including sculptural art, epigraphic evidence, and Purāṇas, to contextualise the fierce goddess within the broader context of medieval North Indian religious history. While Kalinjar remains the primary focus, the study also incorporates other relevant nearby sites significant to the goddess tradition, offering a nuanced perspective on Śākta dynamics and expressions in the region. Through this research, I aim to situate Kalinjar within the framework of sacred geography, intricately linking topography and ritual practice, and map its significance as a key site for the cult of the fierce goddess. Additionally, Kalinjar’s dual role as both a Śaiva sanctuary and a political stronghold provides a unique perspective for exploring the interplay between asceticism, kingship, and goddess worship in medieval Indian society.
The project will result in an article, presenting the first study of Kalinjar’s significance in the cult of the fierce goddess.