19 Jan, 2024
The Kalika Purana is a minor Purana in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, attributed to the sage Markandeya.It is known for its unique structure, existing in various versions with 90 to 93 chapters, and its unconventional start not found in other major or minor Puranas.
The text begins with legends of Devi's attempts to bring Shiva back from ascetic life and emphasizes the unity of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, considering them "one and the same.
The Kalika Purana is associated with the goddess-oriented Shakta branch of Hinduism and is likely a late work, composed in or near medieval Kamarupa, modern Assam.It is noteworthy for being one of the few Hindu texts explicitly mentioning the term "Hindu."
Scholars like Hazra suggest the existence of an older text from Bengal, while Shastri disagrees, proposing that the evidence can be explained without invoking an older version.
The earliest printed editions of the Kalika Purana date back to the 19th century, with the Venkateshvara Press, Bombay, publishing it in 1829 Saka Era (1907 CE) and the Vangavasi Press, Calcutta, in 1316 Bangabda (1909 CE).