This paper explores the complex portrayal of gender fluidity in the Mah?bh?rata through the character of ?ikha???, a figure who transcends binary conceptions of sex and identity. By examining the narrative of ?ikha???’s transformation from a woman Amb? to a warrior instrumental in Bh??ma’s death, the study interrogates the intersections of gender, dharma, and social hierarchy in the epic tradition. Drawing on philological and semantic analyses, as well as comparative readings of textual variants, the paper situates ?ikha??? within the broader discourse of gender performativity and divine agency. It highlights how the Mah?bh?rata accommodates fluid identities without necessarily subverting patriarchal order, thereby revealing the ambivalent nature of its gender politics. It also attempts to analyze the patriarchal ideals of masculinity, especially K?atriyahood, and femininity as portrayed in the text and by extension in the society it represents. Through engagement with both traditional commentaries and modern scholarship, the paper argues that ?ikha???’s narrative embodies a liminal space between masculinity and femininity, human and divine, curse and destiny, underscoring the epic’s capacity to reflect on the instability of fixed social categories.

Keywords: ?ikha???, Mah?bh?rata, gender fluidity, performativity, patriarchy.

Konkan region is narrow strip of land between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea. Due to its strategic position and prosperity, it was invaded by various dynasties throughout the history. Owing to its environmental condition it was not possible to construct temples of a size in this region, but there are few exceptions to this. Local artisans and architects started using local material for the construction and came up with one the most unique blend of temple architecture. It consists of its carved wooden pillars and brackets with tiled roof. Depiction of the murals is an addition to the embellishment of the temple. One such temple can be discovered from the Pawas village of Ratnagiri taluka, Maharashtra. The temple is adorned with murals, exquisite wood carvings, etc. This temple is the ideal model to comprehend temple architecture of this region.

Keywords: Temples, Konkan, Architecture, Maratha, Ratnagiri.

India's lakes and wetlands have been accompanied by changing regimes of power, knowledge and institutional control for centuries, which have shaped ecological futures and social relations. Using an ecological-historical framework, this article investigates the historical and contemporary governance of wetlands in India, from colonial land interventions to postcolonial state developmentalism and more recent regulatory and judicial regimes. Through archival sources and secondary literature, and contextualized through comparative case analysis, this study highlights the increasing differentiation, engineering, and regulation of wetlands—processes that too often sacrificed ecological integrity and community subsistence. This article synthesizes a conceptual reading of wetland governance with two important contemporary case studies — Vembanad Lake in Kerala and the Sundarbans delta in eastern India — to show how the legacies of past governance continue to shape current patterns of degradation, institutional response and community engagement. These cases illustrate common structural tensions between state-cantered ecological governance priorities, environmental conservation, and the decisions, practices and rights of land-users with differing ecological contexts. These findings illustrate those contemporary regulatory and conservation regimes, which portray themselves as responsive to the ecological crisis, nevertheless perpetuate legacies of institutional logics that disparage local knowledge and local practices. Placing the contemporary woes of wetlands in deeper histories, this article speaks to conversations in environmental history and Asian studies about wetlands as crucibles for nature–society–risk governance in modern India.

Keywords: Water Governance; Lakes and Wetlands; Ecological History; Colonial India; Postcolonial State; Environmental History; Commons and Regulation; Asian Perspectives.

The site of Badmal-Asurgarh, located in the middle Mahanadi valley of the Odisha highlands, represents a significant fortified settlement dating from the Iron Age to the Early Historic period (c. early 1st millennium BCE to 2nd century BCE). Strategically positioned on the left bank of the Harihar stream, the site spans approximately four hectares and is demarcated by a lozenge-shaped earthen rampart and a wide moat with three entry points, indicating planned defensive architecture. Excavation remains supported by radiocarbon dating, stratigraphic analysis, and ceramic typology, indicate two distinct phases of occupation. The Iron Age phase was marked by a subsistence economy based on limited agriculture, animal husbandry, and foraging, with minimal but definitive use of iron, primarily for utilitarian tools. A subsequent occupational hiatus is followed by reoccupation during the Early Historic period, when the site witnessed significant socio-economic transformation. Of particular importance is the emergence of Badmal as a major bead manufacturing centre during this later phase. The presence of raw materials such as banded hematite, red jasper, and agate, alongside imported cowry shells, coral, and onyx, suggests long-distance trade networks. Iron, crucial to bead production, appears to have been both locally used and possibly imported in higher-quality forms, pointing to complex exchange systems. Despite its archaeological importance, the site suffers from severe disturbances due to modern activities, including road construction and illegal gem mining. Nevertheless, the relatively intact northern sector offers valuable insight into early industrial specialization in eastern India. This paper presents a broad picture of our excavation conducted during the 2000-2001Season’s.

Keywords: Fortification, Precious/semi-precious beads, Ceramics, Iron Age, Faunal remains, Odisha.

The current study investigates the traditional healing practices and medical knowledge of the Lepcha inhabitants in North Sikkim, with special reference to Dzongu region that serves as the cultural and anthropological centre for the Lepcha community. The ethnomedical practices of the Lepchas, who are acknowledged as the oldest indigenous residents of Sikkim, are rooted in their deep ecological and spiritual bond with their environment. The research, which is based on field surveys conducted in Dzongu, North Sikkim reveals a rich corpus of medicinal plant use that constitute a sophisticated synthesis of ethno-medicinal knowledge and animistic cosmology. The community's pharmacopoeia is made up of a vast range of flora found in Dzongu's different biological zones, which range from temperate forests to alpine highlands. The healing system of the Lepchas in this area emphasises a holistic approach where ecology, spirituality, and health are linked by combining plant-based treatments with ceremonial and spiritual activities mediated by traditional healers, the Bongthings and Muns. Through oral transmission the Lepchas maintain their ancient healing knowledge in the face of contemporary challenges including ecological deterioration, cultural assimilation, and the increasing dominance of biomedicine. The study emphasises the importance of this ethnomedical legacy in the Eastern Himalayas as a repository of indigenous knowledge and an essential part of healthcare and cultural resilience.

Keywords: Lepcha Community, Ethnomedicine, Spiritual Ecology, Oral Tradition, Shamanic Healing, Holistic Medicine.

The aim of this paper is to describe Yali, a decorative motif in Indian temple architecture. It’s a composite animal of the body of a lion and the head of other animals, such as an elephant, sculpted on the pillars and pilasters across the temples of South Asia. The image of Yali traveled from the Indus Valley civilization to the Vijayanagara Empire of the 15th century through various transitions with refinement. It is prevalently found in temples in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, especially in Rayalaseema, Karnataka, as well as in Madhya Pradesh ,Orissa. This article accounts for Yali sculptures in the Rayalaseema region, such as Kadapa district (Gandikota, Vonttimitta), Kurnool district (Ahobilam, Srisailam, and Mahanandi), Anantapur district (Tadipathri, Lepakshi, and Kadiri), and Chittoor district (Tirupati, Sri Kalahasti, and Somapalem). Yali sculptures have reached supreme quality in all the temples built during the rule of the Vijayanagara kings in the Rayalaseema region. There were several kinds of yalis, each has its significance.

Keywords: Temple, Architecture, Sculpture, Vyala, , Pallava, Vijayanagara, Rayalaseema.

The present paper is a preliminary report based on surface exploration conducted in and around the Salandi River valley, particularly in the Baruan locality of Keonjhar District, Odisha. This investigation has revealed two prehistoric microlithic sites within semi-primary contexts. The cultural artefacts found in this area display numerous distinctive traits commonly observed in other river valleys of Odisha. The abundance of raw materials along the riverbank has led prehistoric communities to utilise microliths to establish settlements in this region. Furthermore, the area has significant potential to advance understanding of human adaptation from the Pleistocene to the Holocene. The Salandi River valley is characterised by a remarkable landscape of hills, rock shelters, and a succession of hillocks, collectively contributing to the region's cultural richness. This valley has served as a significant centre of human activity, as evidenced by the discovery of a wide variety of lithic tool types.

Keywords: Rock outcrop, Pleistocene, Holocene, Geomorphological, Microlithic, flake, fluted core, crypto-crystalline rock, percussion, etc.