This monographs is a magnificent document of India's ritual painting based on systematic study of the Osakothi (osa penance, kothi sacred space) murals of Orissa.  It explores the rare rich and meaningful and fast disappearing ritual art ofmural painting.  The antiquity of this art can be traced to the prehistoric rock-cave paintings of Mirzapur, Singhapuri, Bhimbetka, Jhiri and elsewhere in India.  A Close parallel is seen in the contemporary ritual relating to Rathwa Mural Paintings in Gujarat.

These materials are organized in seven chapters in the following order: the sources for ritualistic folk paintings in south Orissa and the worship of painted icons; the osakothi custom, terms and legends; the basic forms of osakothi shrines and their murals; iconography of osakothi murals and the legeds; the osakothi ritual; the painters of osakothi shrines, their communitie and major works; and contemporary trends in the osakothi tradition. 
 

DINANATH PATHY painter and art-historian, has been Curator, Arts and Crafts Orissa State Museum, Bhubaneshwar.  He has published several books on classical murals and painting of Orissa.