Ritual Sovereignty and Visual Transference: Polity Formation in Medieval Garhwal (c. 9th - 16th century CE)

Abstract

This paper examines the formation and consolidation of polity in medieval Garhwal (c. 9th–16th century CE) through the lens of visual culture, architectural continuity, and goddess worship. This study, moving beyond the usual focus on limited written records and inscriptions, emphasizes physical and spatial evidence from important sites like Chandpur Garhi, Devalgarh, and Ranihat (Srinagar). Based on fieldwork and architectural analysis, the research suggests that the move of the capital in Garhwal involved a process of ritual and visual transfer, particularly through the spread of the Rajarajeshwari/Goddess cult. At Chandpur Garhi, the idea of rule seems to be linked to a fortified and ritual space, while at Devalgarh, it is expressed through a temple-centered spatial organization. Using models of early medieval political development, the paper argues that in the Himalayan region, authority was established through the landscape, the movement of cults, and visual representation. It proposes that polity formation in Garhwal operated through a ritual-topographic logic in which sacred geography and architectural continuity played a central role in legitimizing political power.