Jainism in Odisha (Orissa)

by Ashis Ranjan Sahoo | 2015 | 106,639 words

This essay studies the presence of Jainism in Odisha or Orissa by documenting the Art, Architecture and Iconography of Jaina images, relics, structures and establishments from different districts. In Odisha, archaeological evidences show how Jainism flourished during the 1st century BCE during the reign of emperor Kharavela, stating that Jainism wa...

Historical Background of Jainism in Odisha

Odisha is one such place in the country, where Jainism flourished along with Buddhism and Hinduism from its early days till at least the medieval period as attested by literary and archaeological sources. The relief on the rock-cut caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri are the earliest examples of Jaina art in Odisha datable to the 1st century BCE. On the other hand the scattered Tirthankara images are found throughout the length and breadth of the state belonging to the 8th to 11th centuries CE. If the centralisation of Jainism is taken into account, it mostly spread out on the north-eastern parts of Odisha i.e. the district of Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khordha, Puri, Boudh, Bolangir in western Odisha and Koraput and Rayagada in southern Odisha.

With such a chequered history of the religion, Jaina vestiges are found throughout the length and breadth of the state. The important Jaina establishments in the state are Badasahi, Khiching, Kuntapal Naktipat and Koisali in Mayurbhanj district; Shergarh, Ayodhya and Kupari in Balasore district; Charampa in Bhadrak district, Hatadiha, Kuansa, Tarangasagarpur, Bansabadi, Kartara, Naguan, Nayagarh in Jajpur district, Baula hill range and Podasingidi, Bancho, Anandpur in Keonjhar district; Choudwar, Athagarh, Banki, Pratapanagari, Adaspur, Kenduli and Cuttack town proper in Cuttack district; Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, Panchagaon, Jamukoli, Budhapada in Khordha district; Achutrajpur and Kakatapur, Osian, Barala in Puri district and Kamta, Charmula, Bhairava Singhpur, Jamunda, Subei in Koraput district. These establishments are broadly represented by detached sculptures both of stone and bronze, Jaina chaumukhas, temples, viharas, chaityas, caves and votive tablet depicting ganadharas and purvadharas that needs detailed documentation and interpretation.

Such an important subject of historical studies has not drawn the serious attention of the scholars for a holistic approach to the study of the religion and its antiquities.

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