Scheme of Work

The present work on the, “Jaina Vestiges in Orissa; A Study of Art, Architecture and Iconography,” is divided into nine chapters. In the first chapter, an attempt has been made to provide a precise historical background of Jainism in Odisha. Besides, the objective of the study, review of literatures, scope of work, methodology adopted and scheme of work are elaborately discussed.

The second chapter deals with the historicity of Jainism in Odisha as ascertained from literary and archaeological sources. The association of Tirthankaras like Aranatha, Sreyamsanatha, Parsvanatha and Mahavira has been vividly described corroborating Jaina literary works and puranic sources. Epigraphical records, foreign accounts and archaeological findings in term of sculptural and structural evidences have been thoroughly dealt with to reconstruct the history of Jainism in Odisha.

In the third chapter, Survey of Jaina antiquities in Odisha completely based on the findings in terms of monument, sites and remains and others reliquaries witnesses during rigorous filed work have been described. The exhaustive filed work is concentrated in the districts northern and coastal Odisha. At the same time, effort has also been made to study the Jaina antiquities of western and southern Odisha as it is not possible to make a comprehensive field study due to Maoist menace. Number of Jaina icons, chaumukhas, archaeological mound and structures not reported earlier come to light have been discussed in respective districts. The reported antiquities are also verified and documented properly. Potteries collected in some Jaina establishment areas have been also discussed along with drawings in this chapter. The Jaina images of Odisha which are now kept in different museums abroad the country is also briefly discussed in this chapter.

The fourth chapter deals with the Jaina Architecture in Odisha in relations to Jaina establishments, chaityas, caves, temples and chaumukhas etc. Broadly they are classified under three categories viz., caves, structural edifices and monoliths. In cave architecture, the lay out, planning and designing in relation to Udayagiri and Khandagiri is vividly described. The structural edifices include the apsidal chaityas at Udayagiri hill, temple at Subei, temples at Cuttack city and Khandagiri hill and few other remnants of structure found in different parts of the state. The sarvotabhadrapratima alias chaumukha is only the surviving evidence of monolithic architecture of Jainas is properly highlighted.

The chapter five Jaina art in Odisha relates with three important aspects of Jainism in Odisha viz., (i) Symbols (ii) Narrative panels and (iii) Individual figurines i.e. Non-Religious (secular) and Religious (Jaina icons) is comprehensively analysed and discussed in this chapter.

The sixth chapter deals with the development of Jaina iconography in Odisha. The origin of Jaina images starting from symbol worship to elaborate Tirthankara images are discussed here. The Tirthankaras and Sasanadevi images found in different parts of the state are critically analysed and compare with the standard iconographical chart given by eminent scholars in their standard literary works. The special features or something new feature of the each image is also highlighted. Jainism in the inscriptions of Odisha is the seventh chapter and deals with the major and minor inscriptions relevant to the study of Jainism in Odisha. An attempt has been made here to highlight the lesser known epigraphical records either deciphered or yet to deciphered to throw some new light on the Jainism in Odisha. Besides, Hati-Gumpha inscription, the minor inscriptions in the different caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, the Asanpat inscription of Keonjhar, Banapur Copper Plate Grant of Dharmaraja-II alias Manabhita and so on are taken into account for reconstructing valuable source material for the Jaina antiquities of Odisha. Some new short inscriptions are also noticed at the pedestal of the images or on chaumukha during my field survey also mentioned here are open for other scholars for their decipherments.

The chapter eight highlights about the Jaina vestiges in Udayagiri and Khandagiri cater to the contemporary society in promoting tourism and continue the religion through the Bengal, Bihar and Odisha Digambara Society. The impact of age old fairs and festivals observed at the twin hill on the domestic tourism of Odisha is also discussed. The proposals and action taken for light and sound show at the Udayagiri for tourist influx are also referred here. A comparative chart of tourist trends in different centrally protected monuments of Odisha of last seven years (200809 to 2014-15) is provided with pie chart and histograms which highlighted the contribution of Udayagiri to the tourism sector of Odisha.

The chapter nine is all about the discussion and conclusion of my work. An analytical study based on the findings of Jaina images and antiquities in the field study is highlighted. The timeframe of Jaina images of Odisha is also discussed in this chapter.

The descriptions of all the chapters are supplemented by site maps, tables, photographic illustration and line drawings where ever needed. Plates illustrating the finding of Jaina antiquities are provided district wise for better convenient for the reader.

At the end a glossary of terms is appended along with an exhaustive list of bibliography, both the primary and secondary sources for better understanding of the subject.