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...

Jaina Antiquities in Pratapanagari (Cuttack)

Pratapanagari is a place known to the scholarly world for the discovery of large number of Jaina relics in recent past[1]. Few of them were stolen and few of them are now preserved by the local people. State Archaeology Department took a commendable step by making a sculpture shed and display the finding Jaina images from the surrounding areas. The building named as Jaina Heritage Museum (Pls.XXIIIC-XXVC) and exhibits the fallowing images[2]. Besides, a fragmentary image of Tirthankara is found in front of Dhakulei Shrine (Pl.XXVD) under a banyan tree near the Jaina Heritage Museum.

Risabhanatha:

A total number of five Risabhanatha image have been displayed in the museum, out of which two have been depicted with twenty four Tirthankara, while one depicts astagrahas. The general features of these images are that all are standing in kayotsarga posture over a lotus pedestal and flanked by chauri bearers. Their hairs are arranged in jatamukuta style and few strands of hair fall upon their shoulders. In one of the image depiction of torana is found. A headless image of Risabhanatha is also found having the similar feature.

Risabhanatha and Mahavira:

The two Tirthankaras are found in a common slab but having independent lotus pedestal, chauri bearers, flying gandharvas and their respective lanchanas. Both are standing in kayotsarga pose. In respect to the hair arrangement also differ with each other. While Risabhanatha has jatamukuta, Mahavira has curly hair. The unique feature of this image is the depiction of divine personal for playing the cymbals.

Parsvanatha:

There are four Parsvanatha images displayed in the museum. Among them two are depicted astagrahas along with other features. The most elaborated and decorated image of Parsvanatha is a master piece of Jaina sculpture in Odisha in spite of partially defaced. The Tirthankara stands in kayotsarga posture, with seven hooded snake canopy at the back and surmounted by trilinear umbrella. The lotus pedestal depicted with two rampart lions. Two highly decorative chauri bearers flanked on either side of the image are carved at the top. Besides, representation of man coming out of sky and playing with drums for the first time is noticed.

Ambika and Gomedha:

Ambika and Yaksha Gomedha seated in ardhaparyanka asana over a common lotus pedestal below which a series of devotees are depicted. In between the Yaksha and Yakshi, the usual seen of child swing in a tree is noticed. Above the tree, depiction of Neminatha in dhyanamudra is found.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

B.K. Ratha (ed.), The Forgotten Monuments of Orissa, New Delhi, 1996, pp. 119-271.

[2]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit., 1986, pp.73-74.

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