Jaina Antiquities in Podasingidi (Keonjhar)

Podasingidi, a small hamlet at the foot of the Baula hill range is situated on the road leading from Anandapur to Soso via Denka. A series of Jaina Tirthankara and Sasandevi figures are preserved in a temple called Ramachandi^[1] and a newly constructed building by Odisha State Archaeology near the village Podasingidi of Anandapur sub-division. A few are brought to the Odisha State Museum and few are to Panch Bhavan of Anandapur^[2] while others are still present there in the newly constructed building by Odisha State Archaeology. The Tirthankara and Sasanadevi images include Risabhanatha, Ajitanatha, Padmaprabha, Santinatha, Parsvanatha, Ambika and Ambika with Gomedha (Pls.LXIIA-LXIVB). B.Acharya^[3] has rightly believed that this had been a center of Jainas in ancient times. According to him Singidi might have been derived from the work “Sankhadi” meaning “a great festival with feasting”. On the other hand Joshi102 opines it as “the burnt place of festive gathering (poda-burnt and singidi-gathering)”.

Risabhanatha:

The image carved out of sandstone, the Tirthankara (1.04x0.16m) stands in kayotsargamudra over a plain pedestal. A full blown lotus as well as his lanchana bull is carved in front of his pedestal in low relief. He has drooping eyes, elongated ear robe, curly hairs and trivali mark at the neck. Flying vidyadharas and chhatravalis are carved on the top portion of the Tirthankara. The image is fashioned in a cruder form.

Ajitanatha:

The image (80x45cm) carved out of sandstone stands in kayotsarga mudra over a full blown lotus pedestal flanked by roaring lions on either side. His lanchana elephant is carved below his pedestal in low relief. Bejeweled chauri bearers in tribhanga posture are flanked on either side of the Tirthankara at the bottom while garland bearer and divine musicians are depicted at the top. The Tirthankara has curly hair with a high usnisa at the center, elongated ear and trivali mark on his neck.

Santinatha:

The Tirthankara carved out of dolerite stone stands in kayotsarga posture. A diminutive figure of deer is carved below his pedestal as his cognizance. Though the face of the image is missing, the image is left unfinished by the sculptor.

Another image of Santinatha (69x18cm) is also noticed here but the upper portion of the image is missing. Here the image is carved very artistically but the remaining portion of the Tirthankara stands over a full blown lotus, flanked by chauri bearers. His lanchana deer is flanked by two crouching lions engraved below the lotus pedestal. Two Sasanadevis along with one Tirthankara are found for the first time in Jaina sculptures of Odisha. At the left bottom corner Ambika is shown with her child and mango twig seated in lalitasana underneath a tree studded with mangoes. On the right corner of the Tirthankara Mahamanasi, the Sasanadevi of Neminatha is represented in dhyanamudra holding lotus in the left hand and two elephants poured water over her head at the top.

Parsvanatha:

Two seated and one standing images of Parsvanatha are preserved here. The first one (1.45x0.90m) is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a lotus pedestal with a seven hooded snake canopy over his head. Crouching lions are also noticed on the either side of the lotus pedestal. Hairs of his head are arranged in curly knots with an usnisa at the center. The second image of Parsvanatha (97x61cm) has similar representation except the lotus pedestal.

The standing Tirthankara image (87x50cm) depicted in kayotsarga posture is carved out of dolerite stone. A canopy of seven hooded snake covers his head and coils of the snake shown behind the body of the Tirthankara. He is flanked by chauri bearers decked with dress and ornaments at the bottom while by full blown lotus and champaka flower along with flying garland bearers are noticed at the top. His Sasanadevi with folded hand is also noticed at the right feet of the Tirthankara. A decorated torana as like that of found at the images of Pratapanagari, Cuttack is also noticed here. The chhatravali and the kevala tree are prominently carved over his head.

Mahavira/Padmaprabha:

He is carved out of dolerite blocks but left unfinished. He is standing in kayotsarga posture (1.15x0.57m) and a wheel is noticed to the right of the figure which is identified as lotus by Mohapatra^[4]. Hair of his head decorated with curled knots and he has elongated ear and trivali mark noticed on his neck.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit., 1986, pp.171-173.

[2]:

Ibid.

[3]:

B. Acharya, “Jaina ruins in Keonjhar state”, JKHRS. 1950, Vol. II, No.4, p.227.

[4]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit., 1984, pp.96-104.