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 at Bancho (Keonjhar)
The village Bancho not far from the famous Jaina site Podasingidi and yielded numerous sculptures of different faiths viz., Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina. Three Jaina images have been reported from the village Bancho and one of them is a headless image of Parsvanatha but in a mutilated form. The only surviving one among the Jaina sculptures is the figure of Ambika (65x50cm) seated in lalitasana with her right leg pendant perched on her vehicle lion (Pl.LXIVD). She carries a baby in her left hand while the right hand is missing. The mango tree is carved above the oval prabhamandala over her head. Two vidyadharas occupy the top corner of the back slab. The chauri bearers flank either side of the image. The figure of Neminatha is absent in the image.