Jaina Temples at Subei (Koraput)

The village Subei/Suai is located at a distance of 15km from Similiguda and is about 35km from Koraput on the main road leading to Nandapur^[1]. A group of ten Jaina temples made of stone masonry are standing in the midst of a shrub forest within an oval enclosure with a low wall around it near the village at the foot of Pangiri/Panagiri hill. But at present, there are only remains of six temples (4 east facing, 2 west facing) and among them only two shrines are in better preserved condition^[2]. The traces of the compound walls are only visible on the ground and the area is overgrown with shrubs. The monuments at Subei are under the protection of State Archaeology Department.

These shrines are small in dimensions (about 6 to 9m) and simple in ground plan as well as in decorations. Each structure built of sandstone is tri-ratha on plan with a single low pyramidal tower crowned by an amalaka. There is no trace of mandapa in front of the shines. The pabhaga is low in height and have only three plain moldings devoid of any carvings. Decorative motifs like square and circular rosettes enclosed within dotted squares in low relief are traceable near door-jambs in two shrines (northern shrine). There is no provision of niche in central projection (raha) for parsvadevatas. Exterior walls of temples are devoid of sculptural and floral decorations^[3]. All the shrines contain slabs carved with Jaina Tirthankaras and Sasanadevis of about 1m height. But all the sculptures are highly weather beaten and abraded badly. From the entire hoard, twelve sculptures can be identified and among them three are of Sasanadevi figures viz., sixteen armed Chakresvari, twelve armed Rohini and two armed Ambika, one image of Mahavira and nine images of Risabhanatha. On the basis of simple architectural plan and design, V. Dehejia^[4] assigned the temple of Subei to the formative phase of Odishan temple architecture i.e. circa 750 CE. But on the basis of the iconographic features of the Jaina Tirthankaras and Sasanadevi figures, the temple can be assigned to the 9^th century CE^[5]. Of the two intact temples, the southern one has an image of Risabhanatha, while the northern one has two images i.e. Risabhanatha and Mahavira.

Lower portions of four temples only survived, which were repaired by State Archaeology Department erratically so as to make out difficult to distinguish between the original and the recent additions. Among the four shrines, two east facing shrines contain one Jaina Sasanadevi image in each while the west facing shrines contains Risabhanatha image and the other one has three images of Risabhanatha (Pls.LXXVIIIA-LXXXB). These images^[6] are discussed below:-

Risabhanatha:

The image of Risabhanatha (80x46cm) is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a cushion covered with a loin cloth, placed over a plain pedestal. His lanchana bull in a smaller size is depicted at the overhanging loin cloth at the front. An image of four armed Chakresvari his Sasanadevi is found below the pedestal and flanked by spirited lions and kneeling devotees with folded hands. The Tirthankara has elongated earlobe, jata hairs, a circular lotus petal designed halo and surmounted by a trilinear umbrella caped by branches of kevala tree. He is also flanked by bedecked chauri bearers, flying garland bearers and an elephant figure one above the other vertically on both sides. The upper right corner of the stone slab was damaged and broken into two pieces and mended later on.

Risabhanatha:

The image of Risabhanatha (85x57cm) is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a cushion covered with a loin cloth, placed over a plain pedestal and at the overhanging loin cloth at the front carved with a diminutive figure of bull as the mark of his cognizance. Chakresvari, his Sasanadevi is found below the pedestal displays disc in upper two hands and varada mudra in lower two hands. She is flanked by spirited lions and a kneeling devotee with folded hands and the Yaksha Gomedha. The Tirthankara has long jata hairs and few strands of it are fallen over his shoulder. A circular prabhamandala with lotus petal and beaded boarder design is found over his head. The prabhamandala is surmounted by a trilinear umbrella with a central knob at the top lanked by branches of kevala tree on either side. He is also flanked by bedecked chauri bearers, flying garland bearers and an elephant figure one above the other vertically on both sides.

Risabhanatha:

The image of Risabhanatha (1.20x0.72m) is carved seated in yogasana posture over plain pedestal below which is his lanchana bull and his Sasanadevi Chakresvari flanked by spirited lions and kneeling devotees with folded hands. She is eight armed but her attributes are not distinct. She is seated over a Garuda figure. The Tirthankara has elongated earlobe, jata hairs and a circular lotus petal designed halo behind his head. He is also flanked by bedecked chauri bearers, flying twin garland bearers and an elephant figure one above the other vertically on the left side while except the chauri bearers other representations are missing as the upper right corner of the stone slab is damaged.

Risabhanatha:

The image of Risabhanatha (97x58cm) is carved seated in yogasana over a plain lion throne below which bull is depicted as the mark of his cognizance. A four armed Chakresvari seated on Garuda, his Sasanadevi is found below the pedestal displays discs in upper two hands and varada mudra in lower two hands. She is depicted along with the Gomedha Yaksha and kneeling devotees with anjali hasta.

The prabhamandala behind his head is decorated with lotus petals and boarder beaded chains. A trilinear umbrella with a central knob at the top and branches of kevala tree spreading on both sides is depicted over head. The auspicious mark, trivali is clearly distinct at the neck of the Tirthankara. He is also flanked by bedecked chauri bearers on both sides in which the right one holds a champaka flower, flying gandharvas with garlands and elephants are represented on both sides.

Mahavira:

The image of Mahavira (80x45cm) is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a cushion covered with a loin cloth, placed over a plain pedestal. His lanchana bull in a smaller size is depicted at the overhanging loin cloth at the front. An image of four armed Sidhayika, his Sasanadevi is found below the pedestal flanked by spirited lions and kneeling devotees with folded hands. She is seated in cross legged posture and displays varada, a circular object, parasu and shula as attributes in her hands. The Tirthankara has elongated earlobe, curly hair, a circular lotus petal designed halo behind his head surmounted by a trilinear umbrella caped by branches of kevala tree. He is flanked by bedecked chauri bearers, flying garland bearers and an elephant figure one above the other vertically on both sides. The left corner of the trilinear umbrella is partially damaged.

Chakresvari:

Chakresvari, the Sasanadevi of Risabhanatha is carved seated with sixteen arms displaying mace, sword, disc, bow, pot etc. in right and spear, shield, arrow, dagger, a conical object etc. in the left hands but attributes in other hands are missing. The crown over the head is fashioned in conical shape and has a circular decorative halo behind her head is noticed. Risabhanatha and figures of astagrahas are represented in yogasana posture in a row over the halo.

Risabhanatha:

The Tirthankara Risabhanatha (74x45cm) is found seated in dhyanamudra over a plain pedestal supported by two spirited lions. His lanchana bull and Sasanadevi Chakresvari seated over a Garuda is found below the pedestal. She displays two discs, varada mudras in her four hands as attributes and flanked by Yaksha Gomukha in right and a female devotee in kneeling position with anjali hasta in the left side. The Tirthankara is flanked by chauri bearers, hovering gandharvas with garlands and elephant motifs. The hair of the Tirthankara is arranged in jata, few strands of which are fallen over his shoulders. The auspicious mark srivatsa is found at the chest of the Tirthankara image. The prabhamandala behind his head is circular and festooned with lotus petal and beaded chains. A trilinear umbrella is noticed over his head caped by branches of kevala tree.

Risabhanatha:

Seated in dhyanamudra on a padmasana the Tirthankara (98x62cm) is flanked by chauri bearers, flying gandharvas with garlands in their hands and elephant motifs one above the other vertically. He has a circular prabhamandala with lotus flower and diamond shaped design at the border. The halo is surmounted by a trilinear umbrella flanked by branches of kevala tree. His hair is arranged in jata style, few of them are fallen over his shoulders. The carving below the pedestal is not clear as it is under worship and covered by clothes.

Risabhanatha:

The image of Risabhanatha is carved seated in dhyanamudra over plain pedestal below which his lanchana bull and his Sasanadevi Chakresvari flanked by spirited lions and kneeling devotees with folded hands are found. She is carved seated over her vehicle Garuda and her four armed displays discs in upper two hands and varada mudra in one hand while a circular object in the rest hand which in not distinct clearly. The Tirthankara is flanked by bedecked chauri bearers but they are standing in samapada asana instead of tribhanga posture found usually and they have no fly-whisk in their hands. He has elongated earlobe, jata hairs and a circular lotus petal designed halo behind his head. Flying gandharvas with garlands in their hands, elephant motifs, trilinear umbrella, branches of kevala tree and trivali mark in the neck are shown like other images of Risabhanatha.

Risabhanatha:

The Tirthankara image (1.00x0.55m) seated in dhyanamudra over a pedestal in which his lanchana bull is also carved in a diminutive size. Below his pedestal is an image of four armed Chakresvari, his Sasanadevi in padmasana. She is flanked by two spirited lions, displays disc in upper two hands and varada mudra in lower two hands. The twenty three Tirthankaras are depicted the surroundings of the mulanayaka Risabhanatha along with their lanchanas in respective pedestals. Two kneeling devotees are also shown with folded hands at the bottom portion of the stone slab on the left. The flying gandharvas with garlands, instead of depicted at the top are noticed at the shoulders of the Risabhanatha. The Tirthankara has jata hair and an elliptical halo is seen behind his head. Besides, tiny figure of elephants are depicted at the top portion of the stone slab.

Rohini:

Rohini, the Sasanadevi of Ajitanatha is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a lotus pedestal supported by spirited lions. The place below the pedestal is carved with kneeling devotees in folded hands and one of the devotee pouring water by a pot over an elliptical object kept at the center of them as like a Siva-lingam is a rare representation in the images of Jaina art of Odisha. The Sasanadevi Rohini has twelve arms of which principal two arms are in dhyanamudra. The other attributes she displays are vajra, sword, disc, arrow in the right and vessel, shield, bell, tridandi, bow in the left hands. One of her right hands is broken and missing. She is generously festooned with ornaments and costumes like a conical crowning mukuta with jewels, multi stranded necklace fitted with locket, armlets, bangles, ear-rings, girdle with central locket and an upavita at the chest. She has a circular halo lavishly decorated with lotus petals enclosed by beaded boarders. Her Tirthankara Ajitanatha is in dhyanamudra over a lotus pedestal along with his lanchana elephant and flanked by chauri bearers. Hovering gandharvas with garlands are also seen at top on either side of the Tirthankara image. The upper portion of the stone slab is conical instead of flat and the whole stone slab including pedestal measures is 92x52cm. Similar image of Rohini, the Sasanadevi of Ajitanatha is also noticed in the cave no.8 of Khandagiri hill, Bhubaneswar with different attributes in hands.

Risabhanatha:

The Tirthankara Risabhanatha (88x52cm) is found seated in dhyanamudra over a plain pedestal supported by the spirited lions. The bull, lanchana of the Tirthankara is depicted along with his Sasanadevi Chakresvari seated over a Garuda is found below the pedestal. She displays in her four hands a disc, a mace, varadamudra and a pot contrary to other such images found here. The circular halo behind his head is lavishly festooned with lotus petals and boarder by beaded chains. His hair is arranged in jata style. The chauri bearers, garland bearers, elephant motifs, devotees with folded hands and kneeling positions, trilinear umbrella, kevala tree are the usual representation found in their respective positions.

Risabhanatha:

This Tirthankara Risabhanatha image (87x52cm) is found in the center of a ruined shrine a few meters away from the temple complex. He is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a plain pedestal supported by two spirited lions at the corner. His lanchana bull and Sasanadevi Chakresvari seated over a Garuda is found below the pedestal flanked by kneeling devotees and the Yaksha Gomukha. She displays in her four hands two discs, varada and a vessel as attributes. The Tirthankara is flanked by chauri bearers one of which holds a champaka flowers in the left hand. The hairs of the Tirthankara are arranged in jata and a few strands of which are fallen over his shoulders. The prabhamandala behind his head is circular, festooned with lotus petal and beaded chains. A trilinear umbrella is noticed over his head surmounted by branches of kevala tree at the top, flanked by elephant motifs at the corners. Hovering gandharvas with garlands are also seen on either side of the image. The most significant feature of the image is the presence of the srivatsa mark at his chest.

There is an unfinished newly built modern shed in the same enclosure which houses three Jaina sculptures which are mentioned below:-

Risabhanatha:

Seated in dhyanamudra on a padmasana, trilinear umbrella, halo (prabhamandala) in the form of a lotus, the image flanked by chauri bearers, figure of Jaina Sasanadevis flanked by lions is carved below the pedestal. The mount vrishabha/bull is depicted within the lotus pedestal.

Risabhanatha:

Seated image Risabhanatha in dhyanamudra is surrounded by 24 figures of Tirthankaras. He is represented twice in the stone slab. He has an elongated halo with jata hair on his head and few strands of which are fallen over his shoulders. The image is partially defaced and broken at the upper part of the stone slab.

Ambika:

The Yakshi Ambika is carved seated in lalitasana on a double petalled lotus pedestal with right leg pendant rests over the back of the vigorous lion depicted below the lotus pedestal is flanked by kneeling devotees with folded hands. The Sasanadevi holds a baby in her left lap and a bunch of mango twig in the right hand. A boy is also shown with a bunch of mangoes on the right while a chauri bearer is shown on the left side of the Yakshi. She is bedecked with elongated ear rings, necklaces, armlets, anklets and bangles. Her hair is arranged as a bun at the top of her head. A plain circular halo is shown behind her head with two beaded boarder designs. A mango tree studded with mangoes with foliated branches is depicted over her head and above it is her Tirthankara Neminatha shown seated in dhyanamudra flanked by chauri bearers and flying garland bearers.

Many of the images at Subei are provided with an additional pedestal acting as a pranala to drain out the water and milk used for ritual purpose. The images of Risabhanatha constitute the largest number at Subei. The arrangement of hair of all the figures of Risabhanatha carved as jatas hanging up to shoulders. One of the Risabhanatha images contains figures of all other twenty-three Tirthankaras. The images are studded with heavenly musicians, elephant, kevala tree and trilinear umbrella on upper crest, chauri bearer on both side, halo is carved in the shape of full blossomed lotus.

A ruin of another temple in the shape of a mound is noticed about 150 meter south-west of the group of temples. An image of Risabhanatha is noticed on the top of the mound.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

N. Senapati and N.K. Sahu, op.cit., p.428.

[2]:

P.K. Panda and M.K. Giri, “Temples of Koraput”, in G. Mohanty and et al. (ed.), Cultural Heritage of Odisha, Koraput District, Bhubaneswar, 2008, pp.178-179.

[3]:

S.K. Panda, “A Note on the Jaina temple at Subei”, in G. Mohanty and et al. (ed.), Cultural Heritage of Odisha, Koraput District, Bhubaneswar, 2008, pp.161-163.

[4]:

V. Dehejia, op.cit., p.103.

[5]:

S.K. Panda, “Archaeological Remains of South Orissa; Jaina Temple of Subei”, in S. Pradhan(ed.), Orissan History, Culture and Archaeology, New Delhi, 1999, p.96.

[6]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit., 1984, pp.119-123.