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 Nandapur (Koraput)
Nandapur is about 45km from Koraput. It was once the capital of Silavamsi rulers. An image of Padmavati, Sasanadevi of Parsvanatha is reported from this village now kept in the Sarbeswara temple[1]. Independent image of Padmavati is rarely found in Odishan Jaina art.
Padmavati:
She is carved seated in lalitasana over a lotus pedestal below which her conventional lanchana elephant is depicted. She has a five hooded snake canopy and her Tirthankara Parsvanatha depicted over it in dhyanamudra with a seven hooded snake canopy over his head. She is four armed and one arm is missing. The attributes kept in the rest of the hands are a branch of tree, varadamudra and a parsu. She is lavishly decorated with ear rings, necklace, girdle, armlets, anklets, and bangles.
Thus, Koraput district is replenished with a large number of Jaina antiquities which requires proper attention by the Government and local public. Again, the district needs to be throughly explored to bring to lime light more antiquities of Jainism hitherto hidden underneath.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
J.K. Patnaik and S.K. Kar, op.cit.