Khiching Museum, Khiching

The name Khiching is a corruption of Khijjinga or Khijjinga-kota, the capital of the early Bhaja rulers. The small town is situated within 25km from the sub-divisional headquarters town of Karanjia and 150km from Baripada. It is the abode of Maa Kichakeswari Devi. The Khiching museum, the second oldest museum in the state of Odisha is another attraction of the site. As the erstwhile rulers of the districts were fond of archaeology and documented the rich historical tradition of the region, the Khiching museum was established under the Mayurbhanj State Archaeology in 1922 CE. The museums of Baripada and Khiching, in fact, laid the foundation stone for the archaeological documentation for the first time in Odisha, which was then under the British rule. The museum located in the temple compound contains a large number of life-size images different religious faiths viz., Durga, Ganesa, Parsvanatha, Tara, Parvati, Ardhanarieswar, Vaishnavi, Nandi, Kartikeya, Avalokiteswar, Dhyani Buddha, Mahishasuramardini, Uma-Maheswara and female devotees. In addition, it has copper and iron implements, terracotta figurines, seals, ornaments, potteries, coins, stone tools and various fragments of the temples.^[1]

A large numbers of Tirthankara images viz., Risabhanatha, Santinatha, Parsvanatha, and few other Tirthankara images having no cognizance are preserved in the Khiching Branch Museum (Pls.LXXXVIIC-LXXXVIID). Unfortunately, the museum has no record of their find spots.

Risabhanatha (Sl.No.56):

The Tirthankara Risabhanatha (76x37cm) carved in kayotsarga posture over a double petalled lotus pedestal below which his lanchana bull is depicted. He has jata hair styles and has a plain elliptical halo behind his head. The Tirthankara is flanked by bejeweled chauri bearers at the bottom and flying garland bearers, cymbals and drums played with heavenly hands are at the top. Four Tirthankara images, two on each side of the Tirthankara in kayotsarga posture over lotus pedestal.

Risabhanatha (Sl.No.55):

The Tirthankara (79x37cm) is standing in kayotsarga mudra over a lotus pedestal. A defaced figure of bull, his usual lanchana is shown below his pedestal. He has jata hair band and few of which are fallen over his shoulder. He is flanked by chauri bearer at the bottom. There are indistinct evidences of trilinear umbrella and musical instrument played by divine hands. Thus, the figure seems to be left unfinished.

Risabhanatha (Sl.No.93):

The Tirthankara image of Risabhanatha/Adinatha (75x44cm), the first Jaina Tirthankara is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a plain pedestal supported by vigorous lions at the corner and a dharmachakra as his lanchana is found in between the lions below the pedestal. The chauri bearer in the right is found in the conventional pose while the left side one is missing. He has elongated ear-lobes and curly hair on head with an usnisa at the top. An elliptical halo is seen behind his head while the remaining portion of the stone slab is missing.

Risabhanatha (Sl.No.155):

The Risabhanatha image (52x27cm) is carved in kayotsarga posture over a double petalled lotus pedestal. The image is damaged into two parts but depicted the usual features depicted in a Risabhanatha image i.e. bull as lanchana, chauri bearers, musical instruments played with heavenly hands, trilinear umbrella, garland bearers etc.

Risabhanatha (Sl.No.176):

This image is collected from the village Begunia Bindha, a place adjacent to Khiching. The Tirthankara (73x37cm) is carved seated in dhyanamudra over a lotus pedestal supported by spirited lions. Besides the usual features, the representation of a kirtimukha on the top of the umbrella is a rare feature in the Jaina art of Odisha.

Santinatha (Sl.No.57):

The stone slab depicted the Tirthankara Santinatha (82x41cm) which is badly defaced at the pedestal, faces of the chauri bearers and the Tirthankara. It is also broken into two pieces at the upper left corner. Santinatha is carved in kayotsarga posture over a lotus pedestal below which a badly defaced figure of deer is represented. He is flanked by bejeweled chauri bearers standing in cross legged position on either side. Four Tirthankaras, two on each side carved in kayotsarga posture over lotus pedestals are found vertically one above the other. A torana with floral design in triangular shape at the top on either end is noticed at the back of the Tirthankara image. An elliptical halo with beaded chain and lotus leaf design is found behind his head. A trilinear umbrella caped with branches of kevala tree and flanked by drums and cymbals played with heavenly hands and garland bearers are found in their conventional position at the top portion of the stone slab.

Parsvanatha (Sl.No.54):

The Tirthankara (88x42cm) is standing in kayotsarga posture over a double petalled lotus pedestal below which naga-nagi figures are also depicted. The Tirthankara is flanked by six Tirthankaras of diminutive sizes standing in kayotsarga posture, three on each side. His usual attendants are absent here. His conventional lanchana, the seven hooded snake canopy is depicted behind his head. Besides, the chhatravali, branches of kevala tree, cymbals and drums played with heavenly hands are engraved in their respective positions.

Bust of a Tirthankara (Sl.No.180):

A bust part of a Tirthankara image is found along with two other Tirthankara figures, flying garland bearer, circular halo, chhatravali in a stone slab with much damaged conditions. It is now kept in the museum store room186.

Bengal District Gazetteer187 mentions about some Jaina images in the village Benusagar located on the boundary of Singhbhum and Mayurbhanj.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

P.K Mishra, Archaeology of Mayurbhanj, New Delhi, 1997, pp.34-83.