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...

Preface

Sixth century BCE is a major landmark in the religious history of India. It witnessed the emergence of two protestant religion namely Jainism and Buddhism as a challenge to the orthodox Vedic religion. They completely denounced the authority of Veda and started preaching their own doctrine to liberate people towards salvation. Mahavira being the 24th Jaina Tirthankara gave a new direction to Jainism which spread different parts of the country subsequently. Among them Odisha is considered as one of the cradle centers of Jainism. Mahavira and Parsvanatha both visited Odisha during their life time as mentioned in literary accounts.

In Odisha archaeological evidences leave no doubt that Jainism flourished in Odisha during the reign of emperor Kharavela in the 1st century BCE and inspired the Kalingan sculptors to create rare works of art. Therefore, the sculptural and structural heritage of the Jaina religion is found in different parts of Odisha viz., the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Nayagarh, Puri and Rayagada etc. These districts are the pioneer regions embodying plenty of Jaina remains. After Kharavela, it was the rulers of Somavamsi dynasty those who retook the flow of Jainism after a long hiatus of one millennium year. In Odisha a number of pre and proto-historic sites, historic, medieval and Buddhist sites were excavated but no archaeological spade work related to Jainism was carried out to bring to limelight the Jaina antiquities of Odisha. A few scholars like R.P. Mohapatra and A.C. Sahoo made some meticulous effort for the study of Jaina monuments of Odisha long back. But serious work is yet to be undertaken in this direction. Hence, a humble attempt has been made in this thesis entitled “Jaina Vestiges in Orissa: A Study of Art, Architecture and Iconography,” to document the Jaina antiquities which substantially supplemented to the works done by the previous scholars. It also helps to evaluate about the condition of images and structures recorded by the earlier scholars.

During my field work for M. Phil programme, I have come across a number of Jaina images particularly in Jajpur region which were still unnoticed to the scholars. Again, when I was a participant in the excavation conducted by Bhubaneswar Circle, ASI, at Choudwar fort, Choudwar, district Cuttack in 2005, a number of beautiful Jaina images either placed careless under tree or worshipped as Brahmanical deities in temples or private houses were come across to my notice and many of them are not reported at all by any earlier scholars. This tempted me to make a thorough survey and document of all the Jaina relics of Odisha in this dissertation.

The main focus area of this works is to highlight -

a) first hand documentation of all Jaina antiquities found from different districts of Odisha with their iconographical features,

b) to bring to lime light the unnoticed Jaina images, structures or establishments, and

c) to understand the contribution of each district to the Jaina art of Odisha as well as of India.

Though, in the title of the thesis the name of the state has been mentioned as Orissa, in the text it is mentioned as Odisha. It is so because when the research proposal was submitted to the University for Registration in 2007 it was named as Orissa. Now, by virtue of a Govt. Notification in 2010 the state named as Odisha.

The present study was made possible due to the constant encouragement, help and moral support received from my guide, teachers, parents, friends, well-wishers and the inspirational knowledge of eminent scholars embodied in their published research work. I shall fail in my duty if I do not acknowledge their valuable help.

First of all, I express my deep gratitude to the people of Odisha who not only preserve the cultural heritage of Odisha but also allow me to take photographs and study the antiquarian remains in spite of their religious taboos and inhibitions.

I owe an extraordinary debt of gratitude to my guide Prof. Sadasiba Pradhan, an ideal man having magnanimous and charismatic personality for suggesting this topic for my dissertation and whose meticulous guidance and disciplinary approach made this thesis possible. He encouraged me a lot and listened to me even during his busiest hour of work.

I offer an earnest obeisance, sincere gratitude and obligatory regards to my teacher Dr. Sanjay Acharya, H.O.D. of AIHC & Archaeology, Utkal University, Odisha for his scholarly guidance and moral support.

I would like to pay my sincere reverence to Dr. J.K. Patnaik, Superintending Archaeologist, Excavation Branch-IV, Bhubaneswar for sharing his valuable knowledge with me and for giving guidance and moral support for completion of my work.

I would also like to pay my sincere reverence to Dr. A.K. Patel, Superintending Archaeologist, Bhubaneswar Circle, Bhubaneswar for rendering his helping hand whenever I required.

With a profound feeling of pleasure, I owe a deep gratitude to Dr. B.K. Rath, Late Shri Rabi Roy, Dr. H.H. Routray, Dr. Susanta Kumar Kar, Dr. Gopinatha Jena, Dr. A. Satpathy, Dr. Ekadasi Padhi, Dr. Bhagabat Tripathy, Shri Hanshanatha Sahoo, etc. those who rendered their help and blessings to me for preparation of the work.

It will be worthless if I would not recognize the cooperation and ethical support to get books for reference by the staffs of different library and archives viz., Library of Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi and Central Archaeological Library, New Delhi, Parija Library, Utkal University, Seminar Library of P.G. Department of AIHC&A, State Museum Library and State Archives of Bhubaneswar.

I am also thankful to all my friends M.J. Sindhu, Priyadarshini, Bibek, Barsa, Hari, Madhav, Satya, Rishab, Bibhu, Ajaya, Manash Chandra, Somya, Pabitra, Pratyush, Kalu, Sunil, Santosh, Santosh Bhai and A.K. Sasmal etc. for their unvarying moral support and encouragement.

I also express my gratefulness to Sanjay Panda and Umakanta Bhoi, Assistant Archaeologists, ASI, Excavation Branch-IV, Bhubaneswar for their unstinted moral support and valuable suggestions and help for preparing this manuscript and also thankful to Mrs. Dillon Mishra, Draughtswoman, Grd.II, ASI, Bhubaneswar Circle for helping in preparing the pottery drawings.

I want to convey my deep gratitude to my loving parents Mr. Kalandi Charan Sahoo and Mrs. Koile Sahoo who supported me every seconds of my life and without their blessings would have not been possible for me to do the thesis. I am humbly indebted to my wife Sonali Sahoo, son Anshumaan Sahoo and brother-in-law Amit Kumar Sahoo, because of their support and constant inspiration only I have given the best in it.

I am grateful to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-01 for providing me financial assistance by awarding ICHR-JRF in the initial stage of my Ph. D work.

The last but not the least the thesis might not have been in the present shape without the monumental works of the unsung heroes of Odisha who carved out the gigantic caves, temples and beautiful images of stone and metal.

Ashis Ranjan Sahoo

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