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 in Abhana (Balasore)
Abhana, a small village located in the Bahanaga block is 21km from Balasore town, the district headquarters. It is situated from a short distance from the Bay of Bengal on the left bank of the river Son and is located about 6km north of Ayodhya.
In 02.12.1980 a large number of antiquities were discovered here[1]. When a stone temple, locally known as Brahmani temple on a mound in the middle of the village almost buried and only its upper portion visible was exposed by some of the villagers along with volunteers from the NSS wing of the local Belabhunli College and Gopaljiu Cultural Association. In course of their digging they had come across several Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina antiquities such as stone sculptures, terracotta figures and clay seals containing inscriptions.
The Jaina sculptures include:-
a) Risabhanatha (33x23x09cm)
b) Chandraprabha (25x19x03cm)
c) Tirthankara image (not identified due to damage condition) (33x23x09cm)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
B.C. Agasti, “Archaeological Remains of Abhana”, K.S. Behera & et al. (eds.), OHRJ, Vol. XXXII. No.384, Bhubaneswar, 1987, pp.124-128.