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 Mangala Temple, Kuansa
The village Kuansa famous for its Goddess Mangala is situated about 17km east of Jajpur town towards Mangalpur. Approached by a narrow road, it is about 2km form Katia chhaka the right side. Besides, the presiding deity Goddess Mangala i.e. a ten armed Mahishasuramardini image, a Jaina tablet depicting ganadharas and purvadharas in the sanctum and a Parsvanatha image in the southern wall of the temple as parsvadevata are found.
Parsvanatha image
The image of Parsvanatha (Pl.LIVA) is standing in kayotsarga posture with a seven hooded snake canopy behind his hand. The coils of the snake are gathered behind the image in several folds fashioned symmetrically and two bejeweled chauri bearers are standing at the bottom. In close to the right side attendant, a female devotee is seated in padmasana and holds the staff of the chhatra on the left hand. She pressed her right hand on the earth while in close to the left chauri bearer two male devotees are standing in kayotsarga posture. At the top of the Tirthankara image flying vidyadharas with garlands and cymbals played with hands of invisible gandharvas are also noticed.
Jaina Tirthankara Panel
A very fine sculptural panel of Jaina Tirthankara (30cm in height) and depicting 66 standing Jaina Tirthankara (63 salakapuras[1]) on the obverse and a seated image of Risabhanatha at the top is found (Pl.LIVB). The Risabhanatha image is seated in dhyanamudra over a double petalled lotus pedestal, in the central portion of upper three lines. His usual lanchana bull is depicted in the middle of the lotus pedestal. Two chauri-bearers are standing in two separate lotus pedestal on either side of the image. His kevala tree and trilinear umbrella are noticed over his head. Flying vidyadharas and cymbals played with the hands of invisible gandharvas on either side of the image are noticed at the top. The reverse side of the stone panel depicted 96 standing image of Tirthankaras in eight rows having twelve in each row.