Risabhanatha image in the PG. Deptt. of AIHC&A, Utkal University

A beautifully carved Risabhanatha image is in the possession of Museum of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology Department of Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar. The image is 30cm in height. He stands in kayotsarga posture over a double petalled lotus pedestal below which his lanchana bull is carved. His hair is decorated with jatamukuta style. A tri-linear umbrella is noticed over his head and behind his head, a halo is found. The Tirthankara image is flanked by two chauri-bearers on two separate lotus pedestal either side of the image at the bottom. Four standing Tirthankara images two in each side are depicted vertically one above the other on both side of the image. There is a straight carved line behind the Tirthankara image connecting upper two standing Tirthankara. Two flying vidyadharas and cymbals played with invisible hands of gandharvas are also been noticed on each side of the image at the top. The pedestal of the image is partially damaged. The find spot of the Tirthankara image is from Jajpur area but particular place is not ascertained.

It is a land of various religions and cultures having a rich heritage of Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism, Shaktaism and Vaishnavism. It is the earliest shaktipitha and pitrutirtha having the presiding deity Goddess Viraja, the unique and single image of two armed Mahisasuramardini in India dated back to the circa 4^th century CE. In spite of political and natural calamity, Jajpur has remains a separate identity in the annals of Odisha as a great religious centre of Jainism. Jainism in Jajpur had a long life and it continued as one of the religion of Odisha right up to modern times. It contributed largely to the illustrious role that Jainism played in the religious realm of Jajpur region.

Over and above the presence of such a good number of Jaina chaumukhas along with loose sculptures of Tirthankaras and Sasanadevis eloquently proves that Jajpur region was under the sway of Jainism. The adherents of the Jaina religion have left for the posterity quite a large number of monumental evidences which speak of the wide prevalence and popularity of Jainism in this region. Of course human vandalism, coupled with the vagaries of nature has razed a number of such monuments to the ground yet the remnants speak volumes of Jaina influence in the history of our subcontinent.