Jaina Antiquities at Khandagiri Hills (Khordha)

Cave No.2 (Tatowa-Gumpha, No.2)

The cave has only one cell fronted by a benched verandah. The ceiling of the cell is convex in shape and the floor is raised at the back. A nandipada symbol is

found on the doorway of the cave and symbolical representation of sun and moon^[1] at the back of the wall.

Cave No.3 (Ananta-Gumpha)

The cave comprises of a narrow long room and a verandah in front. On the back wall of the cell is carved a symbol of nandipada and flanked by srivatsa, svastika and a triangle headed symbol^[3]. An unfinished standing Tirthankara figure is also noticed near these symbols. The arches of the doorway are also depicted the symbol of nandipada, srivatsa and worship of tree within railings. The depiction of worship of four-tusked elephant, tree worship, image of Surya and an image of Gajalakshmi/Mahamanasi, the Sasanadevi of Santinatha are other notable representations in the cave.

Cave No.7 (Navamuni-Gumpha)

The cave was originally comprised of two spacious cells but converted into one in past and a verandah in front. The back wall of the right cell is carved with seven Tirthankara figures viz., Risabhanatha, Ajitanatha, Sambabanatha, Abhinandananatha, Vasupujya, Parsvanatha and Neminatha, all seated in dhyanamudra within niches. Bellow the Tirthankaras, their respective Sasanadevi images are engraved. On the right wall two Jaina images are also carved, one of Parsvanatha and the other is of Risabhanatha both seated in yogasana posture. On the left wall a small figure of Chandraprabha is also engraved.^[4]

Cave No.8 (Barabhuji-Gumpha)

The Barabhuji-Gumpha is named so because of the depiction of two twelve armed (bara-bhuji) figures of Sasanadevi viz., Chakresvari and Rohini carved on the side walls of the verandah^[5]. Twenty four Tirthankara figures of the Jaina pantheon are carved in 25 niches of the back and side walls, of which Parsvanatha has been repeated twice. Their respective Sasanadevis in separate niches are carved below the Tirthankaras.

Cave No. 9 (Mahavira-Gumpha)

The relives of twenty four robes less Tirthankara are carved on three sides of the cells^[6]. Parsvanatha instead of being placed before Mahavira occupies a central place on the back wall. Eight of the Tirthankara are carved in kayotsarga posture and the rest are in dhyanamudra pose. The masonry altar near the back wall of the cell contains three chloride figures of Risabhanatha in kayotsargamudra of much better workmanship.

Cave No.10

Originally, this is a double storeyed cave but has no trace at present due to the stone cutter who taken all the privilege for quarrying stone. Three figures, two of Risabhanatha and one of Amara/Ambika, the Sasanadevi of Neminatha are carved on the back wall of the upper storey^[7] of the cave but at present it seems to be carved only at a higher level.

Cave No.11 (Lalatendukesari-Gumpha)

The cave immediately after the Cave No.10 is locally called as Lalatendukesari-Gumpha^[8]. This cave has two cells and a common veranda in front. The left cell contains two images of Risabhanatha and three of Parsvanatha. Similarly on the right cell two Parsvanatha and one Risabhanatha figure are found. A five line inscription dated in the fifth regnal year of Somavamsi king Udyotakesari records the restoration of a decayed vapi and decayed temples on the Kumara hill is found just above one of the Risabhanatha image.

Jaina Temple

The crest of Khandagiri hill is crowned by a modern temple with a porch in front. The temple is constructed in pidha style, 7.62m in height by Manju Choudhry and his nephew Bhabani Dadu of Cuttack, Jaina merchants of digambara sect. The sanctum of the temple contains many independent sculptures^[2] viz., 16 small chlorite Jaina sculpture, a sandstone image of Risabhanatha, a damaged chaumukha. All have been collected from the hills and its neighborhoods. There are some other recently built small temples have also preserved a number of Jaina images (Pls.LXXA-LXXIID) which are discussed below.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit., 1981, pp.52-54.

[2]:

R.L. Mitra, Antiquities of Orissa, Vol. II, 1880, Calcutta, P.64.

[3]:

Ibid., pp.56-57.

[4]:

D. Mitra, op.cit., pp.58-61.

[5]:

R.P. Mohapatra, Names of the caves of Khandagiri & Udayagiri, OHRJ, Vol. XXII, No. 3&4, pp.19-28.

[6]:

D. Mitra, op.cit., pp. 65-67.

[7]:

Ibid., pp.67-68.

[8]:

Ibid., pp.68-69.