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 Remains at Kachela (Koraput)

Remains of a Jaina temple 9m height was in existence on the south of the Kachela village as reported by G. Ramdas in his article on the Kachela Copper Plate Grant of Krishnadeva[1] but at present submerged in the Kolab water reservoir and one need a boat to reach to the site. The village Kachela is in Pattangi tehsil and is 15 km from Koraput, the district headquarters. Six Jaina sculptures[2] bought from the same temple were installed in the village. Now only five images (Pls.LXXXC-LXXXIB) are found except the images of Ajitanatha and Mahavira in a common slab which is missing under a group of trees in the Janiguda locality of the Kachela. The brief descriptions of the images are given as under-

Risabhanatha:

Seated image of Risabhanatha (1.10x0.56m) in dhyanamudra has long matted hair locks hanging up to shoulders. The chhatra is depicted over his head, lotus shaped halo is further decorated with alternately arranged flowers and ratna motifs on its border. Elephants and flying garland bearers i.e. female over a male with garland in their hands are carved on the top of the slab on either side. The chauri bearers decked with rich apparels are flanked on both sides of the Tirthankara at the bottom. His lanchana bull is carved in low relief in the center of the pedestal. An image of four armed Chakresvari seated over a human shaped Garuda is carved in the center below the pedestal. She is holding disc in upper hands both in right and left hands, a citrus/vessel on the lower left hand and her right hand depicted in varada mudra. The Sasanadevi is flanked by spirited lion on either side and further by a kneeling female devotee with folded hands on the left and a Gomukha figure standing on the right which is a rare representation on the Jaina art of Odisha.

Santinatha:

Standing in kayotsarga mudra over a lotus pedestal, the Tirthankara (1.00x52m) is exhibited with elephants, female garland bearers on the upper part of the slab, trilinear chhatra surmounted by kevala tree above the head and lotus shaped halo enclosed by beaded borders around the head. He is flanked by bejeweled chauri bearers and astagraha figures four on each side are carved around him. His lanchana deer is depicted in crouching position below the lotus pedestal.

Mahavira:

The image of Mahavira (90x45cm) is seated in dhyanamudra over a lotus pedestal. He is shown with elephants and heavenly garland bearers on the top of the slab, tree and chhatra over his head, lotus shaped halo around head. He is flanked by chauri bearers bedecked with rich costumes and ornaments. The place below the lotus pedestal is shown with four armed Sidhayika, the Sasanadevi of the Tirthankara. She displays varada mudra in lower two hands and noose and sword in the upper two hands as attributes. She is flanked by spirited lions on both the sides and further by kneeling female devotee in folded hands on either side.

Ambika:

One of the most outstanding and remarkable image of Ambika (1.00x0.53m) in Odisha is found at Subei. Carved in standing posture over a lotus pedestal she is carrying a baby on her left lap and holding a bunch of mangoes in her right hand. Another boy shown holding a mango in his hands below the hand of Sasanadevi, a kneeling devotee is also shown near the feet of the boy in folded hands. Her lanchana lion is shown on the right side of the Sasanadevi at the bottom. The tree carved behind her head is profusely studded with mangoes. The circular halo behind her head is formed a lotus pedestal. Pillars of a lavishly carved torana are shown behind her body. She has bun shaped hairdo wears beautiful drapery as garments. The drapery in folds runs up to ankles. It is tied with girdle, the loops of which are dangling in front. The multi-stranded necklace, bangles, circular ear rings, armlets, anklets beautify the image. Her Tirthankara Neminatha is carved seated over a lotus pedestal in dhyanamudra at the top. Two wheels engraved on the either side of the image at the pedestal is a rare iconographical feature found in Odisha. He is flanked by chauri bearers and further by flying gandharvas with garlands in their hands. kevala tree, chhatra and a circular halo is carved above the head of the Tirthankara.

Ambika and Gomedha:

An image of yaksha Gomedha and yakshi Ambika (53x28cm) are also carved seated on a common slab under a tree. Both of them are provided with thick cushions. A Tirthankara figure with his usual attributes of chauri bearers, umbrella, kevala tree and flying garland bearers is noticed above the mango tree in the back ground of the composition. A baby is noticed swinging in between the yaksha and yakshi figure. The figure Ambika is holding a baby on her left lap and a bunch of mangoes in her right hand, while the figure of Gomedha carries some unidentified object in his right hand while left hand rests over the left thigh. Below the pedestal, a two armed female figure in lalitasana pose on a pedestal and she is flanked by eight devotees.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

G. Ramdas, JAHRS,Vol.VI, pp.8-14; N. Senapati and N.K. Sahu, op.cit.,p.417.

[2]:

R.P. Mohapatra, “Jain Antiquities of Kachela”, OHRJ, Vol. XXIX, No.4, Bhubaneswar, 1984, pp.1-6.

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