Jaina Antiquities at Purunagarh (Koraput)

Mahakali Temple:

Mahakali temple or Durga temple is situated in Purunagarh (Old Township) within the locality of Jeypore. An image of Risabhanatha in dhyanamudra is kept in the porch of the temple^[1].

The Tirthankara (90x50x25cm) is carved seated in meditative pose over a decorative pedestal supported by vigorous lions at the two corners^[2]. The Sasanadevi Chakresvari mounted over her lanchana Garuda is depicted in between the two lions. She displays disc in one hand and varada mudra in other hand. Yaksha Gomukha and devotees are also carved at the bottom portion of the stone slab. The usual lanchana of the Tirthankara bull is depicted in a smaller dimension just above the pedestal. The long matted hair locks of his head are reaching up to the shoulder. The auspicious srivatsa mark found in his chest which is rarely found in Odishan Jaina sculptures. A two tier halo is marked around his head i.e. the inner part formed of lotus petals with beaded boarder and the outer one lavishly decorated with diamond shaped medallions intervening with champaka buds. The trilinear umbrella decorated with lotus petal design and the knob of the shaft of the umbrella is designed in the shape of a temple amlaka. The chauri bearers, torana with makara-mukha design, pair of garland bearers, elephants and divine figures blowing conch are envisaged on either side of the Tirthankara vertically one above the others.

Dangerdei Temple:

This temple is situated in Purunagarha locality and possessed a fragmentary image of lower half of a Tirthankara image in dhyanamudra kept over the platform of the temple, while the Sasanadevi is found below the pedestal flanked by spirited lions. The astagrahas panel is also depicted in between the Tirthankara and Sasanadevi^[3].

Nilakanthesvar Temple:

It is also situated in the Purunagarha locality where a small image of Ambika^[4] is fixed in the niche of the temple. Seated in lalitasana with left leg pendant, she holds a bunch of mangoes in the right hand and a baby in the left lap. Another boy is shown plucking mangoes from the bunch carried by the Sasanadevi. She has a lotus shaped circular halo carved around the head and flanked by divine musicians and garland bearers on either side at the top.

Besides, three Jaina images viz., two images of Mahavira and one image of Ambika have been collected from Jeypore palace for the Odisha State Museum in the past^[5].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

J.K. Patnaik and S.K. Kar, op.cit., p.169.

[2]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit., 1984, p.128.

[3]:

J.K. Patnaik and S.K. Kar, op.cit.

[4]:

Ibid.

[5]:

R.P. Mohapatra, op.cit.,1984, p.129.