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...
Kaunri Devi Temple, Gobindpur
The temple in the Gobindpur village is located on the side of Nayagarh-Khandapada Road, 6 km east of Nayagarh town. This is a newly built temple of 19th century CE, has a rekha vimana of impoverished Kalingan order fronted by a RCC mandapa. Besides, the presiding deity, an eight-armed Durga locally known as Kmakshi thakurani or Kaunri Devi, images Visnu, Parvati and an image of Ambika with Gomedha190 are also found in the temple.
Ambika with Gomedha:
Ambika along with Yaksha Gomedha (Pl.LXXXVIIID) are seated over a lotus pedestal. Both are seated in rajalilasana posture and below their pedestal seven kneeling devotees are depicted. A tree studded with flowers and a fruit depicted behind them and in the center a child is swinging a swing. Neminatha, the twenty-second Tirthankara appears in dhyanamudra and flanked by chauri bearers and garland bearers at the top.
Besides, seven more Jaina images (Pls.LXXXIXA-LXXXIXD) including the images of Risabhanatha (03nos), Parsvanatha (1no.), Ajitanatha (1no.) and fragmentary Jaina Tirthankara (2no.) images are reported recently by one Mr. Behera[1] from Ranpur area.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Shri Manoranjan Behera, a former P.G student of AIHC&A, Utkal University, style="text-align:center">Vaniviahr, Bhubaneswar, reported about the Jaina images in Ranpur areas.