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CHAPTER 151
EAST INDIA timc one may refer to Hiuen Tsang's account: Among the unbelievers, the most numerous are the Nirgranthas... The Nirgranthas and their followers used to go about without any clothing and so attract notice making it a meritorious act to pull out their hair by violence, with their skin dried up and their feet hard and in appearance like a decayed wood on the river-bank.': Almost contemporancously, the Banpur plato of the Sailodbhava king Dharmaraja (sixth-suventh century) records the gift by his queen Kalyaņadevi of some land to a Jaina monk called Ekasata Prabuddhacandra. Jainism in Orissa was of Digambara affiliation.
Archacological remains are abundant to show the popularity of the Jaina faith, art and culture in different parts of Orissa during this period. Chronologically proceeding, Podasingidi was a very important Jaina centre during the eighth century. Situated in the forest of the Baula hill ranges in Anandpur Sub-division of Keonjhar District, it has yielded several Jaina images, brought to light by Joshi. Unique among these finds are inscribed seated and uninscribed standing images of Rşabhanatha, whose worship seems to have been popular in Orissa.
The inscribed figure (plate 85A) is seated in meditative pose on a lotus-pedestal with a bull below. In front of the bull seems to be a lamp and two devotees knecling with their hands joined in adoration. On the top, at either side, is a flying Gandharva with a garland in his hand. There is a round halo behind the head of the Jina. The figure has a well-proportioned body, with half-closod eyes indicating meditation, curly hair, an uşnisa and elongated ears, in Gupta tradition. There is a short inscription in four lines near the right hand of the image, saying that the image of Rşabha-bhattaraka was donated by one Idhaka (?). Joshi thinks that the two devotees in front of the bull on the pedestal may represent Bharata and Bahubali. This is the earliest inscribed Jaina image discovered so far in Orissa.
The other image of Rşabha stands in kdyotsarga-pose on a lotus-pedestal supported by two lions. Just below the pedestal is the larchand, a bull. Raabka is flanked on either side by a court-bearer, equally well carved, and two
18. Besi, ufe of Hime Trang, London, 1888, p. 162; Boul, op. cit., 1884, II, p. 208.
Ks. Beden Batu Chhotelal Jai Smpri Grantha, p. 170.
Adun Joshi, Audique &gabba, Image from Podaningidi', Orissa Historical Research Journal, X, 3, 1961, pp. 744Farthar lietot on the remains of Podusingdi, ibid., X, 4, 1962,
pp. 30 1.
