Jaina Monuments Of Orissa

Author(s): R P Mohapatra
Publisher: D K Publications

Page 10

(viii)
Cuttack, Mayurbhanja, Balasore and Puri. Besides he also quoted several instances of the Jaina influences on the Oriya literature, Jagannātha cult and life and customs of the Oriya people especially the Sarāka settlers of Orissa.
On the other hand Fergusson, Kittoe, R.L. Mitra, Prinsep, B.L. Indraji, Fleet, Luders, K.P. Jayaswal, R.D. Banerji, T.N. Ramachandran, B.M. Barua, N.N. Ghosh, D.C. Sircar, D. Mitra, N.K. Dash, N.K. Sahu, K. C. Panigrahi, B. Misra, K. N. Mahapatra, H.K. Mahatab, Sashikanta, and several other scholars contributed to the better understanding of the Jaina religion and its cultural heritage in Orissa. Both N.K. Dash and B. Misra attempted to associate Jagannātha cult with that of Jaina religion. Several stray articles on the Jaina relics of Orissa were also published by P. Banerji, D. Mitra, K.S. Behera, M.P. Dash, A. Joshi, B. Misra, N.K. Dash, L.N. Sahu, and others in the recent past.
To make a comprehensive study of the Jaina monuments of Orissa I undertook this work with the guidance of Dr. K.S. Behera, Professor of History, Utkal University of Orissa. This I hope will provide enough material for study on the hitherto neglected aspect of Orissan history and culture.
The present work on the "Jaina Monuments of Orissa" is divided into six chapters. In the first chapter an attempt has been made to trace in brief the background and tradition of Jaina religion in all India perspective. The life history of Pārsvanātha and Mahāvira with special reference to their preaching, spread of Jainism in India, Jaina councils and its division into Svetāmbara and Digambara sects, various Jaina rituals and practices, and their antiquity have been incorporated.
In the second chapter the history of Jainism in Orissa with special reference to the advent of Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra to Orissa on the basis of tradition has been vividly described. The association of a few other Tirathařkaras as evident from Jaina sources and puranic accounts has also been referred to. sources and pur
The historical survey of Jainism p ose andine incintornovidence and literaru: as known from the sculptural finding, inscriptional evidences and literary accounts in different periods up to the end of the Gajapatis has also been incorporated in this chapter. The achievements of Khāravela as revealed from the famous Hāthi-Gumphā inscription of Udayagiri and his patronage to the Jaina mendicants including the excavation of caves, distribution of charities and recovery of the Kalinga Jina are all elaborately dealt with. The survival of Jainism in the post Khāravela period side by side with Buddhism and Brahmanism in Orissa have also been discussed in this chapter. The available Epigraphical and Numismatic sources in this connection are critically examined. With the rise of Jagannātha cult, how Jainisin intermingled with the prevailing religious traditions and customs of Orissa has also been attempted here. To trace the background of Jagannātha cult and associate the Kalinga Jina as mentioned in the Hathl-Gumphā inscription of Khāravela with that of Jagannātha cult has also been dealt with in this chapter. In addition, the assimilation of Jaina faith with the Nätha cult, Mahimā religion, and other traditions and customs of Orissa has been indicated here. A special reference to the ritual practices of the Saraka setttlers of