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Survey of Jaina Monuments of Orissa
79
seen in one of the caves there. All the standing images of the Jainas are in the posture of yoga known as the kāyotsarga, standing quite erect with feet placed side by side on the same line and both the arms hanging down on sides and the fingers of the hands touching the lower part of the thighs. Rsabha, the first of the twenty-four Jainas, who is also recognised as an incarnation of Vişnu, is known by his crown made of matted locks of hair and his cognizance, a bull and Mahāvīra, the twenty-fourth Jina is known by his congnizance, a lion. The most remarkable thing about the images of Rsabha and Mahāvīra on our stele (Pl. XXII) is the difference in the expression of their faces. The eyes of Rşabha are fixed on the tip of the nose and his face shows absorption in meditation. The eyes of Mahāvira look downward and show a mind worried by unpleasant thoughts. The nakedness of the pair is tiring to the eyes of the observer.
The common slab depicting the figures of Mahāvīra and Rşabha in standing posture and the photograph of which R.P.Chanda published in his book depict, among other usual features, the kevala tree, the trilinear umbrella, their respective lanchanas, chauri bearers, devotees, flying figures with garlands, mounted elephants, Prabhāmandala and cymbals and drum played through hands. The hatoes behind head of both the Tirthankara figures are circular in form and devoid of decorative designs. Both the figures are carved in excellent finish and in very good condition.
In the year, 1963 while excavating the foundation for the Godavarisha Mahāvidyalaya at Achutarajapur sāšana near Banapur, a large hoard of bronze idols, among other articles, were recovered and brought to the Orissa State Museum for preservation and display. All the objects kept within large sized earthen pots were burried under ground. They consisted of ninety five bronze idols, twenty metal stupas, a metal bell, a copper (or bronze) spouted vessel, twenty metal piece (including several fragment of a large ritualistic vessel (?), a Stupa-shaped finial, a Chhatra, pedestals of images, a halo and the limbs of a large image, an iron dagger and a conch-shell (Sarkha) all found in one hoard on the 2nd July, 1963. Of the ninety five bronze idols only ten represent various Tirthankaras and Sasanadevis of Jain pantheon. In addition a small chlorite seated image of Rşabhanatha is now fixed to the exterior wall of Buddhima temple within the enclosure of the Dakşaprajapati temple of Panapur. 14
The locality where the metal objects under report were discovered is known after the temple of Balukeśvara within the village Achutarajapur. It has a picturesque setting with the hill of Ghantasila about a kilometre north of the site. The rivulet Salia flows nearby. The entire area between this stream and the road to the south of the Banapur High School (Godavarish Vidyapitha) was formerly in the form of a mound containing the ancient remains of religious structures, primarily Buddhist. The area witnessed the rule of the Sailodbhavas, the Bhaumakaras, the Somavaṁsis and the Gangas as known from the rich archaeological treasures like copper plate inscriptions, standing monuments and finds of large number of stray sculptures affiliated to almost all the major religious traditions of Orissa. The Jaina bronzes discovered in this area can be placed within the period
14. D. Mitra, Bronzes from Achutarajpur, pl. 10.
