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Survey of Jaina Monuments of Orissa
91
The Tirthankara figures within niches are each flanked by chaurl bearers. It measures 0.53m in height.
One of the biggest Jaina images of Adinātha is available in village Hatadiha (Panchupur),(Fig. 77) near Kanta Bania of Jajpur Sub-division. It measures 2.0m x 0.92m x 0.46m and carved in chlorite stone. During my first visit to the place, it was kept resting on one banyan tree on the bank of the extinct Benga river. This river was in earlier days known to be a tributary of river Vaitarani. The settlement records give it the name of "Bodhi Maharāja". It is ascertained from elderly local people that the river Benga was navigable some 200 years back. The image in question while transported in a boat dropped near the village Panchupur due to some accident and since then it is available at the place. Local people also cor sider this image as that of a Goddess surrounded by her children. They were very much afraid when I first approached the deity after clearance of debris around the figure. This image has been declared protected by a notification of the Cultural Affairs Department. In my subsequent visit on 28.11.75 I could find the image shifted from its original site to a place on the side of the road. The local people are eager to build a shrine for the deity.
The image is carved standing in kāyotsarga pose on a lotus pedestal. The lower parts of the pedestal including the lāñchana and the devotees are left unfinished. Chauri bearers, decked with rich costumes and ornaments, are standing on either sides on separate lotus pedestals. An egg-shaped halo is noticed behind head. Its hairs on the head are arranged in curled knots with the usnia at the centre. All the other twentyfour Tirthankara figures are carved standing on either sides displaying the sacred umbrella on their heads. Trivali on the neck are prominently observed. The kevala tree behind the head is studded with leaves. The umbrella in three folds attached to a pole is also noticed above its head. Two Gandharvas with garlands in hands seen hovering in the sky. It is partially disfigured in the nose, lips, fingers and genital organs.
There are also further evidences of the Jaina influence once prevalent in the village Jhadesvarpur in the paragana Kushamandala, 40 KM north-east of Cuttack. Local tradition has it that in the very ancient times a Raja of Jharakhanda founded a Siva Linga named Jhadesvara and built a great temple over it. From the name of the idol, the place came to be known as Jhadesvarpur. The ancient temple of Jhadesvara is now in ruins but recently at the time of excavating the place some very important and valuable relics, evidently belonging to the glorious period of Jainism, were discovered in the locality. They excel all other works of Jaina art found else where. Figures of Tirthankaras and those of many Ganadharas, purvadharas, Srävaka and Srūvika have been discovered under the earth. Among these were found the figures of Jina either absorbed in meditation (dhyāna) in sitting posture or standing naked. The fine sculpturing of these figures produce a striking impression. They are of beautiful chlorite stone. If this place ever systematically explored it is believed that many more figures and even ruins of ancient shrines might be recovered. 20
20. N.N. Vasu, The Archaeological Survey of Mayurbhanja, Vol. I, Pl. 23A,
