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Jaina Monuments of Orissa
The last one of the series in the Orissa State Museum is the image of Mahāvīra (Ay. No. 22) standing in kāyotsarga pose on a lotus pedestal. It is flanked by the chauri bearers standing above spirited licns rear the pedestal and flying Gandharvas with wreaths in hands on either side at the top. The face of the figure is badly damaged. The stele has an oval halo. The kevala tree and the trilinear umbrella are visible above the head. As regards hairs on the head, there is close aflirity with the figures of Ajitanātha and śāntinātha referred to above. Unfortunately lion, the conventional lañchana cf Mahāvīra is not traced in the appropriate place. Instead, two lions are seen flanking the image just above the lotus pedestal. For the double petalled lctus pedestal this image is often confused with Padmaprabha, the 6th Tirthankara of the Jaina pantheon. Flying figures on either sides are seen offering flower garlands from baskets held in their hands.
In the absence of epigraphical evider.ces, the sculptures of this group may be placed in the 8th-9th century A.D. in consideration of the iconographical features, artistic finish and display of eight planets.32
In addition to the above group of sculptures of Charampa a figure of Ambikā sitting under the mango tree with baby on her lap is still found under worship as Grāmadevati in an open mandapa at the place. This was said to have been recovered from the same Rahania tank.
MAYURBHANJA DISTRICT
Mayurbhanja and the adjacent district of Balasore and Keonjhar in Orissa and Singbhum, Manbhum and Sareikela districts, etc. of Bihar and Medinapur of West Bengal are extremely rich in Jaina antiquities of the medieval period. We have not traced any Jaina Tirthankara image in the Mayurbhanja district so far having characteristics of the early period. Due to saucity of carlier remains it cannot be exactly ascertained as to when Jainism established its stronghlod in this region. But from the stray finds of sculptures at Badasai, Panibandha, Keisali, Khuntapala, Baripada ard Khiching we may reasonably place its ascer darcy durirg the Bharja rule. As discussed earlier the Bhanja kings of Mayurbhanja and Keonjhar region had Jaina affinity and they patronised Jaina establishments and their adherents. Like the districts of Bihar referred to above, the district of Mayurbhanja has several Sarāka settlements. These Sarākas followed Jaina practices in their social customs and religious observances.
The influence of the teaching of Jaina religion by Pārsvanātha, the 23rd Tirthankara spread in Anga, Vanga and Kalinga. We learn from Bhagavata Sūtra, one of the earliest of Jaina works ard also from the life of the 23rd Tirthankara by Blavedeva Suri that after preaching his doctrines Pārsvanātha went to a place of Nagas. On the way four Sarāyakas viz. Siva, Sundara, Saumya ard Jaya became his disciples. It is stated in the Kșctra Samasa and in various cther such works that having left Tamralipti, Pārsvanātha came to a place called Kapokata or Kapakataka where on the second day cf lis iritiation, he broke his fast in the Icuse of Dhar ya. From this incident Kopakata came to be called
32. M.P. Dash "Jaina Antiquities of Charampa", OHRJ, Vol. XI. No. 1 pp. 50-53,
