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Survey of Jaina Monuments of Orissa
117
L.N. Sahu noticed a slab containing the figures of Rsabha and Mahāvira in Khiching Museum. As the photographs published in his book do not provide the distinct identity it becomes difficult to describe them in detail.
He also refers to a number of Tirthankara images like Rşabhanātha, Neminātha, Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra in standing posture once fixed to the walls of the Jagannātha temple at Baripada. But except the Pārsvanātha and the Rşabhanātha figures as described earlier it becomes difficult to trace the identity of the Mahāvīra and Neminātha figures of the place.
KORAPUT DISTRICT
The forest clad Koraput district of Orissa is extremely rich in Jaina antiquities and monuments. We notice Jaina temples of the medieval period in places like Suai, Kachela, B. Singhpur of the district. They adorn images of Jaina Tirth ankaras, Sāsanadevis, Yakşa and Yaksinis in both standing and seated positions. In several other Brahmanical temples, Jaina relics are fixed to the walls and in some cases they are worshipped as Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The aboriginal people inhabiting the area are not very much particular for their worship. It is difficult to ascertain exactly the period of Jaina ascendancy in the area.
Prominent centres of Jaina relices in Koraput district are Nandapur, Suai, Kachela, Chatua, B. Singhpur, Borigumma, Yamuda, Kotapata, Charmula, Narigaon, Kamta, Mali Nuagaon, Devata Ganjar, Katharaguda, Pakhanguda, and Palba. Most of the Brahmanical temples at Jeypore are found preserving Jaina relics in their premises. The recently established District Museum at Jeypore also contain a good number of Jaina Tirthankara and Sāsanadevi figures collected from B. Singhpur, Charmula, Kamta, Yamunda, Kotapata and a few other sites by the efforts of S.C. Pani, I.A.S., former Sub-collector of Koraput.
Referring to the Jaina antiquities of the district Kumar Vidhyadhara Singh Deo43 informs that "still the Jaina remains are visible in Jeypore and Nandapur and confirm our idea that once it was a place of Jaina influence. The heaps of Jaina images and the vast ruins of the Jaina temples clearly indicate that in the days past Nandapur was a centre of Jaina religion. Some would make us understand that Kalinga was Jaina as it was long under the anti-Brahmanical Nandas whose Jaina remains probably are found now in Jeypore and Asoka who was a devotee of Siva first and a descendant of one who extensively over threw the Nandas to protect the Brahman and the Veda fought with Kalinga on religious ground.
G. Ramdas led him to inspect several Jaina images which were worshipped by the local people as Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
42. L.N. Sahu, Odisāre Jaina Dharma, (Oriya), p. 152. 43. Ibid., p. 147.
