Jaina Monuments Of Orissa

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

Page 70

Survey of Jaina Monuments of Orissa
Jaina monuments, are concentrated not only in the hilly tracts of Koraput, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanja districts but also in the plain areas of Cuttack, Puri and Balasore districts of Orissa. The earliest remains of this religion are noticed in the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri. In the early medieval period however, new centres developed in Keonjhar and Koraput districts when the areas surrounding Udayagiri and Khandagiri became centres of Buddhist and Brahmanical activities. But in a later phase Jainism seems to have received patronage from the major ruling dynasties of the medieval Orissa. In this chapter an attempt has been made to bring to light the Jaina relics of the districts referred to above. The stray findings of Jaina antiquities of other areas of the State do not make any substantial addition to our knowledge. While discussing the Jaina monuments special care has been taken to describe the sitcs, history of the monuments, and their present condition.
PURI DISTRICT
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With beginning at the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri Jaina activity seems to have spread to the rural areas of Puri district at different periods of Orissan history. But unfortunately we do not find Jaina relics of earlier phase comparable to the relief sculptures of the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri from any other site of the district. Rather it is evident that the caves of these hills maintained a continuous tradition of Jaina activity till recent times. We have elsewhere tried to associate Jaina religion with the development of Jagannātha cult in Orissa. In addition to Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills the other notable places of Puri district having Jaina relics are Sisupalgarh, Brahmesvar patna, Chadheibar, Bagalpur, Nibharana, Kakatput, Achutarajpur, Banapur, Puri, Sri Ramachandrapur, Panchagaon, Lataharana and Bhain-chua near Bhubaneswar. For the sake of convenience we may commence our investigation from Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills.
The caves on Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills near Bhubaneswar of Puri district dominated the scene of Jaina activity in Orissa since the days of Khāravela of the first