Jaina Monuments Of Orissa

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

Page 73

Survey of Jaina Monuments of Orissa
known as Dhulia Baba is said to have spent some years in Samādhi Yoga at this place."
Tradition also reveals that another mendicant known as Phalāhāri Baba (who lived on fruits only), the identity of whom is not properly established so far, once resided in the caves and worshipped the images of Ananta, Kišori and Vasudeva. He arranged car festivals for these deities every year till his death.
In the beginning of the 19th century, a temple was constructed on the crest of Khandagiri hill and the place is frequented by Jainas and Parwar merchants of Cuttack who assemble here in large numbers once every year to hold a festival of their religion. R.L. Mitras records two occasions when feasts occur at the temple, one on the thirteenth of the moon in the month of chaitra when a large number of Oswal merchants of Cuttack, Puri and other neighbouring places assemble to pay their respect to Mahāyira, the last of the twenty-four Jinas and celebrate the anniversary of his birth day of importance, the pariusana, or reading of the Kal pasūtra. During his visit to the place Brāhmana priests were attending to the temple rituals with little interference in the activities of the visiting Jaina devotees from distant parts of the country. There is no restriction even though, it is now managed by the Jainas to allow entry of casual visitors belonging to other religious order.
The images of Chakreśvari and Rohini on either side of the verandah wall of the Bārabhuji-Gumphã are still attended by Brāhmana priests of the neighbouring area. They, however, worship them in the name of Bārabhuji-Durgā and accordingly the cave derived its name as Bārabhuji-Gumphā.
In addition, a large gathering of people is held on Māgha saptami and continues till the full moon day of the same month. According to traditional belief, the devotees, who witness the rising sun at Konark (Chandrabhaga) on Mägha-Saptami day, pay a return visit to the place via Puri and then proceed to Viraja Kșetra (Jajpur) for culmination of their itineracy. During the whole period from Māgha saptami to the purnimā day the people visit the caves, arrange feasts, spend the nights in the caves with recital of Bhajanas to the tune of traditional musical instruments especially cymbals, mridangas and khañjasis.
It is thus evident that the Jaina occupation of the hills was continuous if with occasional breaks, from even before the time of Khāravela down to the present day.
As there is no river flowing by the side of the hills, a few reservoirs some of them stepped (vāpi), were cut into the rock to hold rain water, such reservoirs exist on both the hills. On the Udayagiri, two of them, called Hāthi-Nisuņi and Lalitakunda can be seen respectively to the east and north-east of cave No. 10 (Ganesa-Gumphā) on
4 Biswanatha Baba, Satya Mahima Dharma Tattvasāra (Oriya), p. 2. 5. R.L. Mitra, The Antiquities of Orissa, Vol. II, pp. 64-65.