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JAINISM IN INDIA
standing on two lotuses, while on the right side we find one standing male figure and three seated female figures holding offerings. These Jaina antiquities clearly confirm the idea that apart from being a sākta kşetra, once it was a place of Jaina influence. Praci valley was also a popular centre of Jainism in early mediaeval period.
Although the śramana culture is now confined to a small community Jainism prevailed in Orissa from at least the 8th century B.C. and though chequered by ups and downs, continued as a living and popular faith for many centuries and made remarkable contributions in the sphere of religion, art, architecture, language and literature.
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