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The historical-cum-archaeological evidence that is available from different parts of the state, e.g. Anandpur (Keonjhar), Chhatia, Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Choudwar, Athgarh, Tigiria, Badamba, Banki and Jajpur (Cuttack), Khiching and its environs (Mayurbhanj), Kupari and Charampa (Balasore), Ghumsur (Ganjam) and Nawrangpur shows, that Jainism had a wide influence. As a result of this interaction, according to some scholars the throne of Jagannatha or Jagannath is probably the throne that had been taken away by Mahapadma Nanda and restored by Kharavela. • Early Development
In Ancient Orissa, Jainism played a very eminent role in religious and cultural life of the people. Since the days of the Nandas to the invasion of Ashoka over Kalinga, the political history of Orissa was called a dark period. But we have some reference that much earlier to the Mauryan period there was a great Jaina monarch in Kalinga, called Karakandu, who was ruling before Mahavira and after Parsvanatha.
The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela (Khandagiri, Udayagiri) says that Mahavira visited Kalinga and from the Kumari-Parvata , he preached and promulgated Jainism. In the fourth and fifth century B.C. when the Nanda dynasty was in power in Magadha, Orissa was stronghold of Jainism.
It has been mentioned in the inscription of Kharavela that the army in the twelfth year of his reign had invaded Magadha and brought back the sacred Kalinga-Jina which had been taken from Kalinga by Nandaraja Mahapadma Nanda as a symbol of victory over Kalinga, three hundred years back. Jainism must have suffered a temporary set back during the rule of Ashoka in 3rd century B.C. After Ashoka's invasion of Kalinga in 261 B.C., Buddhism was ushered in and it gained much popularity in Orissa due to the missionary activities. However, it cannot be said that Ashoka's missionary activities adversely affected the ruin of the Jainism in Kalinga. Jainism continued to flourish as a major religion of Kalinga even after the Maurva's invasion. After the Mauryas, when Chedi ruler Kharavela was the king of Kalinga, Jainism was wellknown and popular.
Besides, Khandagiri and Udayagiri Tirthankara images are also found from different other places of Bhubaneshwar like Pratapnagari and Bhanpur.
A. Pratapnagari
Pratapanagari, situated near the CuttakBhabaneshwar section of National Highway No.5, has rich treasuresof Jaina heritage. In 1972 during excavation of the Kakatpur Canal few sculptures were Recovered and kept neat the village shrine during the perod from 1992-94, Sri Purushottam Rout of the village found few more stone sculptures in the paddy field of Sri Pranakrishna swain. All these sculptures were shifted to the village and kept in the village Bhagavata ghara. These constitute the main display material of the Musuem at Pratapanagari. There are many sculptures of different sizes and dimensions depicting mainly the tirthankara figures. The main image of Parsvanatha has four pedestal inscriptions recording the names of two Jaina Acharyas, namely, Sri Padmanandi and Sri Kumaranandi, and the person who installed the diety as Indraraja. The inscriptions and the sculptures are datable to circa 9th-10th Century. A.D. The number of Risabhanatha and Parsvanatha sculptures in the collection indicate the popularity in worship of these two Jaina tirthankaras in this part during those days. Near about 17-18 kms away from Bhubaneshwar, a Jaina museum recently constructed at the vicinity of Kuakhai river. It possesses a beautiful garden in front of it. Having two rooms, the museum is a beautiful one. The inner one is comparatively smaller than the outer one. For proper ventilation there is Jalli arrangement in between these two rooms. There are three beautiful images on the left side of the outer room. Two images are given here. 1. Parsvanatha:
The 1st image is that of Parsvanatha of 10th c.A.D. The image is about 1 & 1/2 feet high. Bhagavana Parsvanatha is surrounded by Astagraha. Just above the figures of Astagraha there are beautiful female figures on both the sides. The figure standing on padmasana shows beautiful sculpture below. 2. Parsvanatha:
The 2nd figure is also that of Parsvanatha of 10th C.A.D. It is about 2 feet high, a little bit larger than the first one. Standing two guards on both the sides of Parsvanatha, his feets are surrounded by snake and there was a beautiful serpant hood over his head with the surrounding areas of the upper part of the figure
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