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Jainism Through Ages
Dr. Kamini Gogri
LESSON - 3
We also find Jaina temples at Kurra and Sirpur in Raipur • Development in Western Orissa
district. Another ten inches of Mahavir sculpture has been There are insufficient archaeological findings of Jaina
found at Maraguda valley and is preserved in modern Jaina antiquity in South Kosala, particularly in Western Orissa.
temple of Khariar Road in Nawapara district. It is ten inches However, we have some important literary sources to
in height chiseled on four sides with its cognisance lion at prove that Jainism was there in concerned period, which the bottom and the Srivatsa symbol is found on the chest. was under review. According to Bhagavati Sutra and Apart from the above sites, we found a Jain temple at Harivamsha Purana, Mahavir started his earliest preaching Subei in Koraput district. Subei - as a popular religious site of Dharma at Nalanda, Rajgriha, Paniya Bhumi, The researcher, himself visited the excavated place at Subei, Siddharthagrama. According to some scholars, (D.C.Sircar) which is located near-by Nandapur and 35 Kms. from Punita Bhumi is a synonym of Paniya Bhumi as per Ardha Koraput district headquarter. In ancient period, the areas Magadhi language. It is the same as Paniya Bhumi or of the district formed part of the Dandaka forest. The tract Nagoloka, the present Nagpur, and it is further identified was also remaining with the Attavika region. The next phase as Bhogapura, the modern Bastar, region of Chhattisgarh of political domination in the area is marked by the and Koraput, Kalahandi district of Orissa.
occupation of the Satavahana, the Matharas, and the The Bhagavati Sutra informs that Mahavir stayed at Ikshvakus. Paniya Bhumi for last six years with Acharya Gosala. From The Jaina monuments of the village are noticed at the there, they proceeded towards Kurmagrama and foot of the Panagiri hill. The images are thickly covered Sidharthagrama, which were identified with Erandapali and with moss and lichen and attended very rarely by the local Sirkurman in Srikakullam district of Andhra Pradesh. The people. Government or NGOs has made no attempt for ancient tract through which Mahavir traveled from Paniya proper maintenance of these monuments. Of the ten Bhumi to Kurmagrama and Sidharthagrama is the same shrines, only two are somewhat standing at present. All road on which Samudragupta marched to Kalinga.
the figures of the Trithankara, one has been depicted in Western Orissa was incorporated in the Chedi Empire sitting position on the pedestals. The Tirthankaras flanked under the Kharavela, a great follower of Jainas. Here we by chauri bearers are provided with Kevala tree, tri-linear can mention that Jainism was one of the major religious umbrella, Prabhamandala and flying Apsaras. The hairs on systems of South Kosala during the Chedi rule.
the head of the figures are arranged in matted locks. One We have number of archaeological evidences including prominent figure of Rsabhanatha affixed to the outer wall, cult image of Jaina Tirthankara belonging to the 5th, 6th near the entrance to the premises, is carved in seated and 7th century A.D. The image of Parsvanatha found at Yogasana pose along with other twenty-three Tirthankaras Pendra in Bilaspur district is important. The deity is on the sides. represented engrossing in meditation, a seven headed
On the basis of the architectural features, V. Dehejia snake from a canopy over the head of the deity. The Jaina has traced this temple back to the formative phase that is temple at Bhanda is supposed to be the most ancient Jaina
before 700 A.D. but from one of the basis of the monument of Daksina kosala. Image of different
iconographic features, the temple can be assigned to the Trithankaras found there and local people worship them
ninth century A.D. in the name of Parganoadev.
Excavated site found in South Kosala There are several other icons of Jaina Tirthankars
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) discovered at Adhabhar, Malhar, the bronze image at
Kurra Sirpur, two images preserved in the Konthi temple at
Sirpur Ratanpur, a Jaina goddess image at Sarangarh, image of Rsabhanath found at Ratanpur and Malhar which are
Ratanpur preserved in the Raipur Museum.
Malhar
ડિસેમ્બર - ૨૦૧૭
yos
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