Jainism in Odisha (Orissa)
by Ashis Ranjan Sahoo | 2015 | 106,639 words
This essay studies the presence of Jainism in Odisha or Orissa by documenting the Art, Architecture and Iconography of Jaina images, relics, structures and establishments from different districts. In Odisha, archaeological evidences show how Jainism flourished during the 1st century BCE during the reign of emperor Kharavela, stating that Jainism wa...
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Jaina Antiquities in Kupari (Balasore)
According to N.N. Vasu, the village Kupari was a flourishing centre of Jainism at the period of Parsvanatha i.e. about the 9th century BCE. Hitherto, Kupari was believed to be a Buddhist centre in the early medieval period as narrated by John Beams[1]. An image of Parsvanatha is found in the village shrine at Kupari and another in the nearby villages testify to the fact that among the Jainas Parsvanatha figures were very popular in this area. Besides, a Santinatha image is also noticed in the village Samkhana and a slab (61x31cm) containing the figures of 24 Tirthankaras in the village Tisalpur near Kupari[2]. Thus, it substantiates Mr. Vasu’s identification as per Jaina Kshetra Samasa of Kopakata or Kopakapuri with that of present day Kupari became prominent.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
B. Tripathy, op.cit., p.77.