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...
Chaumukha, Dharmeswar Temple, Sana Bazar
A small Jaina chaumukhas (Pl.XLVIC) found in front of Dharmeswara Siva temple, on the bank of the river Vaitarani at Sana Bazar of Jajpur town along with a Buddhist votive stupa and an image of nandi. Built of triratha design rekha temple, the chaumukha represents an image of Risabhanatha within a rectangular niche in one side. He is standing in kayotsarga mudra over a lotus pedestal and flanked by attendants. A kneeling devotee is also seen at the right side of the image on the bottom portion. His lanchana bull is depicted below his lotus pedestal. The image is crudely executed in khandolite stone. Some portion of the chaumukha is buried in the ground and the remaining portions above the surface level measures 50x30cm in height and width and the Tirthankara image measures 18x15cm in height and width respectively.