Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Buddhist Monuments of - A Study of Forms and Patronage

Sunil Kumar Patnaik

The advent of traces back to 6th century B.C.), and Kharavela (1st century B.C.).Then, B.C. Siddhartha Gautama, a Sakya Prince left all the stratigraphy is very clear with influence of the worldly pleasure in quest of the truth and reality Kushanas and Guptas, down to Gangas and of life. Though, it took some years to realize the Gajapatis in 15th –16th century A.D. reality of life, but when He was showered with The strategic geographical location of the divine light of enlightenment, instead of keeping Odisha helped her in rising to great heights in it to himself, Goutam Buddha preferred to respect of trade and commerce from pre- enlighten others as well. The teachings preached Buddhist period. Odisha was served as a bridge by Gautam Buddha were warmly accepted by a between the trans-oceanic and inland trade of large number of people and came to be known India, causing migration of cultural traits along with as a new school of thought, Buddhism which later trade and commerce. With the rise of trade and turned into a major religion of the world and the kings, emperors, traders and commoners built commerce in the historical periods it is but monuments, kept relics and offered gifts to pay obvious; the growth of urbanization leads building ovation to the Master Teacher. Odisha is fortunate of various monuments which now put together as to have received a good deal of monuments and resource for development of Tourism in the State. relics throughout history at least up to 15th century With the archaeological spade in different A.D. parts of Odisha, a large amount of new materials Odisha, the land on the eastern sea have emerged in recent years regarding the trade shore of Bay of was known variously as and commerce and growth of Buddhist Kalinga, Utkal and Odra in ancient times. Major Monuments. Here, an attempt is made to discuss portion of this extensive territory was known in some aspects of the trade and urbanization that ancient time as the land of Kalingas, a class of has its significant contribution to know the forms people who are referred to in Brahmanical and patronage of Buddhist Monuments of Odisha literature, in old Pali cannons as well as Asokan during the historical periods which constitute a inscriptions. In its earliest history, Odisha had major resource material for our historical research become a province and later even the center of that become our tangible heritage when we look great empire under the two of the most important to its monumental wealth and reuse it for area rulers of early India i.e, under Asoka (3rd century development through tourism. But, all that need

DECEMBER - 2019 1 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review is sincere researchers, well trained archaeologists mula-nagara which most of the cities of this and tourism promoters.1 period in northern India was fortified which was The excavated materials of Sisupalgarh, also found at the excavations Aahichhatra, Jaugarh, , Manikapatna and the existing Rajghat, Kausambhi, Harsh-ka-Tilla, monuments such as Asokan Edicts at Dhauli and (Kurukshetra) etc. Now, these city centers were Jaugada suggest to some extent the fact that well connected with roads and communication Odisha or Kalinga of 3rdcentury B.C, was a well network and other rural pockets existed in and populated geographical entity. The coins, coin around these cities and were storehouse of moulds, some precious beads, clay and iron different products as described above. Evidences artifacts, structural remains and pot-shreds found are in hand that during Mauryan period an at these places, indicate the existence of people important route that led from Mathura to Vidisa, of various professions, such as artisans, craftsman, and Sanchi, joined with the southern route from masons and traders, suggesting urbanization based the Ganges plain and its eastern branch led to the on a complex set of socio-economics.These Sahajati sector on the Narmada. There was a urban centers must have depended on existence trade route linking Tosali with Vidisa and of villages producing an agricultural surplus. which is supposed to be the royal route that was Ancient Odisha or Kalinga was good producer extensively used during Mauryan period3. The of rice, bajra, cotton fabrics, samudra lona recent archaeological explorations in the places (salt),elephant, silk, dukula (a kind of cloth) gems, like Kankia (Radhanagar), Manamunda- pearls, oyster, perfumes, conch sells, ornaments, Asurgarh, Boud on the Mahanadi belt and sugar and earthen pottery etc. Diamond was Sirpur,and Ratnapur substantiate to the fact. There probably one of the valuable commodities sold are several terracotta inscriptional evidences at Kalinganagar. The mention of all these were found from Radhanagar partial excavation which found in the literary works viz, Jatakas, all focus that there was an early urban centre. Arthasastra of Kautilya, Mahabhasya of Further, on the coastal line Tosali had directly come Patanjali, Charaka Samhita, Samyaktta in contact with Tamralipti in Bengal on the north- Nikaya and Indica of Megasthenes. An east and Kaveripattnam on the south-east, thus examination of the wood remains from forming a trade circuit. By the second century B.C Sisupalagarh suggests that there has been no the entire east-coast seemed to have been linked major climatic change in this part of Odisha during in a single coastal network.5 the last two thousand years. This evidence further By this time references in early throws much light on the present day productions and Pali literature indicate private ownership of which almost all the goods found in this region land and rise of the very rich households of land described above.2 owners – the grahapatis – in the middle Ganga During this period we have ample valley. It was from the ranks of the grahapatis evidence of at least two metropolis, i.e, one at that the trading communities of Vanijas and Tosali (Sisupalgarh/Radhanagar) and other one is Setthis arose and salt, metals, textiles, and Samapa at Jaugada. Both are located in the pottery were the standard items of trade.6 (This coastal tract. The fortification though little is growing long distance trade between the Ganga available at Sisupalgarh and suggest status of a valley and the Deccan peninsula had its impact in

2 DECEMBER - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 the east coast. The existing coastal trade route, By 3rd century A.D, Mediterranean trade starting through the port towns Tamralipti, Palura, had declined and many urban centers in the north Pithunda (?) and down below Kaveripatnam and western Deccan underwent degeneration and made accessible these materials for transportation. decay which was also seen in the urban centers On the whole ancient Odisha and its port town like Dantapura, Kalinganagar and Palura of had the market for inland commodities as well as Odisha coast which after 3rd – 4th century A.D, to export the materials to outside. Thus, the little reference is available regarding the prosperity. hinterland on the back, Odisha from 2nd c. BC to Moreover, we have the Sisupalgarh (Tosali or 2nd c. AD, was formed a very prosperous state Kalinganagar ?) – an urban center of Odisha of which we had evidence in the Hatigumpha marked the decline and by fifth century AD, the inscriptions of Kharavela. Further, the evidence entire settlement vanishes, perhaps due to decline of Rouletted ware that is one of the indicator of of maritime trade. The recent ongoing excavation at Kankia (Radhanagar) shows that there was an this trade network in the sub–continent which was early historical settlement with fortifications and first identified by Wheeler at Arikamedu on the was existing from 4th - 3rd century B.C to early east coast. He assigned to it a date of the 1st –2nd part of 5th century A.D. The city center is century A D. Since then the ware has been found surrounded by number of Buddhist settlements all along the east coast from Chandraketugarh and like Langudi, Kayama, Vajragiri,Tarapur and Deuli Tamluk in the east coast from in the lower Ganga which form cluster like that of Buddhist settlements delta to Sisupalgarh and Manikapatna and of Deccan. Radhanagar on the Odishan coast, several sites th in the lower Krishna basin to Korkai of Srilanka. The next phase of Odisha history with 4 Thus, in the 2nd – 1st c. BC to 2nd AD., the east century to 600 AD, when the minor dynasties like coast was linked in a single trade circuit with Matharas, Nalas, Manas etc ruled over different pockets of Odisha. The rise of several dynasties pockets of ruling elites. in different pockets of Odisha during this period, Hoards of Kushana and Puri-Kushana with most of them issuing land grants to coins have been unearthed mostly in the coastal Brahmanas and religious establishments implies district ranging in time between c. 1st and 4th large scale agrarian expansion, a process of which centuries AD. Further, Roman coins from most have had important bearing on the social Bamanghaty in Mayurbhanj and Sisupalgarh and process and structure. Roman clay bullas from Radhanagar, supplies the During this period though major trade evidence to surmise the trade relations. To add declined to some extent still Tamralipti continued more, recently inscriptions from Lalitgiri records to be a famous port – through which copper of donations by merchants and traders that can be Simhabhum was exported in large quantities. linked with a similar donation found from Contemporary to Matharas of Kalinga, Nalas Nagarjunakonda that mentions a guild deals in ruled over the Bastr.-Koraput region which was betel leaves. The importance of the eastern great of the ancient Atavika territory and later on, maritime trade to the later Satavahanas is evident become well known in history as land of from the issue of their ship type coins found along Trikalinga. Trade routes from Kalinga to Kosala the Andhra coast, depicting double masted ships.7 as well as to central and nothern India passed

DECEMBER - 2019 3 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review through their Kingdom and the rivers like Indravati known from literature, inscriptions and material and Godabari connected with Vengi and other remains. territories in the south. The circulation of gold coins The Buddhist sites were always by the kings of dynasty testifies the prosperity of the Nala kingdom. developed in India during historical period with the patronage of traders, merchant community and Again another contemporary dynasty the ruling kings. Such patronization have seen in known as Manas were ruling over the territory the Buddhist sites discovered at Kuruma, Lalitgiri, laying to the north of the Mathara, kingdom, , Udyagiri, Langudi, Kayama, Vajragiri, beyond the river Mahanadi. Hoards of 147 coins Tarapur, Deuli, Solampur, Ayodhya, Ganiapalli, of this dynasty have been discovered from the Kurum, Boudh and many other places of Odisha. village Nanduru near Gandibedha in Balasore The Buddhist sites in common portray the array district. Paleographic ally according to S N Rajguru dated to 5th century A.D8. The Manas is of development in art, religion, building said to have originally a merchant family. Thus technology and community life which otherwise the Manas who were ruling over north – eastern called our Heritage. Heritage resources are now part of Odisha during 5th – 6th century AD considered to look upon the cultural background migrated to Chhotonagpur and south of Bihar in of country. Let us discuss briefly the strength and subsequent period. As the ruling dynasty itself is weakness of our Buddhist monuments. merchant so it can be surmised that there was The Lalitgiri site had its continuation from brisk trade relations and trade was the principal 2nd century B.C to 14th century A.D. It is a site th th activity of the people of the region in 5 – 6 having an ancient Maha Stupa which yielded bone century AD. Relic Caskets, wrapped in golden foil. It has a Further, the excavation at the Buddhist Maha Chaitya like Nagarjunkonda of sites of Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri, Langudi and Andhrapradesh and series of well built Udayagiri shows that during this period enormous monasteries for the monks. The site as such has growth were marked in these sites, although the the continuous history of 1500 years. The royal patron of Sri Chadraaditya , development of Buddhism could be known from Ratnagiri Vihara, Singhaprasta Mahavihara, the existing monuments such as three number of Madhavpur Mahavihara of Odisha is not well built monasteries, Maha Stupa ,Chaitya and known. It is believed from the material evidences plethora of small stupas. Besides, sculptures, available on the site that the establishment received inscriptions of Kushana, Gupta and Post-Gupta large chuck of donations from the merchant periods indicate its continuity and patronage. The pilgrims or the merchant monks that was the style of that century, which are evidenced from the site singularly speaks volumes about the phases western India cave monasteries like Ajanta, of Buddhism i.e Hinayana, , and Pitalkhora, Bagh etc9. Since, the above Buddhist Vajrayana. One sealing revealed a name establishments of Odisha had close relations with Chandraditya Mahavihara. The heritage the Buddhist epicenters of Vaisali, Sravasti, conservation has taken up by Archaeological Rajgrihia, , Saranath, Tamralipti to down Survey of India and now is a major resource for Nagarjunakonda, Dhyna Kataka etc, are also Odisha Tourism.

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So, also the Langudi Buddhist site which Gandhakuti of Rajgriha. The symbolical elephant brought to limelight number of inscriptions, a sculpture bears the symphony of early Buddhist Maha Stupa dated back to early centuries, Rock art and the building materials discovered on the –cut Buddhist images and monastic sites that has top of the hill speak enough about Buddhism. The clue to prove sufficiently that it was a site for inscription (Sankhalipi) of 5th-6th century A.D, Theravada Buddhist in the remote past and found on a rock in this hill says the name of the number of activates were developed during hill. This inscription reads as Betal Chaitya, historical period at least from 3rd century A.D to Gugularaba and SriSri Buddha. This site has 13th-14th century. The astonishing discovery of enough evidences to study the forms and inscribed Image of emperor Asoka is a step patronage of Buddhism in ancient Odisha. forward for the richness of the site. The inscription Adjoining Kayama hill on the south there lies an on the image reads as ami upasaka Asokasa important early historical fort site called Kankia samchiamana agra eka thupe, meaning the lay (Radhanagar).This is the only settlement in the worshipper Asoka had built a principal Stupa. midst of cluster of Buddhist monuments. After two Another inscribed image(bust portion) also sessions (2010-11 to 2011-12) excavation the discovered from this site which reads chhikarena site revealed its stratigraphy date back to 4th -3rd rajna Asokena (B.N.Mukharjee) paleographically B.C. It has its Mayurian level with brick structures, dated to Ist century B.C/A.D. Besides the terracotta figurines, coins and Black and red ware terracotta Buddha images, rock-cut Stupa and along with inscriptions read as Sadabhu Tissa. images are simply speak volumes about the rise The next level is marked with some building of civilization in Eastern India. It was excavated activities and findings of triratna terracotta by Odishan Institute of Maritime and South-East ornaments, potsherds, coins and terracotta Asian Studies (OIMSEAS) during the last decade. moulds of Sunga-Kusan period. The whole site Now the site is under control of ASI. However, is 1200 mtrs x 1200 mtrs having deposit of 6 Odisha tourism has taken up the site as one of mtrs with solid fortification wall like that of the major resource for promotion of Buddhist Sisupalgarh. It could be certainly a walled tourism in the South-East Asian countries. settlement of Buddhist period. There are enough OIMSEAS is taking research work, ASI is materials of trade relationship with other countries looking after conservation work and Odisha of South East Asia. The research is underway to Tourism has taken steps by establishing an reach in the final stage. However it is an important accommodation centre in the part of infrastructural early historical site of ancient India. development. Now, it is the responsibility of Vajragiri again a nearby hillock contains archaeologists and heritage conservators to take wonderful rock-cut monastery and caves. This is up research, preservation and beautification the place where Vajrayana form might have work, of course, with the help of Government developed.Although major portion of the area are and other funding agencies. inhabited by the people and little remained to be The nearby hillocks like Kayama, excavated. However the partial excavations Vajragiri, Deuli, Tarapur etc have also Buddhist revealed the stratigraphy of the site date back to remains which are storehouse for culture and 6th-7th to 13th-14th century A.D. This type of civilization of the Buddhist world. Kayama is a monuments are seen in Aurangabad cave sites near hillock known as Gugulapahada as that of Ajanta.

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Tarapur Buddhist remains on N H-05 Buddhism so also the main Stupa at Ratnagri has near Jaraka also revealed many inscriptional closely built in spoke and wheel method which evidences of early and late period. These are has resemblance with the Stupas of Mahasnghika Bhikhu Tapusudanm Kesathupa, Kalinga raj sect found at and Nagarjunikonda. of 2nd century B.C and Kilinga gadhanayakas, The sculptural wealth at these places are Klingadeusagadnayakasa of 13th -15th century. overwhelmed ranging from Buddha and The site had a Maha Stupa like that of Sanchi. Boddhisattva images to variety of Vajrayana icons. The archaeological remains found at the site with Perhaps these two places only houses such kind railing pillars, suchis and double storied cave of Buddhist images rarely found in other places points to its patronage during early period. Now, of India. Further, the sculptural art provides close only the base portion and railing pillars are interaction with South-East Asian features13. available. But this heritage site is the mute witness Archaeologists of Archaeological Survey of India of rise of Buddhism in Kalinga. have done substantial research on these sites thereby also undertaking conservation work. Deuli hills near Jaraka is again another Odisha Tourism has also done some infrastructural marvelous site which contains remnants of a Stupa/ facilities together with promotional efforts Monastery at the top. There is enough materials internationally. Some of the Buddha images at available to know about the early spread of Lalitgiri are very similar to the images found at Buddhism. The scenic beauty often reminds us to Borbodur. The historical and archaeological the Gidhrakuta Hilltop of Rajgriha. Similarly the researchers should be encouraged to focus their nearby Deulipal hills has the series of Buddhist research so that more and more new vistas will Caves again a characteristics seen in the Deccan be opened and tourism could be worked upon hills near Pitalkhora the hub of Mayurian Art. by involving rural folks like that of wild life Along with the sites the early urban center as said conservation projects so that local area before Kankia ( Radhanagar) substantiate enough development could be visible. materials for a trade center which is seen in almost every large Buddhist sites in India. However, at The Buddhist site Solampur in Bhadrak the present state of research we are not sure to District is another major center of Buddhist art. draw any conclusion (?). It is still in the scholars There are about 50 Buddhist icons found in the arena to disclose and conclude. But the Raghunath temple and nearby area. It was known conglomeration of such huge settlements in a as Solampur Mahavihara in the historical records. The Buddhist images like Buddha having a panel radious of 25 kilometers qualifies to be a World of his life story carved unique in Indian Art. The Heritage Site like that of Nalanda or Ajanta/ Ellora standing Tara image, Avalokiteswara, Jambhala, or Borbodur. Odisha is fortunate to have such Hariti and other images tell the story of flourishing huge and varied Buddhist sites which reveals state of Buddhism during 7th-8th centuries.14 It is systematically leafs of Indian Culture phase by a living museum now. We should take utmost care phase. immediately to preserve such precious site. We The sites like Ratnagiri and Udayagiri should be thankful to village people that they have also laid bare ancient Stupas and well-built kept very carefully all the images and also concern monastic sites. The Stupa at Udayagiri serves as about their protection. We should take a rural benchmark for study of Vajrayana form of tourism project and link the site with major

6 DECEMBER - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 destination like Jajpur so that economic viability References: from archaeology could be seen. 1. S K Patnaik, “Archaeological Heritage and So also the Kupari of this district has Tourism”, Odisha Review, April.2010. monumental remains. This site again has the 2. B P Sahu. “Some Aspects of Early Odishan Economy and Society”, PHIC. Also Ancient India, remnants of Monastery on a rock bed and vol-XVIII,1952. number of Buddhist pantheon found in the present 3. S K Patnaik, “Trade Routes and Communication Parvati temple. There are evidences of number Pattern in Ancient Odisha” INDICA,1993. of monastic establishments .The remains presently 4. H P Roy. ‘Early Trade in the Bay of Bengal”, Indian 15 available are pillars and base of monastery area. Historical Review, Vol.XIV : 1990, 79-89 In the field of art and Buddhist religion 6. V.S. Aggarawala, India as known to Panini, the above sites were in close contact with Lucknow, 1953, pp- 240ff. Buddhist epi-centers of Sanchi, Saranath, Bodh 7. H P Ray, “Monastery and Guild : Commerce Gaya Amravati and cave sites of Deccan under the Satavahanas” Delhi, OUP. 1986. Sartvahapatha (Maharastra).It needs urgently 8. S N Rajguru, OHRJ, Vol.V.No.3-4.pp.157-159. to study and document the monumental remains 9. Devala Mitra, Buddhist Monuments, Culcutta,1971/1980, p.225 and use it for the Tourism Promotion which is 10. G C Chauley, “Excavated Remains at Lalitgiri” in undertaken by Odishan Institute of Maritime and K K Basa ed..Archaeology of Odisha, Delhi, 2000. South-East Asian Studies. So that the basic charter 11. D R Pradhan, “Asokan Stupa Discovered at of the Buddhist remains will be exposed and could Langudi Hill” Circle of Inner Asian Art, SOS be used for greater cause. The Buddhist Heritage New Letter, London, December 2000. pp. 13-17. as known from the above sites and the living The inscriptions are deciphered by Prof. B N Buddhist villages like Maniabandha, Nuapatna, Mukharjee and available with OIMSEAS Sarsara, Jirang etc probably unique in the whole 12. OIMSEAS has undertaken Excavation of of eastern India. Forms and patronage could be Radhanagar early Historical Site for the year 2010- known from the associated materials like 11 and 2011-12. See S K Patnaik, Excavations at architecture, sculpture, inscriptions, terracotta as Kankia (Radhanagar) an Early Historical Site, Journal of Odishan History, Vol.XXI, 2011. well as pottery study. The Heritage could be 13. K.S. Behera ed. Kalinga –Indonesian Cultural known from the living tradition as well as from Relations, OIMSEAS, 2007. the standing conserved monuments and Tourism 14 OIMSEAS has undertaken a project to document could be bank upon as a whole from cultural link the Buddhist remains of Solampur and all the with other sites of India and South East Asia. photographs are available with Buddhist Heritage Now, some of the Buddhist monuments like Project Cell. Ajanta, Nalanda, Sanchi, Bodh Gaya, Tawang 15. The site is documented by the scholars of near Bomdilla and the living monastic life style of OIMSEAS in September 2010. Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Dharmasala of 16. S K Patnaik, Buddhist Heritage of Odisha, Himachal, and of Odisha like Jirang, Nuapatna, Bhubaneswar, 2000. Sarsara, Maniabandha are the attractions that draw tourists from worldwide. Here, we could see heritage tourism as a form of specialty travel, Sunil Kumar Patnaik is an Archaeologist, working as based on nostalgia of the past and the desire to Secretary, Odishan Institute of Maritime & South East experience diverse cultural landscapes with the Asian Studies, (Govt.of Odisha) Bhubaneswar, different forms of monuments. [email protected].

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