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Art and Culture: Lalitgiri GS 1: Indian heritage and culture – Salient features of literature, art forms, and architecture from ancient to modern times.
In news: One of the earliest Buddhist settlements in Odisha, Lalitgiri, where excavations have yielded ancient seals and inscriptions, has been converted into a museum.
Lalitgiri (also known as Naltigiri) is a major Buddhist complex in the Indian state of Odisha comprising major stupas, 'esoteric' Buddha images, and monasteries (viharas), one of the oldest sites in the region. Together with the Ratnagiri and Udayagiri sites, Lalitagiri is part of Puspagiri University located on top of hills of the same names. The three complexes are known as the "Diamond Triangle". Significant finds at this complex include Buddha's relics. Tantric Buddhism was practiced at this site.
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Diamond triangle of Odisha - The Buddhist Triangle Strewn around with monasteries, stupas, relics, seals, stone tablets and statues, these hills were referred to as Ratnagiri or the hill of precious gems, Lalitagiri or the red hill and the Udayagiri, the hill of the rising sun. It is believed that Hiuen Tsang in his chronicles referred to the Diamond Triangle of Odisha as “Pusipokili, a place of learning perhaps referring to ancient Pushpagiri University that can be compared to the likes of Nalanda. It is now believed that he is referring to the Diamond Triangle of Odisha- Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri where the university was once located. The sites which form a part of the Diamond Triangle of Odisha, also referred to as Buddhist Triangle of Odisha might have shot to prominence with the Guptas and kings like Harsha promoting Buddhism. In the land of Samrat Ashoka, almost every corner of Odisha is filled with Buddhist temples or stupas or monasteries but eventually the passage of time led to the decline of the region and these sites were lost amidst the rubble.
Relics of Buddha Lalitgiri is also believed to be the most sacred among the three sites as it unearthed a massive stupa where a relic of Buddha was discovered – his teeth in the form of a bone inside a stone casket. There are four monasteries excavated here besides a Chaityagriha surrounded by votive stupas. The excavations carried out by the ASI at Lalitgiri have unearthed remnants of a large stupa on the hill. Within the stupa, two rare stone caskets were found with relics of Buddha; this was the first such find in Eastern India. The relic casket comprised four containers one inside the ACHIEVERS IAS ACADEMY #1360, 2 ND FLOOR , 100 FEET ROAD ,9 TH BLOCK, JAYANAGAR,BANGALORE – 8123379686, 9916082261 2 COM
ACHIEVERS IAS ACADEMY other, each layer made of khondalite, steatite, silver and gold respectively. These containers were arranged in the manner of a Chinese puzzle box. Being one of the most important findings of Buddhist heritage in Odisha so far, the casket has been shifted to a small museum nearby.
Four monasteries Also found were remnants of four monasteries. The first and the largest monastery, facing east, a two storied structure measuring 36 square metres (390 sq ft), has at its center a square open space; it is dated to 10th–11th century AD. Adjoining the monastery at the rear end is a rainwater cistern built of bricks. The second monastery, in the northern extremity of the hill, is believed to have been built when Buddhism was losing its importance in Lalitgiri. The third monastery faces south-east with a central open space and represents the end stages of apsidal chaitya. The fourth monastery has many large sized Buddha heads diefied in the sanctum sanctorum. A terracotta monastic seal with the inscription "Sri Chandraditya Vihara Samagra Arya Vikshu Sanghasa" is dated to the 9th–10th century AD.
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The Museum Initially, a makeshift enclosure housed the sculptures unearthed from the site for display. Now the permanent museum has been established which houses sculptures of Buddha from the Mahayana period. The huge stone statues, with inscriptions on some of them are of Buddha, Boddhisattva, Tara, Jambhala and many others. The statues of Buddha, portrayed in a standing position and attired with a drape adorned from shoulder level to the knee, is reflective of the Gandhara and Mathura schools of sculpture. The relic caskets recovered from the stone stupa on the hill are also on display.
Previous Year Questions 1. Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. (2014) 2. Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment. (2015) 3. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. (2016)
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