Journal Paper Format
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 7451 - 7465 Indian Sculptural Art of Jaina Images from the Prachi Valley of Odisha in Eastern India Dr. Ratnakar Mohapatra Assistant Professor, Department of History, KISS, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, PIN-751024, Odisha, India Abstract Prachi Valley is well-known for its amazing antiquities and religious sanctuaries in Odisha of Eastern India. On the basis of the available Jainaimages , the Prachi Valley is considered as an important place of Jaina heritage in Odisha. The Prachi valleywas a centre of Jainism during the medieval period as evidenced by the available of old JainaTirthankara images of that period noticed in the different sites of it. Really, the Prachi Valley has produced an excellent trend of sculptural activities in Odisha of Eastern India. As agood number of images of various sects arefound in the different places of the Prachi Valley. Henceforth, the Prachi Valley is amotivating study area for the scholars of art history. In the present piece of work, the authoris merelylimited to the Jainasculptures of the Prachi valley of Odisha. The extant Jainaimages of Prachi valley were made by the artists of Kalingan School of artists of Odisha. The rare Jainaimages found from the different shrines of Prachi Valley epitomise the iconographic features of the Odishan classical art of the medieval period. The study of Jainaimages of the Prachi Valley of Odisha is one of the fascinating aspects of the Jaina art of India. In fact, the extant Jaina sculpturesprovethat during the medieval period, Jainism was prevalent in the region of Prachi valley ofOdisha in Eastern India. Keywords: Jaina, Sculptures, Tirthankaras, images, Prachi valley, Odisha, India 1. Introduction The Prachi Valley is one of the important historical sites in the coastal- belt of Odisha. The Prachi is an ancient river, which is considered as most sacred by the people of Odisha.1 The name Prachi is possibly derived from the word “Prachina”, which means ancient. The Prachiriver lies in between the rivers Kushabhadra and Devi in the coastal-belt of Odisha. There was flourishing a glorious civilization around the Prachiriver. The Prachi Valley is an important cultural heritage site of Eastern India and the Valley is also famous for its historic antiquities and religious sanctuaries in the Eastern part of Odisha. This valley is, indeed, rich in archaeological remains. Most of the images of JainaTithankaras and their sasanadevis discovered from different parts of Odisha may be assigned to a period between the 7th and the 12th century.2 In the early medieval period , the worship of Jaina images were popular in the coastal belt of Odisha and the iconography of JainaTithankaras were also found to be developed. A reach haul of exquisite images of ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST 7451 Copyright ⓒ 2019 SERSC International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 7451 - 7465 Rishavanatha, Parsvanatha,Mahavir, Neminatha and Santinatha of both stone and bronze found in the Prachi valley creates an impression that once upon a time this valley was a popular Jaina centre.3 Jainism in the Prachi valley seems to have flourished for a long period. The JainaTirthankara images found in different parts of the Prachi valley are of two types , one in Kayotsarga pose and the other sitting in cross legged position. The present article attempts to highlight the style and iconographical features of the extant Jainaimages along with the condition of Jainism in the Prachi valley of Odisha in Eastern India. II. METHODOLOGY For the accomplishment of the present article, both the primary and secondary sources have been used by the author. The primary data have been collected from Gazetteers, reports, practical observations, taking photographs and measurements, hearsay accounts of respondents through the interview methods adopted in course of the experimental field survey, etc. The field survey had been undertaken for the collection of dataregarding the style and iconographic features of the extant Jaina sculptures from the different shrines of the Prachi valley of Odisha as far as practicable on the part of present researcher. For the collection of primary data, the practical field study has been adequately made by the present author. The data collected from both the primary and secondary sources are critically analysed and interpreted as per the methodological procedure. III. DISCUSSION AND RESULT ANALYSIS 3. JainaTirthankaras On the basis of tradition, Rishvanatha was possibly the first Tirthankara of Jainism in India. Lord Mahavira was the last and most prominent Tirthankara of Jainism. The word Tirthankara is variously called "Teaching God". The names of 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism are such as 1.Rishabhanatha (Adinatha), 2. Ajitanatha,3.Sambhavanatha, 4.Avinanadananatha, 5.Sumatinatha, 6.Padmaprava, 7.Suparshvanatha, 8.Chandraprava, 9.Pushpandata, 10.Shitalanatha, 11.Shyeyansanatha, 12.Vasupujya, 13.Vimalanatha, 14.Anantanatha, 15.Dharmanatha, 16.Shantinatha, 17.Kunthunatha, 18.Aranatha, 19.Mallinanatha, 20.Munisuvrata, 21.Naminatha, 22.Neminatha, 23.Parshvanatha, and 24.Mahavira.Accordingly the historical evidences, out of Twenty-four Tirthankaras, the last two such as Parsvanatha and Mahavira are prominent personality of Jainism.4 On the other hand, the life and teachings of rest fourteen Tirthankaras are not clearly found recorded in any texts of Jainism. The Sixth century B.C. has given a definite form and philosophy to Jainism by advocating improve ideas upon the previous Tirthankara i.e. Parsvanatha. Initially, the parents of Mahavira were the followers of the religion of ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST 7452 Copyright ⓒ 2019 SERSC International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 7451 - 7465 Parsvantha, which was known as Chaujjama dharma.5The philosophical ideas of Parsvanatha advocate four jamas(vows) such as 1. Ahimsa(non-killing), 2.Truthfulness, 3. Non-stealing, and 4. Non-possession. It is clearly known that Mahavira was not the founder of Jainism in India. To these four jamas, VardhamanaMahavira added the fifth vow i.e. Brahmacharya (Chastity) and his dharma came to be known as the ‘PanchajamaDharma’.6 Before going to the study of style and iconographic features of the JainaTirthankara images of Prachi valley, here we have toinitially discuss about the general sculptural features of JainaTithankaras of Odisha. Jainism like Buddhism has played a significant role in the history of Odishan sculptural art of Eastern India. Ichnographically, JainaTirthankara images of Odisha are carved in nude , shown as young, beautiful, and calm with serene expression and long hanging arms in case of standing figures on the other cases in seated posture right palm rests upon that of the left.7 The figures are found to be carved along with their respective lanchanas and the chauri- bearers. Other features such as trilinear umbrella, pravamandala, jatamukuta, drum, and cymbal players on the top corners of the slab, garland-bearer figures(apsaras) flanking the trilinear umbrella and devotees either on one side on both sides of the centrally carved lanchanaon the front face of the pedestal.8 The Tirthankaras usually stand in the Kayotsarga pose or sit in the yogasana with their distinctive lanchhanas carved below.9 In a few instances coils of the snake are arranged behind the image. A canopy of seven hooded snake is found over the head of JainaTirthankara image. Coils of snake The early Jaina literature has glorified plants and trees and prescribed some of these to be symbolic of gods and goddesses.10 In India the divine concept of trees was found to be recognised by Jainas and Buddhists. The notion of Chaitya tree, Keval tree, Jnana tree, etc have increased popularity among the Jainas. Some of the plants like Sun flower, mango, kadamba, lotus, and grapes are very common in Jaina art of Odisha. These plants are found to be carved in the JainaTirthankara images of Odisha. Really, a unique feature in Jaina iconography is that the depiction of plants bears both symbolic as well as religious importance with decorative value.11All the extant Tirthankara images of Odisha as well as Prachi valley are astonishing for their beautiful appearance and good modelling. The images of Rishavanatha, Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Mahavir are more common in Odisha. 3.1. JainaImages of Prachi Valley During the medieval period, Jainism was developed in some districts of the coastal belt of Odisha. But we have no sufficient source material to trace the development of Jainism in the Prachi valley as only based on a few Jaina images noticed in some shrines of this region. Here, the archaeological sources merely suggest some ideas with regard to the prevalent ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST 7453 Copyright ⓒ 2019 SERSC International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 03, (2020), pp. 7451 - 7465 of Jainism in the Prachi valley. Some of the Jaina images have been found from the different places of Prachi valley. A few of them are found preserved in the Odisha State Museum, Bhubaneswar. Though some Jaina images have been found in the different parts of Prachi valley region, it is not possible to study the various aspects of the history of Jainism in the Prachi valley in general and the study of sculptural art in general.The systematic surveys conducted by the earlier scholars like G.S. Das, P.K. Ray, R.C. Panda S.S. Tripathy and also by the recent scholars including the present author reveal that Jainism and Buddhism flourished simultaneously with Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaisnavism. A series of rare Jaina images are found preserved in the different monuments of the Prachi Valley. A few Jaina images are also lying scattered on the surface of some sites. The names of JainaTirthankaraimages and their sites are described below. 3.1.1. Rishavanatha Image of Gramesvara Temple of Nibharana The temple of Grameshvara is one of the ancient Shaiva shrines situated at the centre of the village Nibharana in the Niali Block of the Cuttack district in Odisha.