Click Here & Upgrade Expanded Features PDF Unlimited Pages CompleteDocuments Orissa Review * September - October - 2005 Archaic and Ancient History of Jajpur Dr. C.B. Patel Jajpur is situated on the right bank of Baitarani end to this trauma of Siva, Lord Visnu cut the river at longitude 20051 N and latitude 86020 E. corpse into three pieces by his Chakra. The naval The origin of the name of Jajpur is shrouded in portion fell at Baitarini tirtha i.e. at Jajpur for mystery. Some scholars think that it is derived which it became famous as Navigaya. A temple from the word Yajnapura while some other of Sati was built subsequently which later on scholars opine that the name originated from became famous as Viraja. However Brahma Jajatipura. King Yajati of Somavansa was known Purana refers that Brahma himself installed to have made a great Yajna called Viraja deity at this holy centre. According to Linga Dasaswamedha at this place. For this, he brought Purana Viraja originated from the sacrificial altar 10,000 Brahmins from North India and settled where Brahma made a Yajna at Jaipur. them in various Sasanas for which now we find a Brahmakunda of Jajpur is believed to be the site series of Brahmana Sasana villages in Jajpur area. of Yajna. Since then Virajakhetra was famous all Some historians are of the opinion that Yajati over India and it is believed that seven generations Kesari made his capital here and named the city of ancestors get salvation when one visits the as Jajapura. However recent researches indicate pitha of mother Viraja. There are other 68 that the place has a haory antiquity. subsidiary tirthas at Jajpur to heighten the glory of Viraja. In ancient time Jajpur was called as Viraja or Parvati Khetra. At times it was also known as Jajpur is also associated with the Baitarani Tirtha. Viraja Khetra finds mention in Gayasura legend. He was a benevolent asura who Sanskrit Mahabharata. The Puranic literatures used to save the pious Hindus from perdition and refer to Viraja as Baitarani tirtha which was one hell. The gods became envious of his piety and of the famous tirthas of India. The place has been attempted to destroy him. Knowing this, he described in the Kapilasamhita, Brahmanda sacrificed himself on the condition that his head Purana, Vayu Purana, Brahma Purana, should fall at Gaya in Bihar near the Phalgu river, Tantrachintamani, Astapithamahatmaya and his feet in the Godavari river and navi in Baitarani Chaitanya Charitamruta. river near Jajpur where when Sraddha ceremony would be performed by the devotees, they will According to Lengends says that Siva escape consignment of hell along with seven became disconsolate when his wife Sati died. He generations of ancestors. Accordingly at the three moved madly with her corpse. In order to put an centres, Srigaya, Padagaya and Navigaya 52 Click Here & Upgrade Expanded Features PDF Unlimited Pages CompleteDocuments Orissa Review * September - October - 2005 developed. Even today people believe this and that there were one less to one crore Sivalinga visit the site in pilgrimage and perform Sraddha in Jajpur area which indicates the religious ceremony for the departed ancestors. Another importance of the place. legend says that Brahma performed ten horse At present we find that images of sacrifices at Dasaswamedha ghat and so the place Padmapani Avalokiteswar, Buddha, Garuda, became a centre of pilgrimage later on. Among Varahi, Chamunda and Indrani. The images of other gods and goddesses, mother Ganga Sapta Matrukas and Avalokiteswar have been attended the ceremony. It a believed that she has declared as protected ones by the Archaeological sent a flow of her sacred water through the mother Survey of India. The colossal image of Padmapani earth which gushed forth at Gonasika in Keonjhar Avolokiteswara is locally called Shanta Madhava district where from Baitarani river has originated. since it was brought from the nearby village of It is believed that a gift of cow at this tirtha, gives Shanta Madhava. It measures 16 feet 5 inches in salvation. height and 5 feet 3 inches in width. It is carved By about 4th/5th century A.D. there was out in relief. The Chamunda image is 9 feet 1 inch unprecedented revival of Brahmanism in India with in height and 6 feet in width. It is made of chlorite the emergence of the imperial Guptas. Various stone. It is projected as an emaciated old lady royal houses brought pure Brahmins from Kanauj seated on a corpse wearing garland of skulls and area and settled them in North-Eastern India to other ornamentations. The four-armed Indrani curb influence of Buddhism. Hence in all figure (8'8" x 5'x9") is found seated in Lalitasana probability, it appears that a series of great Yajnas on a high pedestal. The life size Varahi image is were performed on the bank of Baitarani for found seated with her right leg on the buffalo. She revival of Brahmanism which later on seems to has three eyes and curly hair. Two Buddha figures have assumed mythological and legendary are carved out in Bhumisparsamudra. Another dimensions. Buddha image is found in serene posture Garuda In historical period, during the rule of the is exuberant for its embellishment, ornamentation Bhaumakaras and the Somavansis, Viraja was the and articulation. capital of Orissa and was the nerve centre of The monolithic pillar of Jajpur called political and cultural activities. The extant Subha stambha and Chandeswar pillar stands archaeological remains point out that even during majestically on an elevated platform made of three the rule of the Gangas and Suryavansi Gajapatis blocks of stones. It is square at the base and there was unprecedented cultural and monumental octagonal and sixteen sided at the top. It is made efflorescence. of chlorite stone and the total height from ground Virajakhetra is triangular. In each corner level is thirtyone feet. It is believed that the we find a Siva temple in equal distance. There Somavansis, as their mark of victory, have are Bileswar, Khitateswar and Baruneswar. The installed this as the Vijaya Stambha or Victory first two temples have received land grants from Pillar. king Anangabhimadeva as is evident from King Anangabhimadeva of Ganga Madalapanji. Beautiful ancient Buddhist and dynasty had built a Jagannath temple at Jajpur, in Jaina images are found in the architectural imitation of Jagannath temple of Puri, which was programme of the temples. Brahma Purana says known to have been destroyed by the Muslim 53 Click Here & Upgrade Expanded Features PDF Unlimited Pages CompleteDocuments Orissa Review * September - October - 2005 invaders. Near Dasasmamedha ghat we find the the Gajapaties heightened the glory of this tract images of Sapta matrukas namely Chamunda, during their regimes. With the rising Muslim Varahi, Indrani, Vaisnavi, Sivaduti, Kaumari and invasion the kingdom and culture of eternal Jajpur Maheswari. They are found seated on lotus eclipsed. nevertheless the extant exuberant pedestal with their respective mounts with babies archaeological remains vindicate the victorious on their left hand. The figures are heavily bedecked heydays of Jajpur in glowing terms. with drapery and ornaments. Sivaduti has been References : depicted in emaciated form. One very big sitting Ganesa image is also found at this centre. Other 1. N.K. Sahu, Utkal University, History of Orissa, Vol.I, 1964 figures like that of Jaina Santinatha, Chandranatha and Parswanatha etc. are found in Jajpur. At 2. Ibid, History of Orissa Vol.II, Calcutta 1955. present they are being worshipped as Visnavite 3. Ibid, Buddhism in Orissa Utkal University, 1958 icons. Apart from these we find a large number 4. H.K. Mahatab - Odisa Itihas, Vol.II (Oriya), of fragmentary sculptures of Jainism, Buddhism, Cuttack, 1964. Vaisnavism, Saivism, Saktism and Tantricism. 5. U. Subuddhi, The Bhaumakaras of Orissa, Their study reveals that there was un-precedented Punthi Pustak, Calcutta, 1978 religious and monumental efflorescence in Jajpur 6. C.B. Patel, Dynastic History of Nalas, Punthi from ancient time. The two-handed Durga image Pustak, Calcutta, 1990. without her mount (present Viraja) killing Mahisa 7. K.C. Panigrahi, Chronology of the Bhaumakaras is considered to be one of the earliest Durga and the Somavamsis of Orissa, Bhopal, 1961. images of India. 8. District Gazetteer, Cuttack, 1992. The Bhaumakaras ruled in this part of 9. N.K. Sahu, P.K. Misra, J.K. Sahu, History of Orissa from 736 A.D. to 910 A.D. and Orissa, Cuttack. contributed significantly to the history and culture of Orissa. Subsequently the Bhauma Kingdom with its capital Viraja came under the suzerainty of the Somavansis by the 3rd quarter of 10th Dr. C.B. Patel is the Superintendent of the State Museum century A.D. The Somavansis, the Gangas and of Orissa, Bhubaneswar. Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik inaugurating the DPEP School Building at Ankorada, Hinjili Block on 17.9.2005. Shri Surjya Narayan Patro, Minister, Energy, Tourism and Information Technology is also present. 54.