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| Orissa Tourism > Temples & Monuments of Orissa |
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| Dhauli |
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Orissa,
is famous for its Buddhist Monuments. It also
happens to be the place where the bloodiest
of battles was fought and won by Emperor Ashok.
It is also the moment that marked his transformation
from an ambitious king of a prospering kingdom
to a follower of Buddha and his teaching. The
evidence of this transformation can be seen
at Dhauli, 8 km from Bhubaneswar, in form of
a rock edict marked by the image of an elephant
sculpted from the overhanging rock. There are
two such rock edicts still surviving in Orissa. The
inscriptions are public injunctions where Emperor
Ashok asks his administrators and the general public
to live peacefully and fall the lessons that Buddhism
has to offer. The
Orissan edicts, consisting of two special edicts not
found elsewhere, are essentially public injunctions
to the empire's administrators in the area, enjoining
them to rule with gentleness and justice: |
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The elephant which emerges from the rock above the
inscription was probably meant to draw attention to
the edict, and to serve as a symbol. Elephants are
frequently associated with the Buddha, either as the
form in which he is believed to have entered his mother's
womb, as the form the Buddha assumed in a previous
incarnation, or as the sacred symbol of Buddhism itself.
The serenity of the place and the legacy of Buddhism
motivated the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha, under
the guidance of Guruji Fujii, Founder President of
Nipponzan Myohoji of Japan to establish a Peace Pagoda
or Shanti Stupa at Dhauli along with the construction
of the monastery called Saddharma Vihar in early seventies
of 19th century. Along with the Ashokan Edicts, the
Peace Pagoda and modern Buddhist Monastery, Dhauli
offers the visitors small-rock cut caves, Hindu temples
of early medieval period and a renovated Siva temple
known as Dhavalesvara on top of the hill are added
attractions. |
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Padmapur
The
village of Padmapur in the district of Rayagada is a
flourishing agricultural centre today. However, a 7th
century inscription found here indicates that the Jagamanda
hill, located close by, once housed the monastery of
the famous Buddhist logician-philosopher Dharmakirti.
The hill also has 5 Shiva temples dedicated to Manikeswar,
Dhabaleswar, Mallikeswar, Nilakantheswar and Podukeswar
as well as a perennial water reservoir at the top.
Banpur
Here bronze statues of the Buddhist pantheon have been
excavated. The large number of Buddhist images discovered
here relate the place to the Vajrayan cult of Buddhism.
Kuruma
8 km from the world famous Sun Temple of Konark, Kuruma
is a small village. Recent excavations here have brought
to light the reminiscence of some ancient Buddhist antiquities
like the image of Buddha seated in Bhumisparsa Mudra
along with the image of Heruka, and a 17 metres long
brick wall (brick size: 22 cm X 17 cm). Scholars are
of opinion that this was one of the sites containing
Buddhist stupas described by Hiuen T'sang. The place
is approachable by jeep.
Biswanath
Hill
Biswanath Hill is known for its ancient monastery of
Dignag, the Buddhist Logician and Philosopher.
Lalitgiri
The earliest Buddhist Complex dating back to the 1st
century AD, Lalitgiri forms an important node of the
Diamond Triangle ie Lalitgiri (in present Cuttack district)
and Ratnagiri and Udayagiri (in present Jajpur district).
Well connected by excellent roads to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar,
recent excavations here have brought to light significant
archaeological material that upholds Lalitgiri as a
great centre of Buddhist attraction. |
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The
majestic ruins of the huge brick monastery, the
remains of the chaitya hall, a number of votive
stupas and a renovated stone stupa at the apex
of a small rugged sandstone hill dominate the
rural greenery around. In addition, the museum
displays a large number of Mahayana sculptures
consisting of colossal Buddha figures, huge Boddhisattva
statues, statues of Tara, Jambhala and others.
Interestingly, most of these sculptures contain
short inscriptions on them. The
Standing Buddha figures, with knee length draperies
over the shoulders remind one of the influence of the
Gandhara and Mathura school of art. This also brings
to mind the fact of Prajna, who had come from Takshasila
to ancient Orissa to learn the philosophy of Yoga. He
later left for China in the eigth century A.D. with
an autographed manuscript of the Buddhist text Gandavyuha,
from the then Orissan king Sivakara Deva 1, to the Chinese
Emperor Te-tsong. |
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The discovery of caskets containing
sacred relics, probably of the Tathagata himself, from
the stone stupa at the top of the hill, further enhances
the sacredness of the stupa as well as of Lalitgiri
for Buddhists around the world. It also brings to mind
the description of Hiuen T'sang, the famed Chinese traveller
of the seventh century A D, about the magnificent stupa
on top of a hill at Puspagiri Mahavihara which emitted
a brilliant light because of its sacredness. "
On the basis of archaeological materials including inscriptions
brought to light by excavation, Langudi hill in Jajpur
district may be identified as Puspagiri." |
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| Ratnagiri |
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Ratnagiri
in the Birupa river valley in the district of
Jajpur, is another famous Buddhist centre. The
small hill near the village of the same name has
rich Buddhist antiquities. A large-scale excavation
has unearthed two large monasteries, a big stupa,
Buddhist shrines, sculptures, and a large number
of votive stupas. This excavation revealed the
establishment of this Buddhist centre at least
from the time of the Gupta king Narasimha Gupta
Baladitya (first half of the sixth century A.D.).
Buddhism had developed at this place - unhindered
upto the 12th century A.D. In the beginning, this was an important centre of Mahayana
form of Buddhism. During the 8th-9th century A.D., this
became a great centre of Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana
art and philosophy. Pag Sam Jon Zang, a Tibetan source,
indicates that the institution at Ratnagiri played a
significant role in the emergence of Kalachakratantra
during the 10th century A.D. This is quite evident from
the numerous votive stupas with reliefs of divinities
of the Vajrayana pantheon. Separate images of these
divinities and inscribed stone slabs, and moulded terracotta
plaques with dharanis found in the excavation at Ratnagiri. |
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| Khandagiri & Udaygiri |
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To the west of Bhubaneswar are the twin hills of Khandagiri
and Udaygiri (c. first century BC), the next major Orissan
historical monument after Ashoka's rock-cut edict. The
rocks of the Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills were
carved and tunneled, to create this multi-storied
ancient apartment residence for Jain monks. They
were the work of the first known Orissan ruler,
King Kharavela, and probably begun in the first
century BC. Kharavela was a king of the Mahameghavahana
dynasty, who is known for expansion of the Kalinga
empire and his installation of public improvements,
such as canal systems. His
queen was evidently quite a patron of the arts, and
probably had much to do with the impressive sculptural
decoration of the caves. |
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As you approach the site, Khandagiri, with its 15 caves
will be on the left. Udaygiri will be on the right.
The 18 caves of Udaygiri include the famous Hathi Gumpha
('Elephant Cave') with its famous inscription of Kharavela.
From the inscription, we learn much about Kharavela's
military exploits, and also that his royal city had
gate towers, bathing and drinking tanks, and was the
scene of formally organized music and dance performances,
as well as sporting and social events. The city, says
the inscription, "was made to dance with joy".
Kharavela was evidently a skilled musician, and it seems
as if he created a remarkable center of the arts.
The famous Rani Gumpha ('Queen's Cave'), also on Udaygiri,
has upper and lower stories, a spacious courtyard, and
elaborate sculptural friezes. The carvings show popular
legends, historical scenes, and religious functions,
as well as many dancers. The style seems quite well-developed,
and of a singular grace and liveliness.
The Ganesha Gumpha, which is reached by a walkway from
the lower storey of the Rani Gumpha, is isolated, and
perhaps for this reason, better preserved. Its two dwelling-spaces
with verandah in front are reached by a short staircase
from the courtyard.
All of the caves are small, and follow the natural configurations
of the 'living rock'. The sculpture throughout exhibits
a strong, lively folk element, which has been executed
with a sure and confident hand. Already, the spaces
are filled with animal, human, and divine personages
and decorative details, showing at an early stage the
love of the Orissan artist for richly elaborated scenes. |
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Jaugada
Jaugada forms a part of the Malati range of hills and
occupies an important place in Ashokan studies. It is
the second place in Orissa where Ashokan rock edicts
specially addressed to Kalinga have been inscribed.
Here on a clean surface of granite is an edict of Emperor
Ashoka which provides valuable information about the
pattern of administration followed by the great emperor.
About 2 km from Jaugada is Buddhakhol, where visitors
can see images of the Buddhist pantheon along with the
Shaivite shrines. |
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