'Buddhist relics at Ratangiri, 5th century AD, Odisha, India' - by K J S Chatrath

 I have visited Ratangiri Monastery in Jajpur district of Odisha twice. It is on the flat hill top and affords a panoramic view of the surrounding. It might have been chosen by the Buddhist establishment for its isolated eminence which ensures the monks seclusion for the serene and calm atmosphere necessary for monastic life, meditation and studies.

 Excavations conducted by Archeological Survey of India in late 1960s yielded the remains of an impressive stupa (Stupa I) surrounded by a large number of votive stupas of varying dimensions, two quadrangular monasteries (monastaries 1 &2), a single winged huge monastery with beautiful carved doorjamb and lintel, specious open court yard, cells and verandahs facing the courtyard with a large sanctum enshrining colossal Buddha. The existence of temple with curvilinear tower is only one of its kind discovered in Odisha.

From the impressive remains and a large number of sculptures discovered during excavations, it is clear that the Buddhist establishment of Ratnagiri dating from circa 5th century AD, witnessed a phenomenal growth in religion, art & architecture till the 13th century AD. A large number of stone sculptures, a few bronze and brass images of Buddha and Buddhist pantheon were recovered during excavations tending to prove that Ratnagiri was a great Tantric centre of Buddhism comparable to that of Nalanda in Bihar.

A large number of clay sealings, found during excavations, bearing the legend ‘Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihara Arya Bhikshu Samghasya’ have helped in identifying the name of Ratnagiri monastery. By the end of the 13th century AD, it was on decline, decadence is discernible. i.e. in architecture & sculptural art of Ratnagiri. Though no longer in an affluent condition, the Buddhist establishment at Ratnagiri continued till about 16th century AD.

(Text sourced from the A.S.I. Information Board at the site)


 

 










More would follow.........

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

'Some stunning AI portraits by Polish painter Dorota Piotrowiak' - shared by KJS Chatrath

Image
Dorota Piotrowiak' obtained a diploma in the painting studio of prof. Mieczyslaw Ziomek at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in 1996. . She works in painting, sculpture and graphics. Since 2013, she has been creating models and dioramas of nature, as well as maquettes and thematic displays for national parks, landscape parks and museums. She conducts authorial workshops for children and young people using the papier-mâché technique. She is the initiator and organizer of “Sztuka Papieru” ( the Art of Paper ) Festival in cooperation with the Friends of the Lower Vistula Society and Paper Technical School in Świecie on Vistula. Associated with the Art of Paper studio ( www.sztukapapieru.pl ). Here are some of the portraits made by her: Disclaimer: The copyright remains with the original holder. This blog is intended to introduce this amazing artist to a wider audience.
Read more

Arthuna- a cluster of gems waiting to be 'discovered' - by K J S Chatrath

Image
  I was lucky to have visited Arthuna, located in Banswada district of Rajasthan early this week. I took a train up to Ratlam and from there Arthuna by excellent road is about 130 kms. The place is a gem for archaeology lovers waiting to be visited and written about.I am grateful to my facebook friend and a remarkable traveller and blogger Mr. Sabya Sachi Ghosh for getting me interested in visiting Arthuna. I look forward to soon meeting Mr. Ghosh in person.  Previously known as   Utthunaka, Arthuna was the capital of Paramara rulers of Vagada during eleventh-twelfth centuries A.D. They patronized both Jainism and Saivism simultaneously, so they constructed a number of Siva temples. An inscription of the Paramara prince Chamundaraja records that he built a temple of Siva called Mandalesa in honour of his father in A.D. 1079. Another inscription of A.D. 1080 mentions that his officer’s son named Anantapala also founded a temple of Siva.  In a group of temples known as Hanumangarhi i
Read more

'Achars- the Indian pickles' - by K J S Chatrath

Image
  According to Hobson-Jobson: The Definitive Glossary of British India , the word ‘ āchār’ finds a mention in CE 1563, in works by Garcia da Orta, a Portuguese physician, describing a conserve of cashew with salt which he refers to as ‘and this they call Āchār.’ In his book A Historical Dictionary of Indian Food , the late food historian KT Achaya notes that pickles fall into the category of ‘cooking without fire’; however, many pickles today do use heating or fire to some extent during preparation. Pickles in India have a rich legacy, which is clear when the historian further adds that a ‘Kannada work of CE 1594, the Lingapurana of Gurulinga Desika describes no less than fifty kinds of pickles’! Another later mention is found in the 17th-century Śivatattvaratnākara , an encyclopedia of ancient Indian lore of Basavarāja, King of Keladi. Pickles in India are of three basic types: those preserved in vinegar; those preserved in salt; and those preserved in oil.   Gosht Achar
Read more

Total Pageviews