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Odisha Part 11: Discovering the Jaina Heritage of Odisha at the caves of Udaygiri and Khandgiri

The Hindu and Buddhist history of Odisha , or rather, ancient Kalinga, is rather well known to everyone. Who hasn’t heard of the grand temples of Odisha – Puri, Lingaraj and Konark, or the great war of Kalinga which inspired Ashoka to convert to Buddhism? In contrast, very few know of the Jaina heritage of this region. This is quite a pity, since, just around 7 km from the city, is one of India’s most ancient inscriptions, which throws light on the Jaina heritage of Odisha. This inscription is the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela, in the hills of Udaygiri. Udaygiri and Khandgiri are two hills located opposite each other, and both are testaments to the rich Jaina heritage of Odisha. The caves at Udaygiri are older, while Khandgiri is relatively newer, but has lasted much longer, and continues to be a place of pilgrimage for Jains even today. These hills, from inscriptions and excavations of caves, shrines and rock beds, appear to have been a haven for Jaina monks, right from the ...
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Check out my Squidoo Lens on Kumbhalgarh.....

Here's something new I have been doing..... I have joined Squidoo, and have started making my own lenses... For those who aren't in the know, Squidoo is a place on tne net where one builds a lens.... A lens is a single page, about just one thing, but in great detail....one can make hundreds and and hundreds of lenses, about anything we care to tell the world.....
Here's my lens, the most recent one, about Kumbhalgarh. Check it out, and while you are at it, check out my other lenses too.............

click here to see my lens
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