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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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More Ganeshas from Chembur

Here are a few more Ganeshas from Chembur.....

Usha, this one is especially for you, since both Samhith and I remembered you and wished you were with us for the Ganesha tour this year too..... and you will be thrilled to hear that Samhith didn't remember much of any of these ganpatis except that he saw them with you!

First on the list is the Duke's Ganesha....


The decoration was based on the story of a king and his cow herd who find the royal cow giving up all its milk  in an ant hill. The cow herd strikes the anthill with his axe, but is stunned to find blood. On digging further, they discover that the ant hill covers a Shiva Lingam. Usually, this set up is an animated one - kind of like a puppet show with a narrator in the background, and the characters move a little. However, this year, I elected to avoid the rush, which meant that the show wasn't on yet... much to Samhith's chagrin!


Next in line is the R K Ganpati (for those of you who do not know, this is the Ganesha at R.K.Studios, a tradition going back years... when Raj Kapoor and his entire family would turn up for the celebrations... To give due credit, part of the family still turn up for the immersion, drawing crowds galore!!)- which was simple, and just as usual. 


Next door to RK is another Ganesha - the pattern is always the same, but the decoration is usually good. However, this year they seem to have been a bit confused - I couldn't understand what Vitthala was doing, set against a backdrop of the Himalayas, with Shiva meditating on one of the peaks!! But then again, maybe they were just trying to re-use some of the stuff they had used last year... I distinctly remember the snow covered peaks and the image of Shiva from last year!!


With this, I am through with all the Ganeshas I can possibly see in my neighborhood. Going further to see some of the popular pandals is out of the question, especially thanks to the crowd! So lets see if I still manage to see any more!
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  1. ArtiSeptember 19, 2010 at 9:44 AM

    Very beautiful..
    And you are so true about the crowds!

    ReplyDelete
  2. P.N. SubramanianSeptember 19, 2010 at 12:39 PM

    Beautiful photographs. I have been visiting all these Ganeshas in Chembur successively for the last three years. I could not go this year due to my wife's sickness (thigh bone got fractured).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anuradha ShankarSeptember 19, 2010 at 2:59 PM

    @Arti: thanks to all the crowds, i avoid all the popular ones... havent been to one since i was in college!

    @PN Subramanian : so sorry to hear about your wife. hope she gets better soon.. and next year when u come to bbay, you both have to visit us too... and see the ganesha we make next year :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. MridulaSeptember 19, 2010 at 7:08 PM

    It is so colorful Anu.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2010 at 10:34 PM

    hi!!! i went n saw matunga n dadar ganpati. but m very disappointed by ur sudden change of plans :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. SREESeptember 20, 2010 at 1:01 PM

    Hi, its really wonderful and colorful pics of Ganpathi. we saw few in koperkhairne and vashi.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UshaSeptember 20, 2010 at 9:36 PM

    Hey Anu! Thanks! I remember mentioning that trip to you on my comment to one of your new Ganesha posts! I remember Samhith being mesmerised by the puppet show on Putana at the Duke Ganpati and yes, I remember the theme at the Ganesha next to RK had a Kailash Parvat scene with Shiv and his family, including Nandi. And I think it is unfair to diddle poor Samhith out of a once-in-a-year puppet show when you can't really escape crowds in Mumbai!

    ReplyDelete
  8. RajanSeptember 22, 2010 at 11:43 AM

    Jai Jai Jai Ganesha
    Good Details and more coverage by you, Let Sri Ganesha gives everyone their wishes and more more and more happyness to all in this world.

    Regards
    Rajan Ramakrishnan
    For Sri Ganesha Sketches you can visit my blog
    www.rajandraws.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete

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