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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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Seasons Greetings



Wishing you all, all the very best for the coming year... and indeed all the years ahead!



P.S. That's our very first christmas tree... one Samhith and I decorated with much enthusiasm!

And this is Samhith's own work... with some of the ornaments we bought...... its a snowflake, in case some of you couldn't recognize it :D


P.P.S: And this is how the tree looked once it was all set up and ready... with the gifts under it, of course!!!!! 





Comments

  1. KPDecember 25, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    Season's Greetings and Happy New Year

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mridula DDecember 25, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and your family Anu.

    ReplyDelete
  3. PradeepaDecember 25, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Fantastic decorations. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Anu.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ArtiDecember 25, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    Pretty decoration of the Christmas Tree. Merry Christmas to you and your family Anu:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. ZephyrDecember 26, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    It looks like a full grown fir! Lovely decorations and no guesses for what the gifts are :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sridharan SrinivasanDecember 31, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Wish you too a very happy new year Anu..! 

    ReplyDelete
  7. NayakchitraJanuary 2, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    Nicely done xmas tree. Happy 2012 to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  8. RajeshJanuary 2, 2012 at 12:09 PM

    Beautiful.
    Wish you Happy and Prosperous New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  9. PN SubramanianJanuary 3, 2012 at 1:32 PM

    Wishing you, your hubby and Samhit a very very happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anu ShankarJanuary 6, 2012 at 11:10 AM

    Thanks Pradeepa! Wish you a very happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anu ShankarJanuary 6, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    Thanks Zephyr! guess I am predictable that way :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anu ShankarJanuary 6, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    Thanks a lot, Sridharan!!! wish you a great year ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anu ShankarJanuary 6, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    Thanks Chitra! wish you too a great year ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anu ShankarJanuary 6, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    Thanks Rajesh! wish you a great travel filled year ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anu ShankarJanuary 8, 2012 at 12:16 PM

    Thanks so much, PNS!! Wish you and your family too a great year ahead!!

    ReplyDelete

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