Jaina Antiquities in Dandapalasa (Balasore)

The village Dandapalasa^[1] is located about 6km south-west of Soro, on the bank of a rivulet Kamsavamsa. The village is rich in antiquities of both Jainism and Hinduism.Besides the image of Bhairava, Ganesa and ten armed Mahishasuramardini, a mutilated seated figure of Parsvanatha is worshiped as Brahmanical deity in the village shrine called Ramachandi. The Tirthankara has a seven hooded snake canopy over his head. In the premises of the residence of one Gajendra Mohanty, an image of Parsvanatha (88x34cm) seated in dhyanamudra is noticed. He has a seven hooded snake canopy over his head. The chauri bearers on both sides and the vidyadhara couples on the top corners of the back slab are the exquisitely carved on the figure. The usnisa, the curled knots and the elongated ears are the characteristic features of the image. Another nude figure of Parsvanatha (1.19x0.71m) standing in kayotsargamudra is found enshrined in a modern temple and worshipped as Ananta-Vasudeva as the deity crowned with a seven hooded snake canopy over his head.

In the adjoining village Chalisimadha a sitting figure of Risabhanatha (55x43cm) is now housed in a modern temple under a tamarind tree and is worshipped as Siddhesvari. The chauri-bearers, oval prabhamandala, kevala tree, cymbals and drums are usual representations marked in a Tirthankara figure. The bull is distinctly marked on the pedestal. Sabira is a nearby village another seated figure of Parsvanatha is found. The figure has been worshipped as a Brahmanical deity^[2] namely Patrasuni.