CUTTACK: What would well be a treasure trove of Buddhist history lies buried in scores of neglected sites in Orissa vulnerable (o vandalism and encroachment by local people.
The Archaeological Survey of India and the state archaeological department are mostly confining their excavation work to a few easily accessible pockets of the state. No excavation has been carried out at sites in tribal dominated Phulbani district Sirpur Narasinghpur Radhanagar Kalaneri Solanpur and many other areas regarded by historians as potential archaeological treasures.
Excavations at two sites Pragripur and Shyamsundarapur on the banks of the Mahanadi in Phulbani district could provide clues to the cultural synthesis between the coastal region and the erstwhile Rosal kingdom in the western region
According to the noted historian Dr. Karunasagar Behera who visited the sites recently a five foot-high broken Buddha statue in the bhumisparsa posture was found at Pragalpar village in the district. At Shyamasundarpur village another Buddha image eroded but intact was discovered.
The site has been lying buried. The villagers have constructed a temple on top of it Dr Behera who also came across a circular brick structure at the site feels that the site could have been a Buddhist Center in the ninth century.
The Pragalpur and Shyamasundarpur sites researchers believe are important since both are located in the middle belt of the Mahanadi which was the trade route linking the coastal and western regions in the past. Earlier Buddhist sites were found in the upper and lower belts. The researchers are of the view that two different phases of Buddhism flourished in western and coastal Orissa.
Narshingpur another site on the banks of the river has been declared a centrally protected site but the ASI has not undertaken excavation. So far no detailed survey has been done on such sites two-thirds of which are lying buried or neglected. The ASI sources say they have too little staff and funds to provide protection to such sites.
At Radhanagar village in Cuttack district a number of Buddha images and other sculptures are scattered all over the area which is now an open air latrine for locals and a pasture for cattle.
Houses have come up at Kolangiri believed to be a monastery. Many images have either been taken away or crushed by the encroachers ostensibly to cover up the importance of the area lest it is acquired by the government.
Official sources said a sixth century Buddhist site at Jayarampur under Bangalore district has been destroyed by the villagers while a rare Buddha image from the Panchupandab temple in Cuttack district was still missing.
At Paradeepagarh the villagers shipping a ninth century image as the presiding deity” Lokeswar”. Historians say that close to this area lies a structure of a rare architectural style that seems to have assimilated the aspects of Buddhism and Hinduism. This area should be declared national monument they say.
No attempt has been made so far to excavate the Dhauli site near Bhubaneswar where a monolithic rock-cut elephant of the Mauryan era said to be the earliest available sculpture in Orissa was found. An Ashokan inscription near the elephant says: “Toshali was the capital of Kalinga”. Historians have yet to discover the place called ““Toshali” which can provide vital information regarding the missing portion of Orissas history between third century B.C. and first century A.D.
For a long time the three most important Buddhist sites in Cuttack district Lalitgir Ratnagiriand Udayagiri-too were ignored by the authorities. All that they had done was to collect the scattered sculptures and put them in a shed.
The importance of Orissa as the chariest of Buddhism starting from the pre-Christian era to the 12th century came to light when Dr. Behera started excavation at Lalitgiri Later the ASI too started digging work ad came across innumerable Buddha images in different postures and a huge apsidal chaityagrina made of rick. The pillars and other structures are similar to those and Bodhgaya.
The ASI maintains that it is only taking up “problem-oriented” excavation works. For instance at Lalitagiri the excavation was aimed at finding out the existence of the monastic complex and identification of the Pushpagiri Mahaviara.
Ratnagiri was excavated by Dr. Debala Mitra. Huge remains of Buddhist establishment’s two monastic complexes stupas of various sizes chaityas temples and a large number of sculptures were unearthed.
Though a museum has now come at Lalitgiri and protective measures have been taken at Ratnagiri and Udayagiri official sources admit that many images had been taken away. Many sculptures can now be seen in nearby village:
Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1992
