The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently made an astounding discovery at a mining site in Jajpur district, Odisha. At this Khondalite mining site, where stones were previously sourced for the 12th Century Shree Jagannath Temple’s beautification project in Puri, a stupa estimated to be around 1,300 years old was discovered.
Recent Findings
Preliminary evaluations suggest that the stupa could be from the 7th or 8th century, with a height approximately 4.5 metres. It was unearthed at Parabhadi, located near Lalitagiri, a significant Buddhist complex known for its numerous stupas and monasteries. Lalitgiri is often seen as the most sacred among three sites – Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri given the discovery of a large stupa housing a relic of Buddha encased within a stone casket.
Understanding Khondalite Stones
Khondalite, a metamorphic rock type found predominantly in the Eastern Ghats region of India and specifically in Odisha. Named after the Khondalite Group of rocks, it is believed to have formed almost 1.6 billion years ago during the Proterozoic era. The rock mainly comprises feldspar, quartz, and mica, presenting a unique pinkish-grey hue. Noted for its durability and resistance to weathering, Khondalite is employed extensively in construction, especially for its decorative attributes. Its usage extends to maintaining the aesthetic value of several projects, including ancient temple complexes, the heritage security zone, and the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre.
About Stupas
Stupas serve as burial mounds in India, dating back to the Vedic period. Architecturally, they comprise a cylindrical drum with a circular anda and a harmika, topped with a chhatra. The hemispherical mound, or the anda, symbolizes the mound of dirt used to cover Buddha’s remains. Frequently, actual relics were concealed within these mounds. The Harmika represents a square railing on top of the mound, and the Chhatra is a central pillar supporting a triple umbrella form. Stupas are typically constructed with an unburnt brick core, an outer surface made with burnt bricks, covered with a layer of plaster. Wooden sculptures often decorate the medhi and the toran. The most famous stupa commissioned by Ashoka is Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, while the oldest known one is Piprahwa Stupa in Uttar Pradesh. After Buddha’s demise, stupas were built in locations like Rajagriha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, and others.
Interesting Facts
The grand stupa at Bairat, Rajasthan has a circular mound and a path for circumambulation. Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, harbours 29 Buddhist caves near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, positioned in the Sahyadri ranges along the Waghora river. Sanchi Stupa, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is situated in west-central Madhya Pradesh in an upland plateau region. The Pandavleni Caves, also known as Pandu Lena caves and Trirashmi caves, consist of 24 rock-cut caves on Trivashmi hill’s north face near Nasik city, which is along the Godavari river banks. Lastly, Amravati Stupa, situated near the Krishna river, symbolises Lord Buddha subduing an elephant with its human-form illustrations.