On Buddha's Trail

Orissa has kept alive Buddhism and the Buddha in its ancient womb. The spirit of Buddhism still haunts the very air of Orissa. Rock-edicts that have challenged time, stand huge and over-powering by the banks of River Daya. The silent stones sing out songs of peace and non-violence. The torch of Buddhism is still ablaze in the sublime triangle of Udaygiri-Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri, on the banks and twists of history. Precious fragments of a glorious past come alive in the shape of stupas, rock-cut caves, rock-edicts, excavated monastries, viharas, chaityas and sacred relics in caskets.

Buddhism in Orissa is as old as the religion itself. While Kapilavastu, Bodhgaya and Saranath are associated with Buddha's life, many places in Orissa are associated with the growth and spread of Buddhism. The Kalinga War in 261 BC, the conversion of Ashoka and the visit of Huien Tsang speak about the glorious state of Buddhism in Orissa. It was from here Buddhism was exported to Sri Lanka, and far-off countries in South-east Asia.

Ratnagiri-Lalitgiri-Udaygiri situated at a distance of 5 kms from one another and 100 kms from Bhubaneswar forms the important 'Buddhist circuit' of the state. Excavations here unearthed large monasteries, big stupas, large numbers of votive stupas, and terracotta seals.

While Ratnagiri offers in its magnificent stupa, a large brick monastery identified as Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihara Aryabhikshu Sangha with beautiful doorways, cella sanctum and colossal Buddha, Lalitgiri presents huge brick monastery, remains of a Chaitya hall number of votive stupas, colossal Buddha figures including Boddhisatva, Tara, Jambhala. In Udaygiri one finds a stupa and the remains of two monastries along with a huge stupa encircled by Buddha in Dhyana mudra in four cardinal directions. This seventh-eighth century AD site flourished upto 13th AD once housed images of Buddha in various mudras.

Just round the corner of these sites stands Langudi hill on the right bank of river Kelua. Excavations unearthed a cluster of rock-cut votive stupas, two unique Buddha images and Panchadhyani Buddha with their female counterparts.