Ratnagiri :-Ratnagiri in the Birupa river
valley in the district of Jajpur, is another famous Buddhist centre.
The small hill near the village of the same name has rich Buddhist antiquities.
A large-scale excavation has unearthed
two large monasteries, a big stupa, Buddhist shrines, sculptures,and a large
number of votive stupas. This excavation revealed the establishment of this
Buddhist centre at least from the time of the Gupta king Narasimha Gupta Baladitya
(first half of the sixth century A.D.). Buddhism had developed at this place
- unhindered upto the 12th century A.D.
In the beginning, this was an important centre of Mahayana form of Buddhism.
During the 8th-9th century A.D.,
this became a great centre of Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana art and philosophy.
Pag Sam Jon Zang, a Tibetan source, indicates that the institution at Ratnagiri
played a significant role in the emergence of Kalachakratantra during the
10th century A.D. This is quite evident from the numerous votive stupas with
reliefs of divinities of the Vajrayana pantheon. Separate images of these
divinities and inscribed stone slabs, and moulded terracotta plaques with
dharanis found in the
excavation at Ratnagiri. PIC
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Udayagiri:-The largest Buddhist Complex in Orissa, Udayagiri
in the district of Jajpur has assumed further importance after recent excavations
which revealed the ancient name of the monastery as Madhavapura Mahavihara.
The excavations also brought to light a sprawling complex of brick monastery
with a number of Buddhist sculptures. The entire area is found located at
the foothills of a large hill that acts as an imposing backdrop. The archaeological
remains
at Udayagiri consist of a brick stupa, two brick monasteries (one excavated
and the other still unexcavated), a beautiful stepped stone well with inscriptions
on it, and rock-cut sculptures at the top of the hill behind. Chronologically,
the Udayagiri Buddhist Complex is later than Ratnagiri and Lalitgiri, and
the monasteries probably flourished between
the 7th and the 12th centuries A.D. PIC
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Dhauli:-Just
8km away from Bhuabneswar looking down on the plains that bore witness to
the gruesome war waged on Kalinga by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, stand
the rock edicts of Dhauli.It was here that King Ashoka full
of remorse renounced his blood thirsty campaign and turned to Buddhism.the
rock edicts are topped by a sculpted elephant, the unoversal symbol
of Lord Buddha. The Shanti Stupa or the peace pagoda, built through the Indo_japaneese
collaboration, is located on the opposite hill. PIC
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Bargarh District:-The ruins on Gandhamardan Hill are thought by some to be the remains of the monastery called 'Parimalagiri' by Huien T'sang; Ganiapali is an early site which has been recently excavated.
Naraj:-A picturesque scenic spot, Naraj was a famous seat of Buddhist culture & learning. The scenic view of the river Mahanadi at the origin of its branch Kathjodi is simply bewitching.
Jaugada:-Jaugada forms a part of the Malati range of hills
and occupies an important place in Ashokan studies. It is the second place
in Orissa where Ashokan rock edicts specially addressed to Kalinga have been
inscribed.
Here on a clean surface of granite is an edict of Emperor Ashoka which provides
valuable information about the pattern of administration followed by the great
emperor. About 2 km from Jaugada is Buddhakhol, where visitors can see images
of the Buddhist pantheon along with the Shaivite shrines.
Banpur:-Here bronze statues of the Buddhist pantheon have been excavated.
Balasore District:-Sites of interest include Ayodhya, where rich sculptural remains have been found; Kupari, with the ruins of an old Buddhist temple and monastery; Solampur where images of Buddha have been discovered; and Khadipada and Soro, where scattered images can be found.
