7/1/2020 Rock Cut Temples of Udayagiri and Khandagiri

Bird’s eye view of Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills

P hoto Essays

Rock Cut Temples of Udayagiri and Khandagiri

By Krutika Haraniya
July 25, 2019 at 5:28 PM

In the city of Bhubaneswar, well known as a city of temples, there are two hills rising amidst the
wide at lands. Nestled in these hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri are 32 caves which are unique
as they are among the earliest Jain rock-cut shelters.

The caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri were excavated by King Kharavela (2nd – 1st century BCE)
of the Mahamegavahana dynasty, which ruled the ancient kingdom of Kalinga (modern day Odisha
state) from 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE.

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Jain rock-cut caves at Udayagiri

The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri were made for Jain ascetics. The caves are so small that a
person can’t stand straight. This is in keeping with Jainism’s insistence on great austerity which
clearly re ected in the architecture here. Some of the caves rebuilt during the medieval period
between 7th-11th CE are larger.

Cave No.1 Rani Gumpha

Udayagiri

There are 18 caves in Udayagiri, Cave No 1 is the Rani Gumpha. This is the largest and most
beautiful in the complex . It is believed that this cave was occupied by the Queen of
Lalatendukesari. It is a double storeyed structure with 32 cells. In the verandah there are two
carved dwarapalas (guards).

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Panel in Rani Gumpha depicting Kharavela’s march

The main wing of the lower storey depicts the story of the victory march of King Kharavela after a
war. The relief shows people gazing from their houses.

The veranda of Ganesh Gumpha

This cave is the Ganesha Gumpha, so named because it has an idol of Ganesha carved on the back
of one of the cells. The verandah has two detached elephants; each holding branches of a mango-
tree over a lotus. The Ganesha idol and elephants were added in the later period during 11th
century to the original cave.

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Front view of Bagha Gumpha

Bagha Gumpha is a small cave whose entrance is in shape of the head of a tiger with the upper
jaw forming the root of the verandah and the neck forming the entrance opening.

Inscription of king Kharavela in Hathi Gumpha

The architecture of Hathi Gumpha is insigni cant but its importance lies in the inscription carved
on the brow of the cave. This famous inscription is the only source of information on King
Kharavela. The inscription contains 17 lines and starts with Jain Namokara Mantra, the religious
mantra recited even today giving salutations to Arihanthas (twenty-four Tirthankaras who have
attained Nirvana) and Siddha (liberated souls) con rming that Jainism was the state religion
during Kharavela’s reign. The inscription also gives accounts of his successful military campaigns.

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Rock-cut caves at Khandagiri

Khandagiri

The adjoining hill to Udayagiri is Khandagiri and it has 15 caves. The caves of Khandagiri are
simple rock cut caves with medieval carvings of the twenty-four Jain Thirthankars.

Panel of Gaja-Lakshmi in Ananta Gumpha

Noteworthy among the caves is the Ananta Gumpha (cave no. 3) named after the gure of twin
serpents on the door-arches. The interesting feature of this cave is that the Gaja-Lakshmi
(Goddess Lakshmi with elephants) is in a Lotus Lake with stalks of lotus around her arms carved
on the arch of the door. The Jains regards Gaja-Lakshmi an auspicious symbol of prosperity.

The Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are signi cant and a must visit because these are among the
very few ancient Jain rock cut caves in the Indian subcontinent.

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