SCULPTURAL ART OF JAINS IN ODISHA: A STUDY

In ancient times, Odisha was known as Utkal, which means utkarsh in kala i.e., excellent in the arts. Its rich artistic legacy permeates through time, into modern decor, never deviating from the basics. Each motif or intricate pattern, draws its inspiration from a myth or folklore, or from the general ethos itself. Covered by the dense forests, soaring mountains, sparkling waterfalls, murmuring springs, gurgling rivers, secluded dales, deep valleys, captivating beaches and sprawling lake, Odisha is a kaleidoscope of past splendor and present glory. Being the meeting place of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, with is delightful assimilations, from the fascinating lifestyle of the tribes, Odisha retains in its distinct identity, in the form of sculptural art, folk art and performing art. The architectural wonders of Odisha must be seen in the Jain caves, which speak about the fine artistry of Odisha's craftsmen, in the bygone era. The Odias displayed their remarkable creative power, in the Jain sculptural art. While they built their caves like giants, they sculptured the caves like master artists. The theme of these sculptures was so varied, for the artist and his imagination so deep that, as if, he was writing an epic on the surface of the stone.