Kuruma Buddhist site, Odisha

Address

Kuruma Buddhist site Kakatpur road, Jamatala Odisha 752111

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

This site is located 8.6 kms to the south-east of the famous Sun Temple at Konark in the district of Puri, Odisha. Kuruma, an ancient Buddhist site, Balidokan, which is just 7.3 km on Konarka-Kakatpur road. From Balidokan square, just turn left to go to Kuruma, which is 1.3 km from there. The Dharma Pokhari or the Pond of Dharma is located nearby the site. this excavation, a stone slab containing the beautiful figure of Buddha was lying on the bank of this tank. Later on, this image was replaced and enshrined in a newly built Small shed. Besides the Buddha image, other two images were found near the tank as they were placed by the side One of these figures is identified with ‘Heruka’. Local people call this image of Buddha as ‘Dharma’ (the Sun God) and image of Heruka is named as ‘Jama'(the God of Death). Therefore, some people also named this village as JamaDharama. Originally all the idols were kept under a small shed but. The trial excavation of the site at Kuruma was conducted by State Department of Archaeology. The excavation was carried up to the average depth of 3 meters. Contemporary brick structures of the average size of 4.25 meters in length and 1.85 meters in height have been recovered from the two trenches. A chaitya is a Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a ruins stupa at one end.