Lalitagiri Buddhist Complex, Odisha

Address

Lalitagiri Buddhist Complex Lalitagiri, Cuttack district Odisha 754206

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Laiitgiri is situated on the Birupa Gobari Chitrotpala(rivers) valley under the Mahanga Thana (P.S.) of Cuttack district Odisha and 40 kms away from the city of Cuttack. This place has been archaeologically attested to be one of the fore most and formidable Buddhist establishments in the world, on the basis of the latest archaeological finds unearthed from the excavations, the antiquity of the splendid Buddhist site may well go back to the Maurya period (3rd Century B.C.) The site is amply corroborated not only by the huge bulk of the Buddhist sculptures and monolithic votive stupas lying scattered all over the hills.

Puranic Significance

Lalitgiri, one of the earliest Buddhist sites in Orissa, maintained a continuous cultural sequence starting from the post Mauryan period (322–185 BC) till 13th century AD. It is also inferred that this site maintained a continuous of presence of Buddhism, unbroken, from 3rd century BC to 10th century AD – 900 years. The excavations carried out by the ASI at Lalitgiri have unearthed remnants of a large stupa on the hill. Within the stupa, two rare stone caskets were found with relics of Buddha; this was the first such find in Eastern India. Another interesting find is that of an east facing apsidal chaityagriha, built of bricks, 33 by 11 metres (108 ft × 36 ft) in size with 3.3 metres (11 ft)-thick walls. This edifice, the first such Buddhist structure found in Odisha, contains a circular stupa at its center. Another find is a piece of a pillar railing with a lens-shaped decoration with the theme of a half lotus medallion. From these finds it is inferred that such structures belonged from the early Christian era to 6th–7th century period. The first and the largest monastery, facing east, a two storied structure measuring 36 square metres (390 sq ft), has at its center a 12.9 metres (42 ft) square open space; it is dated to 10th–11th century AD. Adjoining the monastery at the rear end is a rainwater cistern built of bricks. The second monastery, in the northern extremity of the hill, is believed to have been built when Buddhism was losing its importance in Lalitgiri. The third monastery faces south-east and has dimensions of 28 by 27 metres (92 ft × 89 ft) with a central open space of 8 square metres (86 sq ft) and represents the end stages of apsidal chaitya. The fourth monastery, 30 square metres (320 sq ft), in size, has many large sized Buddha heads diefied in the sanctum sanctorum.