Rare Jain Tirthankara Sculpture Discovered in Odisha’s Bhadrak District

Residents of Mundapada in Odisha’s Bhadrak district have uncovered a rare and valuable Jain Tirthankara sculpture, believed to date back to the 7th or 8th century, on the banks of the Baitarani River. The ancient idol, which was partially buried in the sand, was found by villagers on their way to bathe in the river. They promptly informed local researcher Bisambhar Rout, who identified the sculpture as a Jain idol.

The one-and-a-half-foot tall and one-foot wide sculpture features inscriptions of 24 Tirthankaras, though some parts of it are damaged, making the faces of the Tirthankaras difficult to discern. “After being alerted by some locals about the idol, I immediately visited the site and realized its significance,” said Rout. “We soon learned that it was a rare and precious Jain idol.”

Rout estimates the sculpture to be from the 7th or 8th century, and the discovery has attracted hundreds of visitors eager to see this ancient relic. In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a revered spiritual teacher and savior, who has attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) and guides others towards moksha (liberation) from saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death).

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