Archaeology

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Archaeology

Introduction:- The exhibits of the newly renovated section are mainly of sculptures ranging from the third century B. C. to the late medieval period, displayed in three big halls on well-designed pedestals under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. The portion of an Asokan pillar brought from Patna Museum, has been regarded as the earliest specimen of the section. The heavy and crude Naga and Yaksha images collected from the surrounding area of Bhubaneswar comes next. Among other notable sculptures the Buddha image of Khadipada, Amoghasidhi of G. Udayagiri, Lokanatha from Bhubaneswar, Jaina Tirthankaras from Podasingidi and Charampa, Brahmanical figures like Sapta Matrukas from Dharmasala, Dikpala figures from Bhubaneswar, Krishna-Vishnu from Dharmasala and a number of Puranic panels and Gopinath images from different parts of the State. A brief account of each school of sculptures is given below:-

Gopinatha

Gopinatha

Archaeological wing of the State Museum is singularity fortunate in having a series of Gopinatha sculptures collected from Dharmasala, Binjharpur, Pubasasana and other places of the State. They broadly display the iconographic features of Krishna and are normally found in the entire coastal belt of Odisha from Remuna in Balasore to Puri. The images of Gopinatha otherwise known as Khirochora Gopinath at Remuna and Madan Mohana elsewhare are strikingly noteworthy.

The image of Krishna - Vishnu

Vishnu brought from Dharmasala and under display along side the Gapinatha group yet is one of the unique acquisitions of the Odisha State Museum. Two such mages have been reported from Puri town ;Jagannatha Ballava Motha and Sadbhuja Galiranga Matha).

Astadikapala

Dikpalas

Another priceless treasure of Orissan sculptures is a group of Dikpala figures recovered from a place near Rajarani temple of Bhubaneswar while digging foundation for a building. The place was carefully excavated during the year 1967 and 14 sculptured figures including the eight Dikpolas were brought to the museum for proper preservation and display.

Uma-Mahesvara

Uma-Mahesvara

The two Uma¬Mahesvara images acquired on the 6th August 1975 were recovered from debris in the compound of the present Bhavani-Sankar temple of Bhubaneswar sometime back. They were perhaps parts of the old temple partially visible under ground in the same premises. Of the two figures, one is some how in good state of preservation and the other is damaged from the middle and the upper part is missing.

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