Lalitgiri
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Lalitagiri (ललितगिरि), is situated in the Mahanga Tahsil in Cuttack district, is a major Buddhist complex in the Indian state of Odisha comprising major stupas, 'esoteric' Buddha images, and monasteries (viharas), one of the oldest sites in the region.
Variants
- Lalitagiri ललितगिरि, उड़ीसा, (AS, p.813)
- Odia: ଲଳିତଗିରି) (also known as Naltigiri)
- Lalitgiri (ललितगिरि)
Location
It is situated in the Mahanga Tahsil in Cuttack district. Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, is 90 km from the site,[1][2] while Cuttack, the former state capital is 60 km away; Udaigiri is 8 km from Lalitagiri and Ratnagiri is 12 km away.[3]
Lalitagiri is a Village in Mahanga Tehsil in Cuttack District of Odisha State, India. It is located 48 KM towards East from District head quarters Cuttack. 9 KM from Mahanga. 66 KM from State capital Bhubaneswar. Lalitagiri Pin code is 754288 and postal head office is Lalitgiri. Gokan ( 7 KM ) , Haladia ( 7 KM ) , Kusupur ( 7 KM ) , Barahipur ( 8 KM ) , Osanga ( 8 KM ) are the nearby Villages to Lalitagiri. Lalitagiri is surrounded by Derabish Tehsil towards South , Bari Tehsil towards North , Badchana Tehsil towards west , Nischinta Koili Tehsil towards South . Kendrapara , Jajapur , Pattamundai , Jagatsinghapur are the near by Cities to Lalitagiri. This Place is in the border of the Cuttack District and Kendrapara District. Kendrapara District Derabish is South towards this place . Also it is in the Border of other district Jajapur. [4]
History
Together with the Ratnagiri and Udayagiri sites, Lalitagiri is part of Pushpagiri University located on top of hills of the same names.[5][6][7] The three complexes are known as the "Diamond Triangle".[4] Significant finds at this complex include Buddha's relics.[8] Tantric Buddhism was practiced at this site.[9]
It has been inferred after excavations that 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.[10] It is also inferred that this site maintained a continuous of presence of Buddhism, unbroken, from 3rd century BC to 10th century AD.[11]
In 1985, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started excavation at Lalitgiri to locate Pushpagiri, an important Buddhist site mentioned in the writings of the Chinese traveler Xuanzang. The excavation led to several important archaeological discoveries, but none of these confirmed the identification of Lalitgiri with Pushpagiri. Later, excavations at Langudi Hill suggested that Pushpagiri was located there.[12]
ललितगिरि (उड़ीसा)
ललितगिरि (AS, p.813): जिला कटक (उड़ीसा) में स्थित है। तांत्रिक बौद्ध धर्म के उत्कर्ष काल के अनेक ध्वंसावशेष इस स्थान से प्राप्त हुए हैं। यह स्थान कटक के निकट है। [13]
ललितगिरि परिचय
ललितगिरि एक प्रसिद्ध गंतव्य स्थल होने के साथ ही एक ऐसा विख्यात स्थल है, जहाँ सुंदर बौद्ध मठ बने हुए हैं। रत्नागिरि और उदयगिरि पहाड़ियों के मिलने से यहाँ 'डायमंड त्रिभुज' रूप का निर्माण हुआ है। यह तीन पहाडियाँ मिलकर आज भी बौद्ध मठों के खंडहरों की रक्षा करती हैं। यह स्थान चारों तरफ़ से हरियाली से घिरा हुआ है। इस प्राचीन स्थान पर ढेरों स्तूप, गुफ़ाएँ और मूर्तियां हैं, जो इसे आधुनिक रूप में दिखाती हैं। ललितपुर स्थित कई पुरानी इमारतों की वास्तुकला भी पर्यटकों के आकर्षण का केंद्र है। यहाँ का अन्य आकर्षण भगवान महावीर की विशाल मूर्ति है, जो पुष्पागिरि पहाड़ी पर स्थित है। यह एक उत्कृष्ट काम है, जो बौद्ध काल में हुआ था। ललितगिरि में एक संग्रहालय भी है, जहाँ कई वस्तुओं को दर्शाया गया है। ये सभी वस्तुएँ यहाँ की खुदाई के दौरान मिली थीं।
संदर्भ: भारतकोश-ललितगिरि
External links
References
- ↑ "Excavated Buddhist site, Laitagiri".
- ↑ "Lalitgiri". Government of Odisha: Department of Tourism.
- ↑ Goldberg, Kory; Decary, Michelle (26 June 2012). Along the Path: The Meditator's Companion to the Buddha's Land. Pariyatti. ISBN 978-1-928706-56-4.p.387
- ↑ http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Cuttack/Mahanga/Lalitagiri
- ↑ [Hoiberg, Dale; Ramchandani, Indu (2000). Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-0-85229-760-5. pp. 175–176.]
- ↑ "Excavated Buddhist site, Laitagiri".
- ↑ Goldberg & Decary2012, p. 387.
- ↑ Goldberg & Decary2012, p. 387.
- ↑ [Biswas, Subhash C (29 September 2014). India the Land of Gods. PartridgeIndia. ISBN 978-1-4828-3655-4.p.58]
- ↑ "Excavated Buddhist site, Laitagiri".
- ↑ Sinha, Chitta Ranjan Prasad; Das, Harish Chandra (1996). Proceedings of the Indian Art History Congress, 4th Session, Patna – 1996. Indian Art History Congress.p.74
- ↑ "ASI hope for hill heritage – Conservation set to start at Orissa site". The Telegraph. 29 January 2007.
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.813