Odisha Outings — The ancient Jaina temple at Subei
Odisha- India’s best kept secret has many untold stories that needs to heard and seen. One such place is the Subei Jaina temple complex which is just 24 kms from Koraput town. Believed to be built in 4th century by Jain gem stone traders who came to Koraput region for trading, this temple complex houses 5 Jaina(refers to Jain religion) temples at present. Considered to be the oldest monument of Odisha, the temples here are dedicated to Mahavira, Parsvanatha, Rishabhanatha and other tirthankaras. It was sheer serendipity that we stumbled upon this heritage wonder which is conveniently located on the Nandapur road that further leads to Rani duduma waterfalls.
Initially, this temple complex housed ten Jaina temples made of stone masonry. At present, there are 3 temples facing east and 2 facing west. Located at the foothills of Pangiri hills, these 5 temples come under the protection of State Archeology Department. Many eminent scholars believe that Jainism played a very important role in the development of language, philosophy, and the way of life of western Odisha people. To know more about the Jain influence on Orissa, do read this incredibly well-researched article- https://www.storiesbyarpit.com/2020/07/the-forgotten-jain-heritage-of-odisha.html
The Jaina temples opens for visitors from morning 9 AM to 7 p.m. The best time to visit is between October to March. The easiest way to reach this heritage site is through private transport.
Entering the temple sanctum was like transporting oneself to an era where Jainism and Buddhism arose and spread across the country. Both Mahavira and Buddha, as we know were seeking a path to provide peace to humanity. As the past engulfed the present, we were grateful to have visited this temple which is a testament of India’s rich history and heritage. Though the local priest performs puja daily, it is apparent that the maintenance of this temple structure and surrounding areas have been ignored by the concerned authorities.
If time can be called the best healer, it can also be a destroyer of historical evidence if we choose to look the other way. I fervently hope these ancient shrines stands the tests of time as its important for our future generations to learn from the past…my feelings are aptly summed up in this quote — ‘A Person without the knowledge of the past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots’.
Next up- https://medium.com/@Rohini.S.Murthy/odisha-outings-fall-fall-for-waterfalls-22af54e2be34
