Set
in idyllic environs, on the bank of the Keluo river, Ratnagiri is veritably a
‘Hill of Jewels’ with its sculptures and architectural structures that look
magnificent even in ruins. The objects excavated point to Ratnagiri having
witnessed a phenomenal growth in Buddhist art, architecture, culture and
religion, and having been a great centre of Tantric Buddhism.
The
focal points of the Ratnagiri ruins are the massive Stupa and Monastery 1. The
mammoth stupa on the hilltop is encircled by several tiers of hundreds of
votive stupas. The panoramic view of the pastoral Odishan landscape from here
is stunning. A large number of fine sculptural figures dating from the fifth to
the 12th centuries in terracotta, stone and ivory, plentiful Buddhist
antiquities including bronze, copper and brass objects, and idols of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas produced by the lost wax technique, are part of the
four-galleried museum in the excavated sprawl. The remains reveal the
sculptural prowess of the artisans of the times who combined coloured chlorite
stones to produce stunning pieces of art.
You
will be struck by the gargantuan Monastery 1, the largest monastery excavated
in Odisha. It is surrounded by a pillared verandah built around a courtyard
which one enters through a spectacularly carved green doorway. The unique
ceremonial gateway is the highlight of Ratnagiri and forms the high point of
Buddhist decorative art in India. It leads to 24 brick cells, presumably for
the monks. On the far end of the courtyard is the central sanctum adorned with
an impressive giant statue of the Buddha in bhumisparsha posture. He is flanked
by idols of Padmapani and Vajrapani. The massive stone sculptures of the
Buddha’s head in various sizes are particularly awe-inspiring.
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