Neglected Jain Heritage Sites in Jajpur Cry for Conservation and Recognition

Jajpur: Even as the Odisha government has granted tourism status to prominent Buddhist sites like Ratnagiri and Udayagiri in Jajpur district, several historically significant Jain heritage locations in Korei block continue to face neglect and are on the verge of disappearance.

In Talagada panchayat, the sites of Brahmanidevi and Nuagada contain a large number of scattered Jain relics, most of which remain poorly preserved. At Nuagada, a historically significant cave has deteriorated over time due to lack of maintenance.

According to local beliefs, the cave has three entrances—one said to connect to Joranda Mahima Alekh Mutt in Dhenkanal, another to the nearby Vyasa Sarovara, while the third passage remains unexplored and shrouded in mystery.

Local accounts suggest that Jain monks once used this cave for travel and meditation. The site is also believed to have been in use during the reign of the Keonjhar king. Over time, due to opposition from followers of other religions, Jain practitioners reportedly abandoned the area. The cave later came under the influence of followers of the Mahima Alekh sect. In 1980, saints Alekh Das and Baba Binod Das constructed a Mahima temple near the western side of the cave.

In recent years, the site has attracted the attention of foreign researchers, and studies are ongoing. However, the absence of conservation measures has left the cave and more than 200 scattered Jain stupas in a deteriorating condition.

Similarly, the Brahmanidevi shrine area houses numerous Jain relics. According to local legend, a royal woman named Brahmanidevi turned into stone at the site after disobeying her mother’s instructions while traveling to her in-laws’ home. A temple was later built in her honor, and worship continues to this day.

The temple premises also include a sacred water source known as Gupta Ganga, a yajna mandap, and several remnants of Jain heritage that are still worshipped.

Local residents and heritage enthusiasts have urged the government to take immediate steps to develop and recognize Brahmanidevi and Nuagada as tourist destinations. They believe that such initiatives would not only help preserve the endangered Jain heritage but also promote awareness about the region’s rich historical and cultural legacy.