The present piece of work is the outcome of the holistic, original documentation and survey of the art and architecture of South Kosala which is one of the interesting and dazzling chapters of Indian art history. Temples of a wide range of varieties were constructed in India during the post Gupta period over a time span of more than a millennium broadly in three varieties, namely nagara, dravida and vesara. The inscription Amritesvara temple at Holal Karnataka speaks of the Kalingan style too. The regional schools of art adopting nagara style came into existence under the patronage of the local ruling dynasties between 6th-11th century AD. in the territory of South Kosala. This aspect of cultural history has not received adequate attention of the scholars hitherto.
These temples of South Kosala later on developed a sub-regional manifestation. The temples were constructed either of brick or brick and stone or entirely of stone. The uniqueness in the South Kosalan architecture is that group of temples constructed after a star-shaped ground plan, rarely found elsewhere in India. As many as eleven temples of this type documented so far, revealed an interesting account of their architecture. Besides, altogether twenty three temples have been documented including both stellate and non-stellate temples. Thus the study focuses that South Kosala played a significant role in the temple building of all conceivable forms and Experiments of which stellate order is not only pronounced but also unique.
About the Author:
Dr. Jeeban Kumar Patnaik obtained his first class Master Degree in History from Berhampur University, Odisha in 1980. He did his M.Phil in History from the same University in 1981 with first class first rank. He completed his P.G. Diploma in Archaeology from Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi in 1990. Later on he was awarded Ph.D in History on the topic - Art and Architecture of South Kosala: A case study of Stellate Temples (6th-11th century A.D) from Sambalpur University, Odisha in 1998. He rendered his service as a professional archaeologist in Archaeological Survey of India in 1984 and continue to hold various posts. Presently he is Superintending Archaeologist in Excavation Branch-IV, Archaeological Survey of India and Bhubaneswar. As a chartered archaeologist, he has explored many archaeological sites in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. He participated in excavations of Harappan site of Dholavira (Gujarat), Tarkhanewala Dera (Rajasthan). He assisted in undertaking excavations at Lalitagiri, Udayagiri, Barabati fort in Odisha, Chak-86 in Rajasthan. In addition, he has also undertaken exploration and excavation programmes. Of late, as a director he conducted archaeological excavation at Suabarei, a chalcolithic- neolithic site near Pipili, District Puri, Odisha for two consecutive seasons 2014-15 and 2015-16 along with exploration in the right bank of river Daya during the period under review. His academic bent of mind compels him to involve in contributing a large number of research papers in the field of archaeology, history, culture, art and architecture, epigraphy and numismatic. All the papers were also published in books, journals of national and international repute. Besides he has attended may conferences, workshops, seminars etc. in India and abroad.
He has edited to volumes to his credit cultural heritage of Jajpur, Odisha (2004), Pratna Bharatam - Glory of Archeology, Art, Epigraphy and protection of cultural heritage (2016). His forthcoming books are Excavations at Lalitagiri (1985-91) now in press. He is one of the editors of Indian Archaeology: A Review 2006-07 and 2012-13. He is closely associated with several academic bodies of Odisha State. |
