The
paintings at Sitabhinji in the Keonjihar district represent the early phase of
painting in Orissa during the time of the Bhanjas. Situated close to the
village Danguapasi are typical boulders at Sitabhinji, named after characters
from the Ramayana like Sita, Lava, Kusa and Ravana. In fact, one of the
boulders, known as Ravanachchhaya, has a painting on the smooth-cut underside
forming the ceiling of the roof.
The painting has been very much damaged by weather,
but what remains, though a small area of 17' x 10', presents a royal procession
with an inscription painted below mentioning Sri Maharaja Disabhanja. It is
thus clear that the painting is of the time of the Kalinga king of that name of
the Bhanja dynasty. The letters are of about the eighth century A.D. and the
painting may be referred to that period. It therefore represents a continuation
of the Gupta tradition in Orissa and is almost contemporary with the
Parasuramesvara temple at Bhuvanesvar.
The procession
shows a king on an elephant with the umbrella held over him, cavaliers and
foot-soldiers preceding and following the stately animal. It closely follows
the Bagh representation though it is not so beautiful. This is the earliest
painting found in Orissa and has to be recognised as one of the early schools
of painting in India.
Writer – C. Sivaramamurti
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