Context

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has identified a 1,300-year-old stupa, in the middle of a mining site in Odisha’s Jajpur district from where Khondalite stones were supplied for the beautification project around the 12th Century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.

About

• The stupa could be 5-metre tall and initial assessment showed it may belong to the 7 th or 8 th century.
• The stupa found is said to the part of Lalitgiri Buddhist site.
• The ASI has asked to stop the mining activity in the area for excavation of Khondalite stones.

Lalitgiri Buddhist site:

• Lalitgiri is one of the earliest Buddhist sites of Orissa shows the cultural continuity right from the post Mauryan period to 13th century A.D without any break.
• The Lalitgiri site had its continuation from 2nd century B.C to 14th century A.D.
• The development of Buddhism in Lalitgiri could be known from the existing cave monuments such as three numbers of well-built monasteries, Mahastupa, Chaitya, and a plethora of small stupas.
• The ancient Mahastupa yielded bone Relic Caskets, wrapped in golden foil and one sealing revealed the name Chandraditya Mahavihara.
• It also encompasses Mahachaitya like Nagarjunkonda of Andhrapradesh and a series of well-built monasteries for the monks.
• Besides, sculptures, inscriptions of the Kushana Empire, Gupta and Post-Gupta periods indicate its patronage. The site has a continuous history of 1500 years.
• The sculptures talk about the phases of Buddhism i.e Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana

Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme:

• The project will include Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) building redevelopment, a 600-capacity Srimandir reception centre, Jagannath cultural centre, Badadanda heritage streetscape, beachfront development, Puri lake, Musa river revival plan, etc.