Jagatsinghpur: Heritage enthusiasts under the aegis of Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW) set out on their 13th venture Sunday to explore the lesser-known and vibrant hot-spots which have deep-rooted links to the socio-religious fabrics of the region with references to Buddhism and Hinduism.
While visiting the ancient Nagarjuna Temple and the Janardana Vishnu Temple in Kaduapada, located in Kalyanpur village on the outskirts of Jagatsinghpur town, more than 25 members of the JHW were overwhelmed to know that Buddhism has so many influences but later it got amalgamated with the common Hindu shrines and the deities continue to get the attention as Hindu idols.
At Nagarjuna Peeth in Kalyanpur village, local residents have traditionally worshipped two ancient idols as manifestations of Lord Vishnu. However, upon closer inspection, these figures are clearly not representations of eternal Hindu deities but are directly linked to Buddhism: One is Bodhisattva Manjushri, and the other depicts Gautama Buddha after his descent from the heavens (Devavatran).
The presence of such Buddhist icons amid a region dominated by Shiva-Shakti worship is both remarkable and thought-provoking, inviting deeper inquiry into the site’s layered historical narrative.
