Diamond Triangle of Odisha
Also called: Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri · Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Diamond Triangle is the name for three Buddhist sites in Odisha: Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri. They lie in Jajpur and Cuttack districts. Together they have stupas, monasteries and many stone sculptures. A stupa is a dome-shaped relic mound, and a monastery is a home for monks. The sites matter for the later forms of Buddhism, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Vajrayana was a later form that used rituals and many deities.
Example
Ratnagiri has a large monastery and many large stone Buddha heads. Relic caskets have been found at the Lalitgiri stupa.
Don't confuse with
- Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves (near Bhubaneswar): rock-cut caves for Jain monks, made under King Kharavela. They are not part of the Buddhist Diamond Triangle.
Related concepts
- Stupa
- Donations to stupas
- Sanchi stupa
- Bharhut stupa
- Amaravati stupa
- Deorkothar stupas
- Kesariya stupa
- Bhattiprolu stupa
- Kanaganahalli
- Nagarjunakonda