Cave Temple at Udayagiri Ⅰ

Udayagiri is located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and is one of the most important early cave temples dedicated to Jainism. Down pillared corridors are lined monasteries for meditation and chanting of sutras. At the entrance stands a goddess with a lithe figure, and by using gold and silver leaf, the dramatic shading of light and shadow are played out. On the arched ceiling above the goddess's head, one can see a multi-headed cobra-like creature called a ryūgai, which hints at a connection to the adopted belief in the naga as a protective diety.