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Ratnagiri Buddha Head Find: Odisha Excavation Facts

6 March 20251 min read
NATIONAL AFFAIRSRatnagiri BuddhaHead Find: OdishaExcavation Facts6 March 2025safalsetu.com

Why in the news

Excavation at Ratnagiri in Odisha’s Jajpur district uncovered a huge Buddha head, renewing interest in this Buddhist site.

Key facts

  • A Khondalite head with palms and fingers, likely of a meditating figure.
  • Three more heads, a monolithic elephant and hundreds of votive stupas.
  • Two granite tablets in Sanskrit, Kutila (Siddhamatrika) script; fine grey ware pottery.

Significance

  • The stupas suggest a major Vajrayana pilgrimage centre.
  • Whether it is India’s largest Buddha head is yet to be decided.
  • Digging was to run till March, then pause for summer heat.

Exam angle

  • Ratnagiri, Jajpur (Odisha); Khondalite stone; Vajrayana.

Test yourself

1. The large Buddha head found during excavation at Ratnagiri, Odisha, was carved in which stone?

The sculpture was made of Khondalite.

2. Ratnagiri, where a huge Buddha head was unearthed, lies in which Odisha district?

Ratnagiri is in Jajpur district, Odisha.

3. The hundreds of votive stupas at Ratnagiri indicate a major pilgrimage centre of which Buddhist tradition?

They point to Ratnagiri as a major Vajrayana pilgrimage centre.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 6 March 2025 (15 topics).

All topics of the dayDay quizMarch 2025

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