sitabinji keonjhar

sitabinji keonjhar

Sitabinji, famous for the fresco paintings on a Rock Shelter called Ravan Chhaya, lies at a distance of 30 kms from Keonjhar.Superintending Engineer of Government Of Orissa, Keonjhar, Orissa invites tenders notice for improvement of Katrabeda to Sitabinji road at Keonjhar

Sitabinji Pictographs  located on the banks of the Sita River, is famous for ancient fresco paintings carved on a rock shelter called the ‘Ravan Chhaya’.( 20 KMs from Ghatagaon)

Sitabinji, located on the banks of the Sita River, is famous for ancient fresco 

paintings carved on a rock shelter called the ‘Ravan Chhaya’. The Chikinia Park is a popular picnic spot near Sitabinji.

Ravana
Chhaya, a
rock shelter
near
Sitabinji,
Orissa, is
around
1,300 -
1,500 years
old and
contains
ancient
painting created in the tempera method. Sitabinji is a rural community
that has an interesting past and was named after the stream Sita that
flows near the region.
There is a crevice in between two rock boulders that consists of exquisite tempera art and painting that can be traced back to the 7th
century. The art work is not linked with any religious beliefs and depicts the scene of a royal procession. Ravana Chhaya can be
literally translated into Shadow of Ravana, the King of Lanka (as mentioned in Ramayana).
The Ravana Chhaya rock shelters are situated between two massive boulders of granite. The larger boulder is inclined towards the
smaller boulder, which creates a triangular crevice in between. The gap is around 6.7 m in height and 4.7 m in depth. The depth of the
crevice has provided favourable conditions for the preservation of the precious artwork.
History of Ravana Chhaya
The cave had adequate significance in the ancient times, even in the period before the artwork was created. Followers of Lord Shiva
used the cave around 4th - 6th century AD. They used to worship Mukha Linga, a depiction of lingam with four faces of lord Shiva and
are still situated in the Sitabinji region. The inscriptions in the nearby areas also depict the Mukha Linga which provides evidence that
worship of Shiva was hugely popular in Orissa during the 5th century AD.
There are also remnants in the vicinity that contain pieces of ancient bricks and inscriptions in Pali language. More over ancient coins
of the Kushanas and other sculptures have also been excavated, which suggest that Sitabinji was widely popular in those days. Other
rock cut shelters in the area contain paintings and artworks from the Mesolithic period, which are also popular as Paintings of
Sitabinji.
Tempera Paintings of Ravana Chhaya
The painting of Ravana Chhaya rock shelters, which was created in the tempera technique, was brilliant in terms of quality and skill,
dates back to 7th Century AD. The granite surface, which is usually rough, was smoothened by using a thin layer of lime, before
applying the quick drying colours that was used in tempera paintings. The painting appears to have resemblance with the styles
adopted in artworks of Hindu religion. It portrayed an imperial figure sitting on top of an elephant and holding a sword, in a royal
procession. A number of followers escort the procession on foot, along with women who seem to be dancing and a few horsemen. It
is believed by experts that the location was used as a royal retreat while hunting.
The name of Maharaja Sri Disabhanja also appears in the lines below the painting. It was writing was painted in the Sanskrit
language in the 7th century AD. Furthermore, to protect and conserve the artwork from seeping water, a channel has been chiselled

on the rocks, right above the artwork. But still the lower portion of the painting has eroded.