Odisha (formerly Orissa) is known for its tribal cultures and its many ancient Hindu temples. The capital, Bhubaneswar, is home to hundreds of temples, notably the intricately-carved Muktesh Vara. The Lingaraj Temple complex, dating to the 11th century, is set around sacred Bindusagar Lake. The world famous Puri temple, one of the dhams of the char dham, famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars is situated in Odisha. It is famous for its exquisite ancient architecture many of which continue to live even today bearing testimony to the rich history and tradition of the state. However, improper maintenance and preservation threatens to push many of these historical monuments into oblivion.
Anantashayana Vishnu (a sculpture of sleeping Lord Vishnu on serpent Ananta), situated near Sarang village under Parjang police limits in Dhenkanal district is a symbolic representation of the cosmic balance of finite within infinite. There are many rock and other material sculptures and paintings of this cosmic visualization. The carving believed to be dating back to the ninth-century, is located on the left bank of the Brahmani River. Researchers depict the sculpture as an epitome of Vedic religious beliefs and philosophy.
With its measurements of 51ft length and 23 ft breadth, it is billed as the largest such exposed rock cut structure, in the whole of Asia. The image was carved during the first quarter of the 9th century when the Bhauma-Kara that ruled in central part of Odisha. It has been analyzed based on its “idiom and crown” and dated to belong to later part of the Bhaumakara reign. Historical records also indicate that the Nandodhbahav feudatory rulers, under the Bhaumakara kings, who were followers of Vaishnavism (The Hindu sect which worships Vishnu as the Supreme God), were instrumental in getting the carvings of two large rock-cut images of Vishnu – the one at Saranga and the other at Dankal, in the upper Brahmani River valley
The image is of the Hindu god Vishnu in a reclining position. The image is carved out of natural rock of sandstone formation. He has four arms, holding a Chakra in the upper right hand, a Shankha in his upper left hand, a Gada and a symbolic lotus on its lower left hand. The hoods of the serpent Shesha (Ananta) covering the head of Vishnu. The Vishnu image has a sharp chin, distinctive nose and wears a crown on its head. A lotus design shown sprouting from his navel has the creator god Brahma, sitting in meditation. The carving is said to be the longest sleeping expression of lord Vishnu in India.
As per popular folklore, Anantashayana sculpture has been created naturally by speeding current of water in the river. The shrine is one of the most revered religious sites in Dhenkanal and people from far and wide often visit the location. But as far as safety of the sculpture is concerned, floods in Brahmani River are the real threat to the structure built on the sandstone due to its vulnerability to corrosion. Though it is a protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, the historical structure is lying in a dilapidated condition. The area where it is situated has an extremely unpleasant odor and the floods in Brahmani River are a threat to the image as this is built by sandstone in the river bed, which could erode.
