Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 118

TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF KALINGA
93
Orissa) and Kośala (or Chhattisgadha) were not classed with the people of southern India or the hill tribes of the Vindhya mountains, but with the more civilized inhabitants of the celebrated Dānava (or Daitya) capital of Tripuri and with that ancient stronghold of Indian culture viz. Mālava.
In the Padma Purāņa, the Kalingas are mentioned twice-once with the Bodhas, the Madras, the Kukuras and the Daśārņas,' and again, in the same chapter, with the Droshakas, the Kirātas, the Tomaras and the Karabhanjakas.2 The Odras are mentioned in the same chapter with the Mlechchhas, the Sairindras (the hillmen), the Kirātas, Barbarians, the Siddhas, the Videhas, and the Tāmraliptikas.
So far, therefore, as Purāņas are concerned, Kalinga was a well-known kingdom occupying the geographical position that it did in later times, and according to one reference in the Mahābhārata, it was the land of virture where Dharma--the god of righteousness (viz. Yudhishthira) himself performed a yajria (sacrifice) at the particular spot which has since borne the name Yajñapura-the modern Jajpur.
1. Original:
"Bodhã madrāḥ kalingāścha kāśayoaparakāśayaḥ Jatharā kukurăschaiva sadaśārņāḥ susuttamāḥ"
(Padma, Ādi Kāņda, VI, 37) 2. Original :
"Doshakāsoha kalingāścha kirātānām cha jātayah Tomarā hanyamānāscha tathaiva karabhañjakäh"
(Ibid, 64). 3. Original :
"Kirātā barbarāḥ siddhāvaidehāstāmraliptikāḥ. Audramlechchhāḥ sasairindrā pārvatiyaścha sattamāh"
(Ibid, 52). 4. Vana Parvan, Ch. 114, p. 352 (Trans : P. C. Ray).