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

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AN EARLY HISTORY OF ORISSA
case in so far as the Kalinga country was concerned, that is a person going there could expiate by performing a sacrifice, but in the case of other Arattas (viz. the people of Pundra, Sauvīra and Vanga etc.) the sin arose even if an Aryan spoke or sat together with them.
The people of eastern Bengal, northern Bengal and Kalinga were therefore regarded, in the time of the Sūtras, as belonging to the Mlechchhas and as being altogether out of the pale of the Aryan civilization. But among them the people and the country of Kalinga obtained a slight preference. So while the people of Bengal were regarded as untouchables and were not to be spoken to or touched by an Aryan, the people of Kalinga were not treated so. We have, however, no means to determine for what reasons the Aryans condescended to confer this distinction on the dark Dravidians of Kalinga.
Though the country of Kalinga has been regarded as an impure one yet it was frequented by Aryans, since during the Epic Age, our heroes of the Mahābhārata are clearly mentioned to have visited this country. There was also considerable Brāhmaṇa population in the country of the Kalingas as is clear from the Asokan inscriptions and also from various references in the Mahābhārata itself.
PĀNINI'S ASHTĀDHYAYI
Kalinga was certainly known to Pāṇini and in his memorable work—the Ashțādhyāyī, he groups together Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra etc.? Probably the boundaries of Kalinga and Magadha touched each other in those days." He mentions Kalinga as a Janapada with
1. IV, 1, 70; Cf. II, 4, 62 ; Qtd. Barnett, CHI, Vol I, p. 60. 2. V. 8. Agarwala-India A3 Kpown to Pāṇini, pp. 37 & 60,