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TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF KALINGA 107 The law-books of Manu classify the Odras with the natives of Pundra and the Dravidians as degraded Kshatriyas.' MAŅI MEKHALĀI
According to the Tamil work Maņi Mekhalāi, the heroine, who had lost her husband, is said to have caused the destruction of the city of Madura by fire. Once the city-godess, Madurāpati, is fabled to have appeared before her and related the following story about her previous birth :-Two princes, cousins by birth and ruling respectively in Simhapur and Kapila, in the fertile country of the Kalingas, fell fighting against each other in great hatred. This was between Vasu and Kumāra, for these were the names of the princes, left the country desolate for six gāvudas (Leagues) and made it impossible for any body to approach on account of the prevalence of the war. A merchant Sangama by name, with his wife, eager after profit, went to Simhapura to sell jewellery and other articles of sale. In the course of his business, he was arrested by Bharata—a police officer of the king and was shown up in the court as a spy. Under royal orders, he was beheaded and his wife bewailing the unfortunate death of her husband put an end to her own life by throwing herself from the top of a hill. It is the curse that she invoked at the moment of her death that has now resulted in the mishap of your husband."
THE BRIHATSAMHITĀ
The Bșihatsamhitā of Varāhmihira mentions the Kalingas at several places. In the chapter entitled 'GrahaBhakti-Yoga', the countries of Odra and Kalinga as well as
1. X. 44. 2. S.K. Iyangar-Mani Mekhalāi in its Historical Setting, p. 187.
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| SR No. | 006922 |
| Book Title | Early History of Orissa |
| 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 |