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
of his 98 half-brothers with Sumana at their head on the other side. Whether the war of succession, referred to in the Buddhist literature, amounts to the death of all the 99 half-brothers of Asoka, we are not sure. Tārānātha tells us that Asoka killed only six of his brothers. It may, hence, be concluded that atleast some of his (Asoka's) brothers were alive after he ascended the throne and that they were assigned posts of great importance, as is gleaned from his various inscriptions.
Therefore, Dr. Barua's suggestion that the Province of Kalinga was under the Emperor himself in the beginning and that it was only late in his reign that the provinces were placed under the charge of the Kumāras (i.e. Asoka's sons) does not appear to be correct. The system of provincial government was in vogue right from the time of Asoka's illustrious grandfather Chandragupta and the same was continued by Bindusāra. To suppose that Asoka did not follow such a system, and that the provinces were assigned only to certain high officers, like the Rājavachanika-Mahāmātras and not to Members of the Royal blood, goes against the very scheme of the Maurya administration. Could the Mahāmātras be more reliable than Princes of the Royal blood ? Certainly that could not have been. What, however, appears that Asoka did not have any occasion to refer to his Kumāra-Viceroys prior to the issue of the Separate Kalinga Edicts in order to check the miscarriage of justice, arbitrary imprisonment and torture in that Province. It may, hence, be concluded that Asoka, after the conquest and annexation of the country of Kalinga to his Empire, changed it into a Viceroyalty and placed it under a Kumāra-Viceroy, who, at that time, must have been a brother of his. Later on, however, one of the sons or any other Kumāra of the Royal blood was placed in charge of that Viceroyalty.