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
as hiding places by thieves and plunderers. Of the Game forests, some were to be specially reserved for the King's sport, while the rest were meant for public. The Elephant forests were to be situated in out-of-the-way places and were separated from the wild tracts (ațavž). The next were the forests specially maintained for the purposes of obtaining various kinds of forest produce.
The same distinction between these two kinds of forests i. e. Vana and Ațavī, is also to be noticed in the Asokan inscriptions. For instance, in RE VIII, Aśoka speaks of hunting as a Royal pastime, which presupposes the existence and maintenance of Game forests, specially reserved for the purpose. In PE V, there is a clear mention of the Elephant forests (Nāgavana) in which killing of animals was prohibited on certain days of the year, which shows that these were used as hunting grounds by the public. Elephant was one of the most important animals, since it was used in army and also in various social and religious functions. In the Maurya army, there wộs a separate Department of Elephants, which looked to the business of recruiting elephants obtained from various places. The ele. phants of the Kalinga country were thought to be the best, as has been mentioned by Kauțilya. Megasthenes records that the elephants were the special property of the King.? There was a Superintendent of Elephant-forests (Nāguvanā. dhyakasha) as has been mentioned by Kautily. He was to maintain them with the assistance of forest.guards, those who rear elephants, those who enchain their legs, those who guard the boundaries and those who dwell in the forests.
1. II, 2. "Kalingangagajā sreshļūl." 2. Qtd. Mookerji, Asoka, p. 58. 3. II, 2 & 31. 4. II, 17.