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TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF KALINGA
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the Jaina literature, is in connection with Lord Aranātha, the eighteenth Jaina Tirthańkara, who received his first alms in the city of Rāyapura (Rajpur), which is said to be the metropolis of that country. In the Mahābhārata? too Rajpur is mentioned as the capital of Kalinga.
The other reference to the country is found in connection with Lord Pārsvanātha, the twenty-third Jaina Tīrthankara. The story goes :
“Naravarman was the king of Kuśasthalapura. After him his son Prasenjit ascended the throne. Prasenjit had a very handsome daughter by name Prabhāvati. When she reached an age of marriage, king Prasenjit tried his best to obtain a suitable match for her but did not succeed. One day, however, when the princess was moving in her garden, she heard some Kinnari's singing a song in praise of Pārsvanātha, a very virtuous and handsome son of king Aśvasena of Vārāṇase. The Kinnaries said that the wouldbe wife of Pārsva was present in that very garden and further that who could be more fortunate than that lady. That song created a longing for Pärśva in the heart of Prabhāvati. When the matter was reported to king Prasenjit, he decided at once to give Prabhāvati to Pārsva in marriage. In the meantime, this news reached the ears of the king of Kalinga who was known as “Yavana'. He got enraged at the 'news and declared in his Parishat“Who is Pārśva and how can anyone else marry Prabhāvati when I am alive? Who is Prasenjit to give away Prabhāvati to Pārsva ?” He then proceeded to Kusasthalapura with a huge army. Prasenjit, at this, sent his envoy to king Aśvasena requesting for help, who, in turn, sent Pārsva
1. Avagyaka Niryukti, 325. 2. Sånti parvan, 4, 3,
3. Pärsvanātha Charita of Sri Bhavadeva Sūri. Ed : Pt. Hargovind and Pt. Bechardas, pp. 26, -70, Slokas 155f.
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