________________
CHAPTER IV THE NANDA RULE IN KALINGA Nandas & Kalinga
The veil of darkness that enshrouds the early history of Orissa, is partially lifted in the fourth Century B. C. The puranic tradition' records that when thirty-two kings of Kalinga had reigned, Mahāpadma Nanda arose and exterminated all the Kashtriyas. This evidently suggests that between the period of the Mahābhārata War (11th Century B. C.) and the conquest of Northern India by Mahāpadma Nanda of Magadha (4th Century B. C.), thirtytwo kings had reigned in Kalinga. Nothing much is known about these thirty-two kings, but R. D. Banerjis takes them to be forming the first dynasty of Kalinga rulers, since he believes that Emperor Khāravala of Kalinga belonged to the third dynasty of Kalinga rulers. Hence the contact of Mahāpadma Nanda with Kalinga is the starting point in the historical period of Orissa's annals.
A certain 'Nandarāja' is twice mentioned in the famous Hāthigumphā inscription of Emperor Khāravela of Kalinga.3 The inscription, a record of events of fourteen years of the Emperor's reign, has been badly preserved. Considerable. portions of it have been damaged, so that both readings and interpretations of many a passages have become uncertain. The record, in its present state, therefore, can be used as a basis for history only with the utmost caution.
1. Váyu Purāna, Chap. 99, Slokas 324, 328. 2. H. O., Vol. I., p. 59. 3. Line 6 : Nandarāja tivasasata oghātitam......paņādim.
Line 12 : Nandarāja nītam cha kalingajina sardivesą.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
