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THE NANDA RULE IN KALINGA . 137 Above are some positive evidences confirming the prevalence of Jainism in Kalinga. There are certain negative evidences too. The Mahābhāratal informs us that the Kalingas are people of no religion. They should be avoided. The lowest Brāhmaṇas reside there from very remote times. They are without the Vedas, without knowledge, without sacrifice and without power to assist at other's sacrifice. The gods do not accept any gifts from them and so on. Perfectly in the same spirit, the writer of the Baudhāyana Dharma Sutra 2 regards Kalinga as an impure country, but evidently not unfrequented by Aryans. The commentator says that certain countries should not be entered. We are informed that whosoever goes to Kalinga, commits sin with his feet and hence must perform the Vaiśvanariya Ishți.
Now, why so much of fuss was created against the people of Kalinga in the Brāhmaṇa works ? What made the highest and the most orthodox ones in the Aryan society—mainly based on the Varņāśrama Dharma, to raise a cry and create a stir against the very culture of the Kalingas, who were one of the most strong allies of the Kurus and played no less important role in the great Mahābhārta battle ?3 It must have been mainly the reason of the prevalence of a hetrodox religion or Jainism in that country. The followers of Jainism and Buddhism were not liked by Brāhmaṇas, for they preached against the authority of the Vedas and the efficacy of Vedic ritualism. That appears to be the reason why people of Kalinga were severely criticised, their religion and culture was questioned, they were degraded to the status of sūdras, so that their very sight was sufficient to pollute any orthodox Brāhmaṇa. Instances of such condemnation are not
1. Karņa parvan, Ch. 44, pp. 155-6 (Ray). 2. I, 1, 30-31. 3. Ch. III, the Mahābhārata Section, supra pp. 97f.
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