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LINEAGE OF KHĀRAVELA
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descendant of Pururavas, and hence, the kings of Kalinga were Kshatriyas of the Lunar family. There should, hence, be no hitch in ascribing Khāravela, the great king of Kalinga, an Aila descent. Many Dravidian kings at this time, according to R. D. Banerji,” claimed to be Aiļa Kshatriyas. The Sātavāhana king Vāśishțiputra śriPulumāvi also calls himself the great Aiļa (Malā Airekena) in his inscription in Cave No. 3 of the Panduleņa group in the Nasik district. 3
It is interesting to note in this connection that the king of Kalinga is called in the Mahābhārata* as a Paurava—belonging to the house of Puru, who was a descendant of the Aila dynasty. At another place, however, in the same Epic, he is called the ruler of the Nishādas, viz. of the aboriginals, which is perfectly in keeping with the forest-folk population in Kalinga.
CHEDI VANśA
Further, Khāravela describes himself as “chetirāja vam sa vadhinena'," viz. 'an offshoot of the Cheti royal family'; whereas at another place, he is actually said to have been a descendant of the early Chedi monarch Vasu
1. Indraji wrongly suggests that Airena is not to be found in Pali and Prakrit. See Luders List No.1276--Aira Ulavipabhihi ; No. 1280Chula Ayira, Ayira Bhuta-rakhita, Ayira-Budharakhitu. Fausboll's Jātaka, Vol. VI, p. 300—'Ayiro hi dūsassa janinda issare'. Qtd. OBI, p. 8, fo. 2.
2. HO, Vol. I, p. 72.
3. E. I., Vol. VIII, p. 65 ; D. C. Sircar (Select Ins. Vol. I, No. 87, p. 201. 1. 3) explains it as 'maha airekena (Skt : mahāryakena) i. e. rajñah prabhātāmahena (?)'.
4. Bhishma parvan, 17, 27 ; 54, 4 ; 64.
5. Line 1. Some read Cheta, Cheti, Chedi ; Cheta, ChaidyaQtd. Sircar, Select Ings, Vol. I, p. 207, fn. 1. 6. Cf, line 17 of the Hātbigumpha inscription.
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