Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 52
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
View full book text
________________
90
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ May, 1923
the adversary into the secret that fire would melt the stuff.” 30 The fort however appears to have been built in times subsequent to Asoka's.
The rocks here are geologically connected with the Eastern Ghâte, and the place is now surrounxled by Peddakemidi, Chinna Kemidi, and other parts of Ganjam District, where malaria and other kinds of forest diseases are rife. In those ancient days, however, the region may have been even more unhealthy. A benign sovereign, who treated his people as his own children, would not expose his officers to this unhealthy region. At the present day the officers for the administration of the Agency tracts of the three northernmost districts of the Madras Presidenoy have their head-quarters at Vizagapatam, a healthy town on the sea coast, and the Kalinga rulers of old are also said to have greatly appreciated life on the coaet. The palace of the King of Kalinga was on the seashore :
यमात्मनः सद्मनि संनिकृष्टो मन्द्रत्वनित्याजितयामतूर्यः।
प्रासादवातायन दृश्यवीचिः प्रबोधयत्यर्णव एव सुप्तम्।। "The ocean itself, the waves of which are seen from the windows of his palace, and the deep resounding roars of which surpass the sound of the watch drum, being close at hand. awakes him as it were, when asleep in his palace-room."
At the approach of the spring, the King of Kalinga retired to the shore with his family and subjects to celebrate the vernal festivities.
दर्दुरगिरितट चन्दनश्लेष शीतलानिलाचार्य दत्तमानालतानृत्त लीले काले, कलिजराज स्सहानाजनेन सह च तनयया सकलेन च नगरजनन दश त्रीणि च दिनाति दिनकर किरण जाला लड्नीये रणदलितसालगिन्तनतलताप्रफिस-तयालीढसैकततटे तरलतरङ्गशीकरासारसङ्गशीतले सागर
-4.1987, IETTE FTO ART chefia"33 "In that season, when the various creepers dance according to the instruction given by their tutor, the cool breeze that is embraced by the sandal wood trees on the slopes of the Dardura hill, the King of Kalinga, accompanied by his women folk, his daughter and his townsmen, became engaged in sport for thirteen days in the pleasure garden on the seashore, which is impenetrable to the rays of the sun, where the sand-banks are swept by the tendrils of the creepers that are bent by the perching of the humming bees, and which is cooled by the spray of the waves that play constantly."
Communications with other countries was mostly by sea. The Andhra king comes over the sea and carries away the King of Kalinga and his family.38 Great and constant was the interoourse with Ceylon (Iramandalam). The people of Ceylon established colonies. Hiramandalam, Hirapuram in the Parlakimidy Taluk, Hira Khandi in Dhårakota Zamindari. Hirapalli in Gumsur Taluk, Hirapalli in Attagada Zamindari of the Ganjam District, are all remnants of Ceylonese colonisation in Kalinga. Kalingapura, the modern Polan. nåruwa in Ceylon, reminds us of the great friendship that existed between that Island and Kalinga. The left canine tooth of the lower jaw of Buddha, which was found in the Ceylon stápas and is now deposited in the British Museum, was taken to Ceylon from Kalinga after the destruction of Dantapura. 30 Ganjam District Gazette.
31 Raghu Vamoa, Canto 6. 39 Dagalumdra Oharitra, Canto 7.
33 Ganjam District Manual.