Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 80

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(APRIL, 1923
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The capital of Kalinga was always known as Kalinganagara. Khâravela is said to have strengthened his town of Kalinganagara in the first year of his reign. The major portion of the Udayagiri inscription of this king speaks of the embellishments made to the Arhats on the hill. "Umbrellas and kalašas were placed in display, that faith for the Triratna might be inspired among minor and greater chiefs." After every victory he obtained over his enemies, the king Khâra vêla made gifts of "an excellent wish-fulfilling tree with horses, elephants, chariots, with alms houses and rest houses" to the Arhat 12 An outside seat was made for the Arhats on the Kunâri Hill, and an assemblage of the very learned and great sages of all quarters was held on the mountain peak near the site of the Arhat. Such attentions to a seat of worship could be given by the ruling king only when such a religious house was close to the royal residence. The copper-plate grants of the Eastern Ganga kings speak of a Kalinganagara as the seat of the kings. This town is identified with Kalinga patam by some and with Mukhalingam by others. Whatever the truth may be, the capital of the Eastern Ganga kings cannot have been so far north as the Udayagiri Hills, near which existed the chief seat of the Jain king Khåravela.
Kalinga is said to be a district in the country ruled over by Saktivarma, who had his chief seat of government at Pishtapura (Pitahpur).13 On paleographical grounds, these plates may be assigned to a little before or after the conquest of Kalinga by Samudragupta. The king calls himself ' Vâsishtiputra' and 'Mâgadhi'. It appears therefore that he was a descendant of Chandra Satakarni who was also a Våsishtiputra. He was consequently an Andhra king, who from his capital at Pitahpur ruled over the Kalinga country. In the same plates the village Råkaluva is mentioned as being in the Kalinga Vishaya. It has been identified with Ragolu, a village on the road from the railway station to Chicacole (83° 57' 30" N. and 18° 20' 48" E., Indian Atlas, No. 108), and lying to the north of the Nagávali. This clearly proves that the country of Kalinga lay to the north of that river.
Samudragupta is said to have defeated Swamidatta, the king of Pishtapura and Mahendragiri Kottura.14 The original line concerned with this point runs thus :" TES HFT fegre per a trace". In the whole prasasti, as in this line, the name of the king is mentioned immediately after the name of his kingdom. So the translators were mistaken and said Mahendra was the king of the country belonging to Pishtapura ; and Swamidatta was the king of the country related to Kottura on the hill.' In the revised edition of his Early History of India, V. A. Smith says (p. 284) that "Samudragupta vanquished the chieftain who held Pishtapura, the ancient capital of Kalinga, now Pithapuram in the Godavari district, as well as the hill forts of Mahendragiri and Kottura." In a foot-note Kottura is identified with Kottoor of Indian Atlas No. 108, which lies twelve miles south-south-east from Mahendragiri. This interpretation is self-contradictory in two points. Kottöra is called "a hill fort;" but the village of Kottoor identified with it is on the sea coast and cannot be a hill fort. The compound 'Mahendragiri Kauttu. raka', is not a dvandva, because Mahendragiri' is an adjective and 'Kauttura' is a noun. The termination of the compound does not show its dual nature. As a compound the term means of Kottura connected with Mahendragiri.' The mountain Mahendra was always the chief landmark for Kalinga. Therefore by Mahendragiri Kottura' is meant Kalinga, and Kottura near Mahendragiri. was its chief town. The whole line means "Swamidatta (the ruler) of the country which has Pishtapura (for its capital), and also of 12 Op. cit., Hatagumpha Caves.
18 Ep. Ind., vol. XII, No. 1. 14 Allahabad Posthumous Pillar Inscription : Corpus.