Jain Journal 1977 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 31

Kharavela and the Music of Orissa
PRIYAMBADA JAIN
In the religious history of Jainism ancient Kalinga played a very important part. It is a known fact that the last two Tirthankaras visited this land for the propagation of this religion. Rsabhadeva was the national deity of Kalinga even as early as the 6th century B.C. Before the invasion of Asoka Jainism was the national religion of Kalinga. Excavations of Sisupalgadh in the year 1948 also bears testimony to this. It suffered a setback and was partly eclipsed by Asoka's invasion of Kalinga and his propagation of Buddhism. But Jainism saw its zenith in the century immediately preceding the Christian era when Kalinga under King Kharavela threw away the yoke of Mauryan Empire and rose against the rising power of the Satavahanas in the Deccan, and the weak rulers of Magadha. The reign of Kharavela is a illuminating phase in the history of Jainism as in the history of Orissa.
The source of the history of this period is only the rock inscription of Hathigumpha on the hillock of Udayagiri some 3 miles away from Bhuvaneswara, the present capital of Orissa. This inscription was first brought to the notice of scholars in 1825 and ever since scholars have been working on it. Little is known about the Cedi dynasty before Kharavela and a pall of darkness decends again to the history of Orissa after his reign. Again the period when Kharavela flourished is unfortunately a highly controversial matter. The only hint 'tibarsasata' has been variously interpreted. Prof. Amarchand is in favour of placing him in the last quarter of the first century B.C. which synchronises with other dates fixed up by other scholars like R. D. Banerjee, Dr. M.N. Das, Dr. N.K. Sahu and Dr. V.N. Sahu.
A close study of Hathigumpha inscription reveals that music, dance and dramatics were practised at that period as Kharavela had to learn various fine arts like painting, dancing, instrument playing, dramatics, drafting, counting, etc. So it can safely be guessed that he must have developed taste for these amongst his subjeets also. Besides he was a great builder and it was due to his sole efforts Jaina temples and caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri were constructed. Here one can see the visual representations of the dance poses as practised at