Kalinga (India)

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This article is about the ancient Indian kingdom. For other uses, see Kalinga.
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Kalinga
3rd century BCE
Kalinga c. 261 BCE
Kalinga c. 261 BCE
Capital Not specified
Languages
Sanskrit, Odia[citation needed]
Government
Not specified
History
Established
3rd century BCE
Disestablished 3rd century BCE
Today part of
India
Kalinga was an early kingdom in central East India[when?] that comprised almost
whole Odisha and also some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh.[1][2][3] It
was a rich and fertile land that extended from the Damodar River/Ganges to the G
odavari River and from Bay of Bengal to the Amarkantak range in the west.[4] The
region was scene of the bloody Kalinga War fought by Ashoka of the Maurya Empir
e approximately 265 BCE.[5]
Contents [hide]
1
History
2
Pre-Mauryan
3
Ashoka's conquest
4
Anantavarman Chodaganga
5
In Mahabharata
6
See also
7
Notes
8
References
History[edit]
The Kalingas occupied the extensive territory stretching from river Vaitarani in
Odisha to the Varahanandi in the Visakhapatnam district.[6] Its capital in the
ancient times was the city of Dantakura or Dantapura (now Dantavaktra fort near
Chicacole in the Ganjam district, washed by the river Languliya or Langulini).[6
]
The core area of the historical Kalinga now forms the sea shore of Orissa and An
dhra region of Andhra Pradesh, up to river Godavari state in India.
Kalinga is mentioned as "Calingae" in Megasthenes' Indica:
The Prinas and the Cainas (a tributary of the Ganges) are both navigable rivers.
The tribes which dwell by the Ganges are the Calingae, nearest the sea, and hig
her up the Mandei, also the Malli, among whom is Mount Mallus, the boundary of a
ll that region being the Ganges.
?Megasthenes fragm. XX.B. in Pliny. Hist. Nat. V1. 21.9 22. 1.[7]
The royal city of the Calingae is called Parthalis. Over their king 60,000 footsoldiers, 1,000 horsemen, 700 elephants keep watch and ward in "procinct of war.
"
?Megasthenes fragm. LVI. in Plin. Hist. Nat. VI. 21. 8 23. 11.[7]
The Kalinga alphabet[8] derived from Brahmi was used for writing.

Kalinga was a powerful kingdom during the Mauryan era. The kingdom fell when emp
eror Ashoka led a war against the kingdom, leading to its bloody defeat in the K
alinga War. It seems to have gained independence soon by the time of king Kharav
ela.[9]
Pre-Mauryan[edit]
Mahapadma Nanda the ruler of Magadha is presumed to have conquered Kalinga durin
g his reign around c. 350 BCE. The Hathigumpha inscriptions mentions the suzerai
nty of the Nandas in the Kalinga region.[10] The inscriptions also mention irrig
ation projects undertaken by the Nanda kings in the state during their reign.[11
]
In Asurgarh, beads and punched coins belonging to an unknown king dating to the
pre-Mauryan period have been discovered.[12]
Ashoka's conquest[edit]
Main article: Kalinga War
Ashoka campaigned against the Kalingans and routed them in about 260 BC.[13] He
defeated Raja Anantha Padmanabhan in the war resulting in the conquest of Kaling
a and its incorporation into Maurya Empire.[citation needed]
Anantavarman Chodaganga[edit]
Main article: Anantavarman Chodaganga
In the twelfth century, one of the most important ruler of the Eastern Ganga dyn
asty, King Anantavarman Chodaganga, decided to erect a temple for Purrushotama J
agannatha at Puri. Subsequently, in 1230 AD, King Anangabhima III dedicated his
kingdom to the deity and proclaimed himself as the "deputy" of the God. As the t
emple gained in importance as a center of pilgrimage, its authority in social an
d political matters also increased. All those who conquered Kalinga(Odisha), suc
h as the Mughals, the Marathas and the English East India Company,attempted to g
ain control over the temple. They felt that this would make their rule acceptabl
e to the local people.
In Mahabharata[edit]
Main article: Kalinga Kingdom
Kalinga is mentioned in the legendary epic Mahabharata, along with the Vodhas an
d again along with the Kiratas residing in the east, at (6,9). Kalinga King Srut
ayu is stated to have fought the Mahabharata war for the Kauravas. Kuru king Dur
yodhana's wife was from Kalinga. Kalingas sided with Duryodhana in the Kurukshet
ra War. The founders of five eastern kingdoms, which included: Angas (east, cent
ral Bihar), Vangas (southern West Bengal and Bangladesh), Kalingas (Sea shore of
Orissa), Pundras (western Bangladesh and West Bengal, India), Suhmas (north-wes
tern Bangladesh and West Bengal) shared common ancestry. Two capitals (Dantapura
and Rajapura) of Kalinga were mentioned in Mahabharata, probably there were man
y Kalinga kings, ruling different territories of Kalinga.[citation needed]