Literary Sources Of Ancient Odisha State (India)

Ancient Odisha mentioned in Vedas

The literary sources present a whole lot of data for the reconstruction of the historical past of a nation as literature is taken into account because of the mirror of the society. Numerous kinds of literature speaks in regards to the glory of the Odisha in several methods at several intervals.

 

 The epics of Ancient Odisha

 The Mahabharata makes the earliest reference to Kalinga and Odra. The Mahabharata mentions about this land and its sacred river Vaitarani and Goddess Viraja. In this epic the sage Lomasa suggested the Pandavas go to river Vaitarani to take a holy deep within the river and to clean away all their sins. 

On the opposite hand, the Ramayana refers to Kalinganagara located to the west of the river Gomati and refers back to the Gandhamardana and Utkala associating it with Mekala and Dasarna nations. Further, completely different Puranas like Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana, Bhagavata, Harivamsa Purana, and Vishnu Purana and many others. throw gentle on Kalinaga and Utkala and legendary kings. The Kapila Samhita and Prachi Mahatmya are additionally thought-about because of the sources of Odishan historical past.

 The Jaina sources of ancient Odisha

 The Jaina literature accommodates descriptions of Kalinga and Utkala. In historic time the individuals of Odisha had been largely the followers of Jainism and Buddhism. So, the Jaina and Buddhist literature narrate in regards to the individuals of historic Odisha and its tradition. 

The Avasyaka Niryukti reveals that Aranatha, the eighteenth Jaina Tirthankara had achieved his first aim within the metropolis of Rayapura which was stated to be a capital metropolis of Kalinga. Further, it states that how Mahavira, whereas traveling in Tosali was tortured by the native individuals who took him to be a thief and he was rescued by the well-timed interference of the Tosali-Kshatriyas.

 It additionally refers back to the metropolis of Dantapura. The Jaina Harivamsa provides a family tree of the Chedis describing Abhichandra because of the founding father of that dynasty in the Kosala area.

 The Buddhist sources of Ancient Odisha

The Buddhist literature additionally accommodates descriptions of Kalinga and Utkala. The Buddhist literature additionally displays the historical past of ancient Odisha. The Mahagovinda Suttanta of Digha Nikaya, mentions ‘Kalinga-rattha’ (Kalinga Rashtra) together with its capital Dantapura. 

The ‘Upalisutta’ of Majjhima Nikaya describes how king Nalikira of Kalinga breathed his final as a consequence of his unwell therapy in direction of some harmless ascetics. Kalinga and Utkala discover points out in Kurudharma Jataka, vessantara Jataka, Kumbhakara Jataka, Kalinga Bodhi Jataka, and many others.

 Mahaparinirvana Sutta, Dathavemsa, Dighanikaya, and Mahavastu additionally throw gentle on Utkala and Kallhga. Jatakas like Kurudharma, Kalinga Bodhi, Sarabhanga, and many others. furnish details about Odisha. 

Majjim Nikaya and Mahabhagga describe the assembly of the 2 retailers, Tapassu and Bhallika of Utkala with Lord Buddha. A Buddhist work named Gandavyuha describes that Tosala was an affluent kingdom in Kalinga in third century A.D. The Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, the 2 Buddhist works mention in regards to the pleasant relationship between Kalinga and the Ceylon. The Chulavamsa additionally depicts in regards to the frequent go-to of the king of Kalinga to Ceylon.

Other vital historic literature of Ancient Odisha

 The Arthasastra of Kautilya composed in the 4th century B.C. is a normal treatise on polity and statecraft which influenced the political organizations of Kalinga. Among different such works point out could also be made from the authorized texts Iike the Smritis of Manu, Narada, Brhaspati, Katyayana, Yajnavalkya, and Kamandaka which have molded the political techniques of Odisha. 

On the opposite hand, the Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira, Astadhyayi of Panini, and Kamasutra of Vatsyayana additionally throw welcome gentle on the socio-religious and financial situation of ancient Odisha. In the Baudhayana Dharmasastra, the Kalinga has been described as an impure nation. The Natyasastra of Bharat of depicts Kosala, Tosala, and Kalinga because of the southern nations. 

Kalidasa’s Raghuvmasam narrates Kalinga and Utkala. Banabhattas’s Harshacharita mentions in regards to the king of Kalinga. Harshavardhan’s Ratnavali additionally mentions about Kalinga. Further, the post-Sangam literature like Silpadikaram and Manimekalai of 2nd century A.D. mentions about Kalinga. Among the true historic works relating historic Odisha, point out could also be made from Gaudavaho by Vakpatiraja ( 725 CE). This provides an account of the conquests of Yasovarman of Kanauj.

 Literary sources of Ancient Odisha throughout the Ganga period

 The Ganga literature is an amazing supply of the time for the socio-religious and financial examine of Odisha. The Ganga interval additionally noticed the event of Sanskrit literature of which reference could be made from Murari’s Anargharaghava Natakam which was staged at Puri throughout a Car competition of Lord Jagannath. 

Sri Harsha’s Naishadha Charita Mahakavyam mentions in regards to the cowrie cells as currency prevalent in Odisha throughout the medieval period, chewing of betel by the people of Odisha and Jagannatha’s procession from the temple to the platform (Mancha) on the full moon day of Jeyestha. 

On the opposite hand, two treatises on astrology ‘Bhasvati’ and ‘Satananda Ratnamala’ and an authorized textual content ‘Satyananda Samgraha’ by Satyananda Acharya within the latter half of 11th century A.D. throws gentle on socio-economic aspects. 

Vidyadhara’s Alankar work ‘Ekavali” composed in 13th century A.D., describes the encounters of the Ganga Emperor Narasimhadeva with the Sultans of Delhi and Bengal. Visvanatha Kaviraja, the author of the famous ‘Sahitya Darpana’ has written ‘Chandrakala Nataka’ which hints on the army victories of his patron Gajapati Nisanka Bhanudeva or Bhanu IV (1407-37 A.D.) in opposition to the Sultan of Bengal. 

The Chandrakala Natika is a good work throughout the Ganga rule. One of the masterpieces in Vaishnava literature throughout the Ganga interval was the marvelous work of Jayadeva’s Gitagovindam. Thus, the traditional literature provides a variety of information relating to the social, political, financial, spiritual, and cultural life of the people of ancient Odisha.

Foreign Literacy sources of  Ancient Odisha

The foreign literature additionally gives a great account of information on historic Kalinga. The Greek historians like Pilny, Diodorus, Curtius, Plutarch have talked about concerning the folks of Kalinga. Megasthenes refers to Gangaridum Calingarum Regia (Gangetic Kalinga Region). 

Pliny divides Kalinga into three divisions-Gangarides (Gangetic), Maceo (Middle), and Calingae (Kalinga). “The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea” by a nameless Greek sailor additionally offers some details about Kalinga. Ptolemy, the Greek geographer (2nd century A.D.) offers an account of the ports of Kalinga. His indication to a people referred to as ‘Orestes’ residing close to the mount ‘Malleus’ is critical as a result of the previous is recognized with Odras whereas the latter with the Malaya mountain.

 The most precious of foreign literature is that of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited Odisha in 638-39 AD. His writings have been made out there to us as ‘On Yuan Chwang’s Travels’ by T. Watters, ‘Life of Hiuen Tsang’ by the Shaman Hwui Li, and ‘Records of the Buddhist World’. 

These are invaluable sources of genuine data. Another Chinese traveler Tsing's ‘Records of the Buddhistic Religions as practiced in India and the Malay Archipelago’ can also be of serious assist. Gerini’s ‘Researches on Ptolemy’ and Tibetan historian Lama Taranath’s historical past present priceless data concerning historic interval of Odisha.