Odisha History and Asoka's Reign Quiz

Ancient History of Odisha

• The Mahabharata is the earliest known reference to Kalinga and Odra.
• Jain literature describes Kalinga and Utkala.
• The Avasyaka Niryukti details that Aranatha, the 18th Jain Tirthankara, achieved his first goal in Rayapura, a Kalinga capital.
• Mahavira, while traveling in Tosali, was wrongly accused of theft and rescued by Tosali-Kshatriyas.
• The Jaina Harivamsa provides a genealogy of the Chedis, naming Abhichandra as a founder in Kosala.

Sources of Ancient History of Odisha

• The most valuable foreign account is that of the Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang, who visited Odisha in 638-39 AD.
• Coins in Odisha include punch-marked, Puri-Kushana, Gupta gold, Nala, Sarbhapuriya, Srinanda, Kalachuri, Nagas, Ganga fanams and probable Gajapati Pagoda coins.
• Puri-Kushana coins circulated in Odisha for about the first three centuries of the Christian era.
• Asokan rock art at Dhauli and his edicts at Dhauli and Jaugada provide insights into the 3rd century BC Kalinga history. Jaugada was a fortified city serving as Asoka's administrative center.

Buddhist Sites in Odisha

• Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri, near Ratnagiri, showcase remnants of Buddhist and Hindu religions.
• Lalitgiri displays Buddhist stupas, monasteries, Buddha images, and Brahmanic divinities.
• These sites (Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri) constitute the 'Diamond Triangle' of Odisha's history and archaeology.
• These sites reveal the dominance of Buddhism in the region.

Historical Geography

• Kalinga, Utkala, Odra, Tosali, Kangoda and Kosala are regions mentioned as part of Odisha's historical geography.
• Fertile coastal plains stretching from the Ganges to Godavari, with mountains and forests, define Kalinga's natural borders.
• The Hatigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri, near Bhubaneswar, suggests the region was known as Kalinga around the 2nd century BCE.
• Kharavela is described as Kalingadhipati, implying that Kalinga expanded into an empire during his reign.
• Utkala is mentioned in the Mahabharata alongside Odras, Mekala, Kalinga, Darsana, and Andhras.
• The current name of Odisha is derived from Odra, Udra, or Odraka.
• Tosala/Tosali was a significant political entity in ancient Odisha, mentioned in Arthav Veda's Parisistha.
• Kongoda came to prominence during the Sailodbhava dynasty.

Kalinga War

• The Kalinga War happened in 261 BCE.
• The war's details are from Rock Edict XIII found at Shahbazgarh in Pakistan.
• Kalinga was under Magadhan suzerainty until Dhana Nanda.
• Kalinga's separation from Magadha happened around 322-321 BCE, during the reigns of Kautilya and Chandragupta Maurya.
• Asoka conquered Kalinga following the absence of prior conflict.

Causes of the Kalinga War

• The Magadhan Empire surrounded Kalinga.
• Kalinga's power was a threat to Magadha.
• Kalinga was a threat to the Magadhan empire.
• Asoka aimed to conquer and defeat Kalinga.

Imperialistic Design of Asoka

• Asoka's 261 BCE invasion of Kalinga was driven by imperialistic ambitions.
• The Magadhan Empire encompassed most of India by Asoka's accession.
• The vast empire extended from the Himalayas to Mysore and from Kabul to Bengal.
• An independent Kalinga was a concern for Asoka.

Economic Prosperity of Kalinga

• Economic factors contributed to the rivalry between Kalinga and Magadha.
• Kalinga monopolized Indian Ocean trade, gaining significant wealth.
• Inland trade further enhanced Kalinga's economic prosperity.
• The Mauryas lacked a substantial naval power; instead, they enforced river and lake policing.

Legend of Karuvaki

• A legend suggests Asoka's invasion of Kalinga was motivated by Karuvaki, a fisherwoman's daughter and fiancée of the Kalinga Crown Prince.
• Asoka's queen was named Karuvaki, making her the mother of Tivara, one of Asoka's sons.

The Kalinga War (Details)

• The Kalinga War took place in 261 BCE on the banks of the Daya River near Dhauli
• Accounts of the war mention huge casualty figures for the Magadhan army (600,000 men).
• The horror of the Kalinga War profoundly affected Asoka.

Consequences of the Kalinga War

• Kalinga was annexed to the Magadhan Empire.
• Kalinga became the fifth province of the empire.
• The other four provinces were Prachya, Uttarapatha, Avanti, and Dakshinapatha with capitals at Magadha, Takshasila, Ujjaini, and Suvarnagiri.
• Tosali was Kalinga's capital and administrative center during Mauryan administration.
• Dhauli and Jaugarh provide details of Mauryan administrative structure/pattern.

Impact of the Kalinga War

• Asoka's conversion to Buddhism.
• An end to Asoka's imperialistic ambitions.
• A shift towards Buddhism after the Kalinga War
• Spreading Buddhist Values.

The Bhaumakaras

• A dynasty ruling present Odisha from the 8th century.
• The capital of this dynasty was Guhadevapataka near Jajpur.
• Literary sources like the Vishnu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, and Harivamsa Purana provide historical insights on the Bhaumakaras.
• Kshemankaradeva was the founder of the Bhaumakara dynasty in Odisha.
• Four female rulers (Gauri Mahadevi, Dandi Mahadevi, Vakula Mahadevi, and Dharma Mahadevi) succeeded the last male ruler, Subhakaradeva V.
• The Bhaumakaras established a consistent administration in the region.
• The Bhaumakara kings were patrons of Buddhism.

The Somavamsis

• Ruled Odisha from the mid-9th to early 12th century.
• Kalinga, Utkala, Kongoda, and Kosala were brought under a unified government.
• Banda Copper plates, Tivaradeva's Adhavara plates, and Mahanannararaja's Banda plates of Mahasivagupta provide significant details.
• Janmejaya I was a significant Somavamsi ruler who assumed titles like Paramesvara, Paramabhattaraka, and Trikalingadhipati.
• Yayati II was a patron of Brahmanism.
• Yayati II invited 10,000 Brahmins from Kanyakubja to perform a Dasasvamedha sacrifice.
• With the accession of Janmejaya II, the Somavamsi dynasty declined.
• Karnadeva was the final Somavamsi ruler, followed by the brother of Puranjaya.
• The Somavamsis promoted Saivism via construction and land grants for temples.
• The Somavamsis displayed tolerance towards other faiths (Jainism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism) and encouraged Sanskrit learning and literature.

The Gangas

• A dynasty ruling Odisha, beginning in the mid-9th century AD and continuing into the 15th century AD.
• Their capital was initially Kalinganagara, later transferred to Abhinava Varanasi Kataka (Cuttack).
• Literary and inscriptional sources like the Madala Panji, Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, and Ramacharita shed light on their reign.
• Important rulers include Chodagangadeva and Anangabhimadeva III.
• Chodagangadeva initiated a well-structured administration to bolster the empire.
• Temple construction and fostering of various religious faiths, like Saivism, Vaishnavism, and the establishment of the Jagannath cult, marked the Ganga dynasty.
• Prominent literary figures, such as Vidyadhara, and the construction of the Sun Temple of Konarka highlight their contribution.
• The Allalanatha temple inscription from Kanchipuram shows Anangabhimadeva III's capital transfer to Abhinava Varanasi Kataka (Cuttack).
• Officials like the Mantri, Purohita, Yuvaraja, Sandhivigrahika, Senapati, and Dauvarika supported the Ganga kings.
• Odisha's army comprised Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra elements.
• Revenue systems (land revenue, export/import duties, and taxes) supported the economy.
• The Ganga period saw the development of art, architecture, and sculpture.
• The dynasty's administration incorporated officials such as Mantri, Purohita, Yuvaraja, Sandhivigrahika, Senapati and Dauvarika.
• Construction of temples like the Lingaraj and the Sun Temple of Konark highlightedartistic progress.

The Suryavamsi Gajapatis

• The Suryavamsi Gajapatis established a dynasty that controlled Odisha after overthrowing the Gangas.
• They were known as Gajapatis, meaning "lords of the elephants".
• The dynastic history was largely based on literary works (like the Parasurama Vijaya play, Madala Panji) and inscriptions (like the Velicherla plate and those on temple walls)..
• Kapilendradeva ascended the throne in 1435 AD.
• Key figures of the Suryavamsi including Purusottamadeva and Prataparudradeva.
• Kapilendradeva conquered territories and assumed titles like Gaudesvara, Navakoti Karnata, and Kalavargesvara.
• The Suryavamsi reign saw significant architectural and literary achievements.

The Chalukyas

• Established by Mukundadeva, considered the last Hindu king of Odisha's Southern region.
• Historical and religious influences, including the inscription at the Bhimesvara temple, marked this dynasty.
• The Chalukyas faced conflict and had control over the southern portion of the region.

The Bhois

• Govinda Vidyadhara ascended the Bhoi throne amid political instability.
• Govinda Vidyadhara assumed the title 'Suvarna Kesari'.
• The Bhoi dynasty showcased feudal administrative structure/organization, dividing the kingdom into numerous Jagirs.
• Dalabehera supervised Jagir administration, with Village as the basic administrative unit.
• Key figures like Dhananjaya Bhanja and others contributed to literary works, often with religious leanings.

The Suryavamsi Gajapatis Administration

• The Suryavamsi empire encompassed areas from the Ganges to the Godavari River.
• The capital of the empire was Kataka-Pattana (Cuttack), historically referred to as Abhinava Varanasi Kataka.
• Suryavamsi Kings were great warriors and administrators.
• The administration involved councils of ministers, with titles like Mantri, Purohita, Senapati, and others.
• The administration system included officials like Pariksha, Mudra Hasta, and others.

Land Revenue (During the Suryavamsi and Bhoi periods)

• Land measurement and taxation formed a crucial component of revenue collection.
• Land units (Gunthas, Manasa, Batis) were used for assessment purposes.
• Hereditary officers (like Khandadhipati or Bisayee) supervised distinct land segments.
• Village headmen (Pradhan or Bhai) aided in revenue collection.
• Details of revenue collection in southern regions involved Nayakas and Naidus.

Provincial Administration (During the Suryavamsi period)

• Odisha's provinces, known as Dandapatas or kingdoms, were efficiently managed under Gajapati rule.
• Provincial officials, designated as Parikhas or Rajas, governed the provinces, dividing them into subdivisions (sthalas, muthas).
• Village (grama) represented the smallest administrative unit.

Test your knowledge on the history of Odisha, focusing on the educational institutions, key events, and the influence of Asoka's governance. This quiz covers topics from the establishment of schools to the cultural contributions during British rule, providing a comprehensive overview of significant historical milestones.