The Kalinga War and Its Aftermath
Background
Kalinga was an ancient kingdom located in present-day Odisha and parts of northern Andhra Pradesh. Before the Mauryan conquest, Kalinga was a prosperous and independent kingdom known for its maritime trade and powerful navy.
Sources of Kalinga History
- Ashokan Edicts — Major Rock Edict XIII describes the war in detail
- Hathigumpha Inscription — Details of Kharavela’s reign
- Greek accounts — Pliny and Ptolemy mention Kalinga’s ports
- Archaeological remains — Sisupalgarh, Jaugada, Dhauli
The Kalinga War (c. 261 BCE)
In the 8th year of his reign, Ashoka invaded Kalinga. The war was devastating.
“One hundred and fifty thousand persons were taken captive, one hundred thousand were slain, and many times that number perished.” — Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict XIII
Aftermath
The massive bloodshed at Kalinga deeply affected Ashoka. He embraced Buddhism and adopted the policy of Dhamma-vijaya (conquest by righteousness) instead of Dig-vijaya (military conquest).
Ashoka’s Transformation
- Conversion to Buddhism — Under the influence of Upagupta
- Policy of Dhamma — Non-violence, tolerance, welfare
- Dhamma Mahamatras — Officers appointed to spread ethical teachings
- Third Buddhist Council — Held at Pataliputra
- Missionaries — Sent to Sri Lanka (Mahendra/Sanghamitra), Burma, and Central Asia
Kharavela and the Chedi Dynasty
After the decline of the Mauryas, the Chedi dynasty rose to power in Kalinga, with its capital at Kalinganagara (near modern Bhubaneswar).
King Kharavela (c. 1st century BCE)
The Hathigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri provides details of his reign:
- Expanded Kalinga’s territory through military campaigns
- Defeated the Satavahanas under Satakarni
- Patronized Jainism
- Built and repaired irrigation canals (mentioned in the inscription)
- Organised the Rajasuya Yajna
Kharavela’s Achievements
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1st | Repaired gates and walls of Kalinganagara |
| 2nd | Attacked Satavahana kingdom (without regard to Satakarni) |
| 4th | Subdued the Rathikas and Bhojakas |
| 8th | Stormed Gorathagiri (Rajgir) and humbled Magadha |
| 12th | Returned with the Kalinga Jina image taken by the Nandas |
Legacy of Ancient Kalinga
- Maritime Trade: Kalinga had trade links with Southeast Asia (Suvarnabhumi)
- Bali Yatra: Annual festival commemorating Kalinga’s maritime voyages
- Art and Architecture: Early Jain caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri
- Jainism: Flourished under Kharavela’s patronage
- Dhauli Shanti Stupa: Built at the site where Ashoka renounced war
Key Sites in Odisha
- Dhauli — Rock edicts of Ashoka, Shanti Stupa
- Udayagiri-Khandagiri — Jain caves from Kharavela’s period
- Sisupalgarh — Ancient fortified city near Bhubaneswar
- Jaugada — Ashokan rock edict site in Ganjam district