Eastern Ganga Dynasty - Beginning

Beginning

The history of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty can be traced to the period when the Nandas ruled over this region in 5th century B.C. After Mahapadma Nanda subjugated northern India, he assimilated Kalinga into his vast empire. Pre-Mauryan black polished potteries and punch marked coins belonging to that era indicate that Kalinga was a prosperous state under the Nanda rule. Chandra Gupta Maurya overthrew the last Nanda king in 322 B.C. During the time of Chandra Gupta, Kalinga declared herself independent. His grandson Asoka invaded Kalinga in 261 B.C. and incorporated Kalinga into his extensive empire. The Kalinga war is recorded as the bloodiest war ever in the history of India. Over a hundred thousand were killed and half as many taken prisoners. The terrible bloodshed caused by the war filled Asoka with guilt and remorse; subsequently he embraced Buddhism and followed the principle of Dharma Vijaya.

In the early 1st century B.C. Kalinga became independent under a Chedi chief Mahameghavana.The third ruler of the Mahameghavana dynasty Kharavela who reigned in the second half of the 1st century B.C was the most illustratous king to have ever ruled over Kalinga. The Hathigumpha inscription found in Udayagiri (now in Orissa) furnishes a detailed account on the life and military expeditions of this great king.

After the fall of Mahameghavahana Dynasty Kalinga was divided into different kingdoms under feudatory chiefs. Each of these chiefs bore the title Kalingadhipathi(Lord of Kalinga). The reality is that most of these Kalingadhipathis actually ruled over only a part of the Kalinga region. A new dynasty known as the early Eastern Gangas established themselves during this period in southern Kalinga. Indravarma-I the founder of this dynasty defeated the Vishnukundin king Indrabhattaraka and established his rule over the region with Kalinganagara as his capital. They also had a secondary capital at Dantapura. The Ganga kings assumed various titles viz. Trikalingadhipathi or Sakala Kalingadhipathi(Lord of tri-Kalinga or entire Kalinga). Mukhlingam near Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh boardering Orissa has been identified as Kalinganagara, the capital of the early Eastern Gangas. After the decline of the early Eastern Gangas reign, the Chalukyas of Vengi took control of the region. Vajrahastha-I, a descendent of the early Eastern Ganga dynasty took advantage of the internal strife and revived the power of the Ganga dynasty. It was during their rule that Saivism or the worship of Lord Shiva took precedence over Buddhism and Jainism. The magnificent Madhukeswara temple at Mukhlingam was built during this period. In the middle of the 11th century the Chola general Karunakara brought Kalinga under the rule of the Chola dynasty for a short period.