In its long history
spanning more than just the present millennium,
the region of modern Orissa was known by different
names at different points of time-Kalinga,
Utkala, Kongada and Odr-desha.
Ancient Orissa had a number of important ports
such as Paloura, Tamralipti and Dharmra along
Orissa's 482 km long open coastline. It is
little wonder then that a flourishing maritime
trade existed between Paloura (now Puri) and
the Indonesian islands. As a result, the influence
of the Pali language and Buddhism spread,
in due course, to Southeast Asia. The old
Buddhist connection with these regions is
visible in the 'Peace Pagoda' built by the
Japanese Buddhists in this century and the
Dhavateswar temple on the Dhauli hilltop near
Bhubaneswar.
It is noteworthy that the first Aryan immigration
from India into Ceylon also took place from
the shores of Kalinga. The first known history
of the state comes into light with the Ashokan
victory over the independent ruler of this
place, which led to mass killings and devastation
of the region. The extent of violence perpetrated
by his men and its effect of the victims led
to a change in the heart of Ashoka and he
accepted Buddhism as his way of life.
In the first century BC, under King Kharvel,
the most famous of Kalinga rulers, Buddhism
declined as the major religion and Jainism
was restored. The cave inscriptions of Khandgiri
and Udayagiri give a lot of information about
the rule of King Kharvel and much other information
about the society at that point of time.
Later, Jainism gave way to Hinduism in around
7th century AD. This was the time when the
ruling dynasties were the Ganga and Kesari,
who constructed some of the most magnificent
temples in India.
After the decline of these dynasties, the
local kingdoms fought hard to keep the Muslims
away, but by the end in 16th century, the
Mughals defeated them and gained control over
this region. After the decline of the Mughals,
Orissa was ruled by the Marathas and the British.
Orissa became a separate province under the
British Government in 1936.
|
