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The King of Kalinga??? !!!

              Name of King of Kalinga who fought Kalinga War is always obscure because there were multiple kings of equal power, not a single king of higher power. They were of a joint family. So, Kalinga is called as a feudal republic with no single king/ruler.

When there are multiple rulers of equal power in the same land, then there is chance that one single king will not be in picture. But some points can be taken into account.

Magadh kings as Dhananand, Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusar have good recorded history.But history of Ashoka is still obscure.

Devanampriya Priyadarsi's inscription tells that he fought against Kalinga and conquered Kalinga. But he has not mentioned any specific name of King of Kalinga.

Who is Devanampriya Priyadarsi?

Throughout India, Pak, Afganistan, the so-called Ashoka's inscription does not  mention "Ashoka" but it tells about "Devanampriya Priyadarsi". Only in Karnataka,  the inscription speaks the name "Ashoka".

Then how the historians confirmed that "Devanampriya Priyadarsi = Ashoka"?!

When Ashoka's name is not confirmed as part history, then very difficult to find the  names of Kings of Kalinga because when war happened, then only history was re-written or the proof of Kalinga King was removed after Kalinga war!

More details of Kalinga can be found only if multiple Buddist and Jain sites are properly reaserached, like Sisupalgarh(Bhubaneswar), Langudi Lalitagiri Udayagiri Ratnagiri (Jajpur), Asurgarh(Kalahandi), Rangei Deula are(Balangir) etc etc.

And Kalinga War and Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism is always a mistery!

Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta Maurya followed FolkCult(Kaali-Sakta)/Hindu and later converted to Jain.

Ashoka's father Bindusar followed FolkCult(Kaali-Sakta)/Hindu.

Then, which religion Ashoka belonged to or followed, either Jain or FolkCult(Kaali-Sakta)/Hindu or Aethism or something else?

The religion which prevailed in Kalinga was FolkCult(Kaali-Sakta), Buddhism, FolkCult(Kartika - For Sadhabas).

When a king gets victory over other land, he propagates his religion, he does not convert to other's religion. But in Ashoka's case, the reverse happened!!!

Might be that there was serious damage to both sides Kalinga as well Magadh(Ashoka) and Ashoka was not is position to continue with the help of power and so took the help of religion.

Did he really accepted Buddhism?
In his (Devanampriya Priyadarsi or Ashoka whichever is ok) inscription, he never wrote what Buddha says. Instead he wrote "King says, Devanampriya Priyadarsi says or Ashoka says".

Some people say, he had already accepted Buddhism before Kalinga war. Then why he attacked Kalinga after accepting Buddhism & being a peace messenger?

Coming to the question on exact name of King of Kalinga:-

While talking about religions, we leave or tend to hide due to ignorance the name "Kartika(Kartik)" who is known as the son of Lord Siba/Siva. 

Did Saiba/Shaiva cult entered Kalinga that time? Most probably NO. 

Then how "Kartika"?

As the time of sea voyage coincides with Kartika Purnima, so the Sadhabas used to worship Kartika. Was Kartika a King and fighter of that time or a God only?!

Why the ancient name of Cuttack/Kataka is "Kartika ra Dhama"? Was Kartika a King of Kataka or he was a God of Kataka like Jagannatha based on whose name Puri is Jagannatha Dhama?

When the purpose of Kalinga war (if really happened) was the control of Kalingas of KalingaGoda/KalingaSagar/BayOfBengal, why Ashoka did not choose to name the God Kartika in his inscriptions?

Was it a desperate attempt to remove the name Kartika from history so that people will forget and abandon sea voyage as the warrior's name or warrior God's name is erased?

So, when God's name is erased, it is very difficult to find the name of Kings of that time!

In some new documents written few years back, it is stated that king of Kalinga was "Raja Anantha Padmanabhan", but this name might be for representational purpose.

Might be, after next 1000 years, this representational name will be part of history. :)

Cheers

            Ashish

Prathamashtami Parba in Odisha

         PrathmAshtami (or Podhuan ashtami) parba(festival) is celebrated on Krushna pakhya ashtami of Margashira maasa(month). In ancient Odisha, the Margashira month was considered as the 1st month of the year.
On this day, the 1st born kid(Son or Daughter) wears new clothes and he/she is worshiped.
As per the culture, the new clothes are gifted by the uncle(mother's brother) of the child.
After wearing new clothes, the child takes blessings of the elders.
The reason for this festival for the elder child is that the elder one will take care of the family after father.

This festival is also linked to Lord Shiva of Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar. On this day, he travels to his maternal uncle's home, the Kapali Matha.

Enduri Pitha (a food item) is the specialty of Prathamashtami.
Please refer this to know about Enduri Pitha. http://ashishkumarnayakodisha.blogspot.in/2015/12/enduri-pitha-preparation-process-in.html
In some areas of Odisha, ashtami badi(a food item) is prepared in the quantity of 14.

In the night, Panthei (a structure on the ground) is prepared.
Panthei: There is a circular ditch on the ground. Surrounding it, there is a ditch of square shape. On one side there is an opening.
Water is poured in the Panthei.
Seven SukhuA(dry, salted fish) is tied with Poi(A weed) one by one and put in the circular ditch.
In the square shaped ditch, live fish is kept.

[The below pic is also of Panthei but it has openings to four sides and it is made during Baata Osha.]

Panthei during Baata Osha - P.C. Twitter - @tapasr10

After the puja, the sukhua and fish are left in the nearby pond.

The next day is Nabami(9th day). But in the same night around 9-10PM, there is the celebration of "KAnji AanLa Nabami". The KAnji (A food item) is prepared from ChAuLa (rice), Dahi (curd), Poi (A weed), KakhAru (Pumpkin), Bhendi (Ladies finger).
Then KAnji, Chakuli Pitha (A food item - rounded cake made of rice), MAcha tarakAri (Fish curry), are offered to God as prasad.

There is a specialty: The SukhuA(dry, salted fish) is called as "SukhuA Bohu (daughter-in-law)". And this is the only day when the mother-in-law touch the feet of daughter-in-law and take blessings from her. - I am not sure of the specialty of this ritual. :)

Thanks
Ashish