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
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".
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?
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
Beautiful interpretation. But, Can you provide me some proofs in support of your facts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrityunjay.
DeleteRegarding the names "Ashoka" and "Devanampriya Priyadarsi", just search in google whether they were same of different people, you will find many articles but all with ambiguity "may be/might be" :).
Regarding the dharma (as said "religion"), there are live examples in Odisha that Sakta and Boudha are much older than Saiva Vaishnava etc.
Check this - 64Jogini temple Hirapur, near Bhubaneswar
http://www.bcmtouring.com/forums/threads/odisha-orissa-hirapur-chausathi-64-jogini-yogini-temple-hypaethral-structure.62568/
It is very old temple. At this time, when Bhubaneswar had many Buddha temples which were later converted.e.g.Bhaskareswar
Check this-http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2013/oct/engpdf/16-20.pdf
When Saivism spread, a new temple was created near 64Jogini temple much later.
Check this - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304011060_A_Possible_Ancient_City_of_Stars_TARAKA_India
It speaks about some Buddha temples and Siva temples.
Regarding Kartika, very less proofs are there. But our Sadhabas/seafaring businessmen belong to a much older time. The Boita Bandana festival is on Kartika Purnima day. So, Kartika has links to the sea voyage. On land, Kali/Shakti worship was dominating. So, land dwellers had Kartika temples or not, very difficult to find. If you are in Odisha, try visiting Langudi,Lalitagiri,Udayagiri,Ratnagiri in Japur, Ajodhya in Baleswar/Bhadrak, Bhabakundaleswar near Satapada etc. I have not much been to western Odisha. Many details must have been hidden in the timeline.