Historical Geography | Odisha State PSC (OPSC): Preparation - OPSC OCS (Odisha) PDF Download

 Page 1


18 
 
1.2.0.Objectives 
This chapter will discuss the Historical Geography of Odisha. After studying this lesson the students 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Introduction  
In order to make a scientific study on the history of any land, a broad and thorough 
knowledge of its geography is essential. It will be certainly not easy on the part of a historian to 
look into the course of events unless he possesses accurate information about the precise location 
of various places that figure significantly in the narrative. On the other hand, no historian of a 
state can overlook the immense influence of its physical features that play a vital role in shaping 
the character of its people and their socioeconomic and political condition of a state.    
Historical geography 
The Geographical importance of places in relation to historical significance brings 
forward the concept of 'historical geography'.  Historical geography essentially aims at the 
reconstruction of geography of a region of a period which has already passed. By putting 
together pieces of scattered evidence, all aspects of geography of that period can be 
reconstructed. In this context, the historical geography of ancient Odisha deserves special 
attention. The region now known as Odisha, was known in ancient times under various names, 
the most prominent of which were Kalinga, Utkala, Odra, Tosali , Kangoda and Kosala. To have 
an idea about the ancient geography of Odisha it is necessary to have an idea about the antiquity 
and extent of main ancient geographical units.  Each of them during its historical existence found 
mention in different sources which provide interesting accounts about it. The ancient 
geographical units can be discussed as follows: 
 Kalinga  
Among the different political units of this ancient land, Kalinga occupied a prominent 
place. The fertile coastal plains stretching from the mouth of the river Ganges up to Godavari, 
with mountains and forests, gave a natural boundary to Kalinga. The name Kalinga occurs in the 
Page 2


18 
 
1.2.0.Objectives 
This chapter will discuss the Historical Geography of Odisha. After studying this lesson the students 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Introduction  
In order to make a scientific study on the history of any land, a broad and thorough 
knowledge of its geography is essential. It will be certainly not easy on the part of a historian to 
look into the course of events unless he possesses accurate information about the precise location 
of various places that figure significantly in the narrative. On the other hand, no historian of a 
state can overlook the immense influence of its physical features that play a vital role in shaping 
the character of its people and their socioeconomic and political condition of a state.    
Historical geography 
The Geographical importance of places in relation to historical significance brings 
forward the concept of 'historical geography'.  Historical geography essentially aims at the 
reconstruction of geography of a region of a period which has already passed. By putting 
together pieces of scattered evidence, all aspects of geography of that period can be 
reconstructed. In this context, the historical geography of ancient Odisha deserves special 
attention. The region now known as Odisha, was known in ancient times under various names, 
the most prominent of which were Kalinga, Utkala, Odra, Tosali , Kangoda and Kosala. To have 
an idea about the ancient geography of Odisha it is necessary to have an idea about the antiquity 
and extent of main ancient geographical units.  Each of them during its historical existence found 
mention in different sources which provide interesting accounts about it. The ancient 
geographical units can be discussed as follows: 
 Kalinga  
Among the different political units of this ancient land, Kalinga occupied a prominent 
place. The fertile coastal plains stretching from the mouth of the river Ganges up to Godavari, 
with mountains and forests, gave a natural boundary to Kalinga. The name Kalinga occurs in the 
 
Puranas in association with Anga, Vanga, Pundra and Sumha. In the Mahabharata there is an 
indication about the location and the extent of Kalinga. In the Vana Parva the sage Lomasa 
pointed out, "This is the country of the Kalingas where flows the river Vaitarani." This evidence 
clearly indicates that the land now known as Odisha was included in the Kalinga country, but its 
extent in the Mahabharata age cannot be determined. The epic account also finds substantiation 
in the works of early Greek writers. In the description of Megasthenes, the river Ganges forms 
the eastern boundary of Kalinga. Pliny divides Kalinga into three parts Viz- Gangarides 
Calingae, Maceo Calingae and Calingae. Its southern boundary, as per Pliny's description, is 
limited on the bank of the river Godavari basing upon the puranas like Matsya, Kurma and 
Skanda, the western frontier of Kalinga is supposed to have stretched upon the Amrakantaka 
hills on the river bank of Narmada. Thus, as per the Puranic tradition, Kalinga is said to have 
extended up to the Gangetic valley in the north, the Godavari in the south, the sea in the east and 
the Amrakantaka hills in the west. 
 In the list of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the sixth century B. C., described in the Pali 
literature Kalinga does not appear as one, but this omission does not mean that, Kalinga did not 
exist as a Mahajanapada or a great state.  In the fourth century B. C., Kalinga was under the 
suzerainty of the Nandas. In the third century B. C. during the period between the Nandas and 
Mauryas, it slipped away from the fold of Magadhan imperialism. With Ashok's Kalinga war of 
261 B. C., it came again under the authority of Magadha. His Special Edicts (also known as 
Kalinga Edicts) at Dhauli near Bhubaneswar, are addressed to the Mahamatras and the 
Kumaramatya (prince viceroy) of Toshali, while his same edicts at Jaugada in the Ganjam 
district are addressed to only the Mahamatras of Samapa. From these two inscriptions of Asoka 
now to be found in Odisha, it becomes apparent that for the sake of administration he had 
divided the Kalinga country into two broad divisions, northern and southern. In the northern 
division the capital Tosali was situated, while Samapa formed the second capital in the southern 
division. The evidence furnished by Asoka's Inscription thus clearly proves that Kalinga in his 
time included the entire region now known as Odisha, though its northern and southern 
boundaries cannot exactly be determined. It seems, however, that its southern boundary extended 
up to the river Godavari. The northern limits of Kalinga of Asoka's time cannot be determined.  
 During the second century B.C. the present state of Odisha was certainly known as 
Kalinga as is evident by the fact that in the Hatigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri near 
Page 3


18 
 
1.2.0.Objectives 
This chapter will discuss the Historical Geography of Odisha. After studying this lesson the students 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Introduction  
In order to make a scientific study on the history of any land, a broad and thorough 
knowledge of its geography is essential. It will be certainly not easy on the part of a historian to 
look into the course of events unless he possesses accurate information about the precise location 
of various places that figure significantly in the narrative. On the other hand, no historian of a 
state can overlook the immense influence of its physical features that play a vital role in shaping 
the character of its people and their socioeconomic and political condition of a state.    
Historical geography 
The Geographical importance of places in relation to historical significance brings 
forward the concept of 'historical geography'.  Historical geography essentially aims at the 
reconstruction of geography of a region of a period which has already passed. By putting 
together pieces of scattered evidence, all aspects of geography of that period can be 
reconstructed. In this context, the historical geography of ancient Odisha deserves special 
attention. The region now known as Odisha, was known in ancient times under various names, 
the most prominent of which were Kalinga, Utkala, Odra, Tosali , Kangoda and Kosala. To have 
an idea about the ancient geography of Odisha it is necessary to have an idea about the antiquity 
and extent of main ancient geographical units.  Each of them during its historical existence found 
mention in different sources which provide interesting accounts about it. The ancient 
geographical units can be discussed as follows: 
 Kalinga  
Among the different political units of this ancient land, Kalinga occupied a prominent 
place. The fertile coastal plains stretching from the mouth of the river Ganges up to Godavari, 
with mountains and forests, gave a natural boundary to Kalinga. The name Kalinga occurs in the 
 
Puranas in association with Anga, Vanga, Pundra and Sumha. In the Mahabharata there is an 
indication about the location and the extent of Kalinga. In the Vana Parva the sage Lomasa 
pointed out, "This is the country of the Kalingas where flows the river Vaitarani." This evidence 
clearly indicates that the land now known as Odisha was included in the Kalinga country, but its 
extent in the Mahabharata age cannot be determined. The epic account also finds substantiation 
in the works of early Greek writers. In the description of Megasthenes, the river Ganges forms 
the eastern boundary of Kalinga. Pliny divides Kalinga into three parts Viz- Gangarides 
Calingae, Maceo Calingae and Calingae. Its southern boundary, as per Pliny's description, is 
limited on the bank of the river Godavari basing upon the puranas like Matsya, Kurma and 
Skanda, the western frontier of Kalinga is supposed to have stretched upon the Amrakantaka 
hills on the river bank of Narmada. Thus, as per the Puranic tradition, Kalinga is said to have 
extended up to the Gangetic valley in the north, the Godavari in the south, the sea in the east and 
the Amrakantaka hills in the west. 
 In the list of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the sixth century B. C., described in the Pali 
literature Kalinga does not appear as one, but this omission does not mean that, Kalinga did not 
exist as a Mahajanapada or a great state.  In the fourth century B. C., Kalinga was under the 
suzerainty of the Nandas. In the third century B. C. during the period between the Nandas and 
Mauryas, it slipped away from the fold of Magadhan imperialism. With Ashok's Kalinga war of 
261 B. C., it came again under the authority of Magadha. His Special Edicts (also known as 
Kalinga Edicts) at Dhauli near Bhubaneswar, are addressed to the Mahamatras and the 
Kumaramatya (prince viceroy) of Toshali, while his same edicts at Jaugada in the Ganjam 
district are addressed to only the Mahamatras of Samapa. From these two inscriptions of Asoka 
now to be found in Odisha, it becomes apparent that for the sake of administration he had 
divided the Kalinga country into two broad divisions, northern and southern. In the northern 
division the capital Tosali was situated, while Samapa formed the second capital in the southern 
division. The evidence furnished by Asoka's Inscription thus clearly proves that Kalinga in his 
time included the entire region now known as Odisha, though its northern and southern 
boundaries cannot exactly be determined. It seems, however, that its southern boundary extended 
up to the river Godavari. The northern limits of Kalinga of Asoka's time cannot be determined.  
 During the second century B.C. the present state of Odisha was certainly known as 
Kalinga as is evident by the fact that in the Hatigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri near 
 
Bhubaneswar, Kharavela is described as Kalingadhipati. During his reign, Kalinga expanded 
into an empire, the extent of which is variously determined by scholars. We do not know when 
his empire became dismembered, but even after the fall of his empire the land of Odisha 
continued to be called Kalinga. By the fourth century A.D. when Kalidasa wrote his 
Raghuvamsam, Kalinga seems to have been divided into two regions, of which the northern 
region was known as Utkala. In the fourth stanza of his work it is stated that the people of Utkala 
showed Raghu the path to Kalinga. In the Allahabad Inscription of Samudragupta, it is stated that 
during his southern campaigns Samudragupta conquered Kottura, Pishtapura, Erandapalli and 
Devarashtra, which have been identified with Kothoor in the Ganjam district, Pithapuram in the 
Godavari district, Erandapalli and Yellamachilli in the Visakhapatanam district respectively. In 
one of the earliest copper plate records of Odisha, known as Sumandala Copper Plates of 
Prithvivigraha, Kalinga as a rashtra (kingdom) has found mention, but in the subsequent 
medieval epigraphic records the name Kalinga does not appear. This does not, however, mean 
that Kalinga as a geographical name became extinct. It continued to be applied to the territory 
between Ganjam and the river Godavari in the subsequent ages down to the Ganga and 
Suryavamsi periods.  
Dantapura, one of the early capitals of Kalinga, has not been identified. Various 
suggestions made by scholars about its location and its identity still remains to be confirmed by 
archaeological evidences. Kalinganagara which was capital of Kharavela, has tentatively been 
identified with Sisupalagarh near Bhubaneswar. The Early Eastern Gangas established their 
capital at a place which was also known as Kalinganagara and it has been identified with 
Mukhalingam in the Srikakulam district by Mr. R. Subbarao, though there are also other 
suggestions for its identification. Kalinganagara ceased to be the capital of the Gangas when 
Chodaganga conquered Odisha about A.D. 1110 and he chose Kataka (Cuttack), more centrally 
situated in his extended kingdom, as his new capital. 
Utkala  
The territory of Utkala has been narrated in various Puranas. Utkala appears in the 
Mahabharata in association with the countries of Odras, Mekala, Kalinga,Darsana and Andhras. 
Tradition associates the origin of Utkala which Vaivasvata Manu who finds mention among the 
kings of India. It is said that Ila-Sudyumna, of the ten sons of Manu, who became male and 
female alternatively, gave birth to Utkala, Gaya,Vinitasva and Puru. He distributed the portion of 
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18 
 
1.2.0.Objectives 
This chapter will discuss the Historical Geography of Odisha. After studying this lesson the students 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Introduction  
In order to make a scientific study on the history of any land, a broad and thorough 
knowledge of its geography is essential. It will be certainly not easy on the part of a historian to 
look into the course of events unless he possesses accurate information about the precise location 
of various places that figure significantly in the narrative. On the other hand, no historian of a 
state can overlook the immense influence of its physical features that play a vital role in shaping 
the character of its people and their socioeconomic and political condition of a state.    
Historical geography 
The Geographical importance of places in relation to historical significance brings 
forward the concept of 'historical geography'.  Historical geography essentially aims at the 
reconstruction of geography of a region of a period which has already passed. By putting 
together pieces of scattered evidence, all aspects of geography of that period can be 
reconstructed. In this context, the historical geography of ancient Odisha deserves special 
attention. The region now known as Odisha, was known in ancient times under various names, 
the most prominent of which were Kalinga, Utkala, Odra, Tosali , Kangoda and Kosala. To have 
an idea about the ancient geography of Odisha it is necessary to have an idea about the antiquity 
and extent of main ancient geographical units.  Each of them during its historical existence found 
mention in different sources which provide interesting accounts about it. The ancient 
geographical units can be discussed as follows: 
 Kalinga  
Among the different political units of this ancient land, Kalinga occupied a prominent 
place. The fertile coastal plains stretching from the mouth of the river Ganges up to Godavari, 
with mountains and forests, gave a natural boundary to Kalinga. The name Kalinga occurs in the 
 
Puranas in association with Anga, Vanga, Pundra and Sumha. In the Mahabharata there is an 
indication about the location and the extent of Kalinga. In the Vana Parva the sage Lomasa 
pointed out, "This is the country of the Kalingas where flows the river Vaitarani." This evidence 
clearly indicates that the land now known as Odisha was included in the Kalinga country, but its 
extent in the Mahabharata age cannot be determined. The epic account also finds substantiation 
in the works of early Greek writers. In the description of Megasthenes, the river Ganges forms 
the eastern boundary of Kalinga. Pliny divides Kalinga into three parts Viz- Gangarides 
Calingae, Maceo Calingae and Calingae. Its southern boundary, as per Pliny's description, is 
limited on the bank of the river Godavari basing upon the puranas like Matsya, Kurma and 
Skanda, the western frontier of Kalinga is supposed to have stretched upon the Amrakantaka 
hills on the river bank of Narmada. Thus, as per the Puranic tradition, Kalinga is said to have 
extended up to the Gangetic valley in the north, the Godavari in the south, the sea in the east and 
the Amrakantaka hills in the west. 
 In the list of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the sixth century B. C., described in the Pali 
literature Kalinga does not appear as one, but this omission does not mean that, Kalinga did not 
exist as a Mahajanapada or a great state.  In the fourth century B. C., Kalinga was under the 
suzerainty of the Nandas. In the third century B. C. during the period between the Nandas and 
Mauryas, it slipped away from the fold of Magadhan imperialism. With Ashok's Kalinga war of 
261 B. C., it came again under the authority of Magadha. His Special Edicts (also known as 
Kalinga Edicts) at Dhauli near Bhubaneswar, are addressed to the Mahamatras and the 
Kumaramatya (prince viceroy) of Toshali, while his same edicts at Jaugada in the Ganjam 
district are addressed to only the Mahamatras of Samapa. From these two inscriptions of Asoka 
now to be found in Odisha, it becomes apparent that for the sake of administration he had 
divided the Kalinga country into two broad divisions, northern and southern. In the northern 
division the capital Tosali was situated, while Samapa formed the second capital in the southern 
division. The evidence furnished by Asoka's Inscription thus clearly proves that Kalinga in his 
time included the entire region now known as Odisha, though its northern and southern 
boundaries cannot exactly be determined. It seems, however, that its southern boundary extended 
up to the river Godavari. The northern limits of Kalinga of Asoka's time cannot be determined.  
 During the second century B.C. the present state of Odisha was certainly known as 
Kalinga as is evident by the fact that in the Hatigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri near 
 
Bhubaneswar, Kharavela is described as Kalingadhipati. During his reign, Kalinga expanded 
into an empire, the extent of which is variously determined by scholars. We do not know when 
his empire became dismembered, but even after the fall of his empire the land of Odisha 
continued to be called Kalinga. By the fourth century A.D. when Kalidasa wrote his 
Raghuvamsam, Kalinga seems to have been divided into two regions, of which the northern 
region was known as Utkala. In the fourth stanza of his work it is stated that the people of Utkala 
showed Raghu the path to Kalinga. In the Allahabad Inscription of Samudragupta, it is stated that 
during his southern campaigns Samudragupta conquered Kottura, Pishtapura, Erandapalli and 
Devarashtra, which have been identified with Kothoor in the Ganjam district, Pithapuram in the 
Godavari district, Erandapalli and Yellamachilli in the Visakhapatanam district respectively. In 
one of the earliest copper plate records of Odisha, known as Sumandala Copper Plates of 
Prithvivigraha, Kalinga as a rashtra (kingdom) has found mention, but in the subsequent 
medieval epigraphic records the name Kalinga does not appear. This does not, however, mean 
that Kalinga as a geographical name became extinct. It continued to be applied to the territory 
between Ganjam and the river Godavari in the subsequent ages down to the Ganga and 
Suryavamsi periods.  
Dantapura, one of the early capitals of Kalinga, has not been identified. Various 
suggestions made by scholars about its location and its identity still remains to be confirmed by 
archaeological evidences. Kalinganagara which was capital of Kharavela, has tentatively been 
identified with Sisupalagarh near Bhubaneswar. The Early Eastern Gangas established their 
capital at a place which was also known as Kalinganagara and it has been identified with 
Mukhalingam in the Srikakulam district by Mr. R. Subbarao, though there are also other 
suggestions for its identification. Kalinganagara ceased to be the capital of the Gangas when 
Chodaganga conquered Odisha about A.D. 1110 and he chose Kataka (Cuttack), more centrally 
situated in his extended kingdom, as his new capital. 
Utkala  
The territory of Utkala has been narrated in various Puranas. Utkala appears in the 
Mahabharata in association with the countries of Odras, Mekala, Kalinga,Darsana and Andhras. 
Tradition associates the origin of Utkala which Vaivasvata Manu who finds mention among the 
kings of India. It is said that Ila-Sudyumna, of the ten sons of Manu, who became male and 
female alternatively, gave birth to Utkala, Gaya,Vinitasva and Puru. He distributed the portion of 
 
his territory received from Manu among his sons and the land which came under the sway of 
Utkala was known as Utkala. This geographical name has also found mention in the Ramayana 
and is considered by some scholars to be older than Kalinga. Utkala has found mention in 
Kalidasa's Raghuvamsam as a neighbouring kingdom of Kalinga. The earliest epigraphic 
evidence of the extent of Utkala is gleaned from the Midnapur Plates of Somadatta, a feudatory 
of Sasanka. The name Utkala is not found thereafter in epigraphic records for a long time. 
Towards the final quarter of the seventh century A.D., the name Utkala appears in Adhabhara 
plates of Mahanannararaja of Sasivamsa which includes Utkala in the early Somavamsi 
Kindgom of Kosala.  This geographical name also occurs in the copper plate grants up to the 
times of the Gangas of Odisha and Palas of Bengal. During the reigns of Ramapala of the Pala 
dynasty and Chodaganga of the Ganga dynasty the whole territory now known as Odisha appears 
to have been designated as Utkala. From the records of these kings it appears that Karnadeva, the 
last Somavamsi king, was driven out from his throne by Jayasimha, a lieutenant of Ramapala, 
but he was reinstated by Chodaganga. Even now the name Utkala is applied to the whole of 
Odisha. The earliest capital of Utkala was Viraja as is evidenced by the Soro Copper Plates. This 
place has been identified with Jajpur where the shrine of Viraja still exists. Viraja has also been 
mentioned in the Bhauma copper plate grants. Guhadeva Pataka or Gudhesvara Pataka, 
mentioned as the capital of the Bhaumas, was situated in its immediate neighbourhood. 
Odra  
The present name of Odisha has been derived from the name Odra or Udra or Odraka. It 
appears as Urshin or Ursfin in the accounts of the Muslim geographers of the ninth and tenth 
century A.D. These geographers, who apparently collected information during the rule of the 
Bhauma-Karas in Odisha, give the divisions of the Bhauma kingdom as Urshin or Ursfin, Myas, 
Harkhand and Andras which have been identified with Odisha proper, Mahishya or Midnapore, 
Jharkhand (the hilly tracts of Odisha) and Andhra. Thus, the name Odisha appears to have 
existed as early as the tenth century A.D. if not earlier. The Tibetan historian Taranatha refers to 
Odisha as Odivisa which is apparently a Tibetan corruption of Odisa. In the later Muslim 
accounts and in the early Oriya literature the name Odisha finds frequent mention. 
  The geographical unit of Odra has found mention in different ancient texts. The Pali texts 
make repeated mention of Oddaka and the Greek writers refer to Oretes which can be equated 
with Odra, mentioned in various Sanskrit texts. The Bhagabata Purana mentions Odra, among 
Page 5


18 
 
1.2.0.Objectives 
This chapter will discuss the Historical Geography of Odisha. After studying this lesson the students 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Introduction  
In order to make a scientific study on the history of any land, a broad and thorough 
knowledge of its geography is essential. It will be certainly not easy on the part of a historian to 
look into the course of events unless he possesses accurate information about the precise location 
of various places that figure significantly in the narrative. On the other hand, no historian of a 
state can overlook the immense influence of its physical features that play a vital role in shaping 
the character of its people and their socioeconomic and political condition of a state.    
Historical geography 
The Geographical importance of places in relation to historical significance brings 
forward the concept of 'historical geography'.  Historical geography essentially aims at the 
reconstruction of geography of a region of a period which has already passed. By putting 
together pieces of scattered evidence, all aspects of geography of that period can be 
reconstructed. In this context, the historical geography of ancient Odisha deserves special 
attention. The region now known as Odisha, was known in ancient times under various names, 
the most prominent of which were Kalinga, Utkala, Odra, Tosali , Kangoda and Kosala. To have 
an idea about the ancient geography of Odisha it is necessary to have an idea about the antiquity 
and extent of main ancient geographical units.  Each of them during its historical existence found 
mention in different sources which provide interesting accounts about it. The ancient 
geographical units can be discussed as follows: 
 Kalinga  
Among the different political units of this ancient land, Kalinga occupied a prominent 
place. The fertile coastal plains stretching from the mouth of the river Ganges up to Godavari, 
with mountains and forests, gave a natural boundary to Kalinga. The name Kalinga occurs in the 
 
Puranas in association with Anga, Vanga, Pundra and Sumha. In the Mahabharata there is an 
indication about the location and the extent of Kalinga. In the Vana Parva the sage Lomasa 
pointed out, "This is the country of the Kalingas where flows the river Vaitarani." This evidence 
clearly indicates that the land now known as Odisha was included in the Kalinga country, but its 
extent in the Mahabharata age cannot be determined. The epic account also finds substantiation 
in the works of early Greek writers. In the description of Megasthenes, the river Ganges forms 
the eastern boundary of Kalinga. Pliny divides Kalinga into three parts Viz- Gangarides 
Calingae, Maceo Calingae and Calingae. Its southern boundary, as per Pliny's description, is 
limited on the bank of the river Godavari basing upon the puranas like Matsya, Kurma and 
Skanda, the western frontier of Kalinga is supposed to have stretched upon the Amrakantaka 
hills on the river bank of Narmada. Thus, as per the Puranic tradition, Kalinga is said to have 
extended up to the Gangetic valley in the north, the Godavari in the south, the sea in the east and 
the Amrakantaka hills in the west. 
 In the list of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of the sixth century B. C., described in the Pali 
literature Kalinga does not appear as one, but this omission does not mean that, Kalinga did not 
exist as a Mahajanapada or a great state.  In the fourth century B. C., Kalinga was under the 
suzerainty of the Nandas. In the third century B. C. during the period between the Nandas and 
Mauryas, it slipped away from the fold of Magadhan imperialism. With Ashok's Kalinga war of 
261 B. C., it came again under the authority of Magadha. His Special Edicts (also known as 
Kalinga Edicts) at Dhauli near Bhubaneswar, are addressed to the Mahamatras and the 
Kumaramatya (prince viceroy) of Toshali, while his same edicts at Jaugada in the Ganjam 
district are addressed to only the Mahamatras of Samapa. From these two inscriptions of Asoka 
now to be found in Odisha, it becomes apparent that for the sake of administration he had 
divided the Kalinga country into two broad divisions, northern and southern. In the northern 
division the capital Tosali was situated, while Samapa formed the second capital in the southern 
division. The evidence furnished by Asoka's Inscription thus clearly proves that Kalinga in his 
time included the entire region now known as Odisha, though its northern and southern 
boundaries cannot exactly be determined. It seems, however, that its southern boundary extended 
up to the river Godavari. The northern limits of Kalinga of Asoka's time cannot be determined.  
 During the second century B.C. the present state of Odisha was certainly known as 
Kalinga as is evident by the fact that in the Hatigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri near 
 
Bhubaneswar, Kharavela is described as Kalingadhipati. During his reign, Kalinga expanded 
into an empire, the extent of which is variously determined by scholars. We do not know when 
his empire became dismembered, but even after the fall of his empire the land of Odisha 
continued to be called Kalinga. By the fourth century A.D. when Kalidasa wrote his 
Raghuvamsam, Kalinga seems to have been divided into two regions, of which the northern 
region was known as Utkala. In the fourth stanza of his work it is stated that the people of Utkala 
showed Raghu the path to Kalinga. In the Allahabad Inscription of Samudragupta, it is stated that 
during his southern campaigns Samudragupta conquered Kottura, Pishtapura, Erandapalli and 
Devarashtra, which have been identified with Kothoor in the Ganjam district, Pithapuram in the 
Godavari district, Erandapalli and Yellamachilli in the Visakhapatanam district respectively. In 
one of the earliest copper plate records of Odisha, known as Sumandala Copper Plates of 
Prithvivigraha, Kalinga as a rashtra (kingdom) has found mention, but in the subsequent 
medieval epigraphic records the name Kalinga does not appear. This does not, however, mean 
that Kalinga as a geographical name became extinct. It continued to be applied to the territory 
between Ganjam and the river Godavari in the subsequent ages down to the Ganga and 
Suryavamsi periods.  
Dantapura, one of the early capitals of Kalinga, has not been identified. Various 
suggestions made by scholars about its location and its identity still remains to be confirmed by 
archaeological evidences. Kalinganagara which was capital of Kharavela, has tentatively been 
identified with Sisupalagarh near Bhubaneswar. The Early Eastern Gangas established their 
capital at a place which was also known as Kalinganagara and it has been identified with 
Mukhalingam in the Srikakulam district by Mr. R. Subbarao, though there are also other 
suggestions for its identification. Kalinganagara ceased to be the capital of the Gangas when 
Chodaganga conquered Odisha about A.D. 1110 and he chose Kataka (Cuttack), more centrally 
situated in his extended kingdom, as his new capital. 
Utkala  
The territory of Utkala has been narrated in various Puranas. Utkala appears in the 
Mahabharata in association with the countries of Odras, Mekala, Kalinga,Darsana and Andhras. 
Tradition associates the origin of Utkala which Vaivasvata Manu who finds mention among the 
kings of India. It is said that Ila-Sudyumna, of the ten sons of Manu, who became male and 
female alternatively, gave birth to Utkala, Gaya,Vinitasva and Puru. He distributed the portion of 
 
his territory received from Manu among his sons and the land which came under the sway of 
Utkala was known as Utkala. This geographical name has also found mention in the Ramayana 
and is considered by some scholars to be older than Kalinga. Utkala has found mention in 
Kalidasa's Raghuvamsam as a neighbouring kingdom of Kalinga. The earliest epigraphic 
evidence of the extent of Utkala is gleaned from the Midnapur Plates of Somadatta, a feudatory 
of Sasanka. The name Utkala is not found thereafter in epigraphic records for a long time. 
Towards the final quarter of the seventh century A.D., the name Utkala appears in Adhabhara 
plates of Mahanannararaja of Sasivamsa which includes Utkala in the early Somavamsi 
Kindgom of Kosala.  This geographical name also occurs in the copper plate grants up to the 
times of the Gangas of Odisha and Palas of Bengal. During the reigns of Ramapala of the Pala 
dynasty and Chodaganga of the Ganga dynasty the whole territory now known as Odisha appears 
to have been designated as Utkala. From the records of these kings it appears that Karnadeva, the 
last Somavamsi king, was driven out from his throne by Jayasimha, a lieutenant of Ramapala, 
but he was reinstated by Chodaganga. Even now the name Utkala is applied to the whole of 
Odisha. The earliest capital of Utkala was Viraja as is evidenced by the Soro Copper Plates. This 
place has been identified with Jajpur where the shrine of Viraja still exists. Viraja has also been 
mentioned in the Bhauma copper plate grants. Guhadeva Pataka or Gudhesvara Pataka, 
mentioned as the capital of the Bhaumas, was situated in its immediate neighbourhood. 
Odra  
The present name of Odisha has been derived from the name Odra or Udra or Odraka. It 
appears as Urshin or Ursfin in the accounts of the Muslim geographers of the ninth and tenth 
century A.D. These geographers, who apparently collected information during the rule of the 
Bhauma-Karas in Odisha, give the divisions of the Bhauma kingdom as Urshin or Ursfin, Myas, 
Harkhand and Andras which have been identified with Odisha proper, Mahishya or Midnapore, 
Jharkhand (the hilly tracts of Odisha) and Andhra. Thus, the name Odisha appears to have 
existed as early as the tenth century A.D. if not earlier. The Tibetan historian Taranatha refers to 
Odisha as Odivisa which is apparently a Tibetan corruption of Odisa. In the later Muslim 
accounts and in the early Oriya literature the name Odisha finds frequent mention. 
  The geographical unit of Odra has found mention in different ancient texts. The Pali texts 
make repeated mention of Oddaka and the Greek writers refer to Oretes which can be equated 
with Odra, mentioned in various Sanskrit texts. The Bhagabata Purana mentions Odra, among 
 
the six sons of Dirghatamas by queen Sudesna, after whom the land had been named. Pliny 
placed Oretes near mountain Malus which can be identified with Malayagiri near Pallahara in the 
pesent Angul district. Odra has also found mention in the Manusamhita where it is associated 
with the Paundrakas, Dravidas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Sakas, Paradas, Palavas, Chinas, Kiratas, 
Daradas and Khasas. The earliest epigraphic records in which this geographical name appears as 
a Visaya or district, are the Soro Copper Plates of Somadatta from which it becomes apparent 
that it was a part of Uttara Tosali. Yuan Chwang mentions Odra or Wvcha not as a district, but as 
a kingdom, 7000 li in circuit. From this description it appears that it was a big kingdom 
occupying the coastal strip up to the Puri district from which the kingdom of Kongoda began. In 
his accounts of Odra Yuan Chwang mention two important places, Che-li-ta-lo and Pue-sie-po-
ki-li, of which the later place has been satisfactorily transcribed as Puspagiri. Recently some 
scholars have identified the ‘Dimond Triangle’ i.e. the Buddhist monasteries at Ratnagiri, 
Udaygiri and Lalitgiri as the probable site of Puspagiri. However, much research is needed for 
the exact location of Puspagiri. In the inscriptions of the Somavamsis and other contemporary 
dynasties Odra as a kingdom has also found frequent reference.  
Tosali  
Tosala or Tosali formed an important political unit in ancient Odisha. It has been 
described frequently in ancient Indian texts.  It is mentioned in the 'Parisistha' of Atharva Veda 
along with Kosala and the Puranas have associated the people of this territory with Kotalas, 
Nisadas, Traipuras, Tumuras, Valdisas etc. The Jaina text Avasyaka Niryukti mentions about this 
land as follows: "Lord Mahavira, in the eleventh year of his monkship, came to Tosali where he 
was taken to be a robber and hit hard. From here, the venerable teacher went to Masoli, where 
too he was taken to be a robber, was arrested and brought to the king's court, but was released as 
the king was a friend of Mahavir's father. On his return jurney from Masoli Mahavira again came 
to Tosali. Here, again, he was caused great troubles and was on the point of being hanged when 
he was rescued through the timely interference of the Tosali-Kshatriyas. 
In Asoka's inscription at Dhauli, Tosali has found mention as a city which has been 
identified by some scholars with modern Sisupalagarh, but Tosali or Tosala as the name of a 
territory also occurs in the subsequent literature and epigraphic records. In the Gandavyuha, a 
part of the Buddhist Avatamsaka, there is the mention of a country named Amita Tosala, the 
chief city of which was Tosala. Tosali as a territory has found mention in the copper plate