Archaeologist Points to Footprint of Kalingas Over North Andhra

Visakhapatnam: In his book – Relics of Kalinga in South India, archaeologist and historian Deepak Kumar Nayak vividly mentions the relics the empire left in north Andhra, covering Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Paravatipuram, Manyam, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli and the importance of these relics for modern history.

These areas had once been part of Madhya Kalinga, home to three significant ancient capitals of Kalinga – Dantapura, Kalinga Nagara and Simhapura, Deepak Nayak told this correspondent. Kalinga Nagara is the modern-day Mukhalingam in Srikakulam district.

The book spans a total of 57 monuments through seven chapters. Its documentation has been organised district by district, offering rich information on a diverse range of historical and cultural relics. It covers Buddhist and Jain sites, Hindu temples, Odisha monasteries, and palaces of erstwhile Odia zamindars, apart from Odishan mural paintings found on temple and monastery walls.

Additionally, the documentation highlights temple inscriptions and no-claimant stone inscriptions connected to Kalinga rulers, alongside an Iron Age dolmen, adding further depth to the narrative.

In publishing the inscription's content, diacritic marks have intentionally been omitted to ensure accessibility for both lay readers and academicians. A key feature of this work is the inclusion of over 450 relevant photographs that vividly capture the present-day condition of these monuments’ sites. These images not only enhance the written content but also provide readers with a visual understanding of the enduring legacy of these remarkable historical relics.

The archaeologist and historian underlines that the relics related to Kalingan history and heritage in south India, particularly those associated with the southern expansion of the Kalinga kingdom during the reigns of the Eastern Gangas and Suryavamsi Gajapatis, are often in a state of neglect for several reasons.

“One of the primary reasons is the lack of comprehensive historical research and focused attention on the far-reaching extent of Kalinga kingdom during these periods,” Deepak Nayak pointed out.

He said in contrast to Odisha, where the cultural and historical significance of Kalingas is better recognised, the southern territories that had once been part of the Kalinga Kingdom are relatively overlooked. This lack of awareness among scholars, as well as insufficient resources allocated for the conservation and promotion of these sites, contributes to their deterioration.

The significance of documenting and preserving Kalingan heritage sites in south India extends far beyond just historical curiosity. These sites are an integral part of understanding the broader history of Odisha and India. They serve both as tangible and intangible evidence of the once-vast and influential Kalinga kingdom, which had been a major political and cultural force in ancient India.

“By studying these sites, we can reconstruct a more complete picture of the region’s role in shaping the subcontinent’s history,” the archaeologist and historian emphasised.