Two separate territories, Kalinga and Utkala, were integrated into a single huge empire by Chodaganga Deva, the present day Odisha state that is being seen as possible due to that important integration by Emperor Chodaganga
Visakhapatnam: Heritage lovers celebrated the 947th coronation day of Eastern Ganga King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva I in Mukhalingam in Srikakulam district on Monday.
The event was jointly conducted by Rediscover Lost Heritage (RLH) group, Apanna Parichha Smruti Sansada (APSS), Odia Bhojana (OB) and Kalinga Epigraphical Research Society (KERS).
Nearly 20 heritage enthusiasts started their journey from the Gajapati Palace square of Paralakhemundi town to the famous Madhukeswara Shiva temple of Mukhalingam to celebrate this historic occasion. Around 50 history lovers and local people were present on the occasion.
Deepak Kumar Nayak, a founder member of the RLH group, said Mukhalingam identified as ‘Kalinga Nagara’ which was the early capital of Eastern Ganga dynasty of Kalinga before Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva shifted his capital to present day Cuttack City (Abhinaba Baranasi Kataka) after his Utkala Vijaya. Chodaganga’s Korni copper plate grants confirmed the fact that the coronation of this great King took place here in Mukhalingam on February 17, 1078 CE (Comman Era).
“We celebrated this event in Puri town for the last couple of years. However, Mukhalingam has its own significance for being the earlier capital of Kalinga. Many relics related to the Eastern Ganga King, especially Chodaganga Deva, are still found in Mukhalingam,” Nayak said.
Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, a member of KERS, said that during the reign of Chodaganga Deva the vast empire of Kalinga kingdom was stretched from River Ganges in the north up to the Godavari River in South. Chodaganga has a special place in the hearts of Odia people for being the constructor of present day world famous Jagannath temple at Puri.
Two separate territories, Kalinga and Utkala, were integrated into a single huge empire by Chodaganga Deva, the present day Odisha state that is being seen as possible due to that important integration by Emperor Chodaganga, he added.
Heritage enthusiasts and history lovers participated in this event and appealed to the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to celebrate this day officially. They requested the government to erect huge statues of this great King at important places like Puri, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Mukhalingam as honour for his great contributions towards Kalinga.
Prabhakar Mahodaya, the executive officer of the Srimukhalingam Deva temple, assured that such celebrations would continue in the coming days.
