Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 14,756

Date uploaded in London –  13 July  2025

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One of the greatest kings of Odisha (Orissa/Utkal/Kalinga) was Kharavela. He was portrayed as a just king and well versed in arts and architecture. He won several countries in the north and the south. Let us look at his victory over a Panyda king and try to identify his name. His inscription gives us very valuable information about 113 year old DRAVIDA/TAMIL FRONT. He broke that front and went up to the land’s southernmost point.

The Hathigumpha inscription, found in the Udayagiri caves near Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is a primary source of information about King Kharavela, who ruled Kalinga in the 2nd century BCE. The inscription, written in Brahmi script and Prakrit language, details Kharavela’s reign, including his military victories, public works, and patronage of Jainism. 

The inscription provides a year-by-year account of Kharavela’s reign, highlighting his military campaigns, infrastructure projects (like canals), and welfare activities.

Besides the main Hathigumpha inscription, there are also shorter inscriptions (Minor Inscriptions of Kharavela) in the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, further detailing the patronage of Jain monks during and after Kharavela’s reign.

The seventeen lines cover about 15 feet by 5.5 feet of the stone’s surface

LINE 1

Salutation to the Arhats [Jinas]. Salutation to all the Siddhas.
By illustrious Kharavela, the Aira (Aila), the Great King, the descendant of
Mahameghavahana, the increaser (of the glory) of the Cheti (Chedi) dynasty,
(endowed) with excellent and auspicious marks and features,
possessed of virtues which have reached (the ends of) the four quarters,
overlord of Kalinga,

LINE 11

(… lost …) And the market-town (?) Pithumda founded by
the Ava King he ploughs down with a plough of asses; and (he) thoroughly breaks
up the confederacy of the T[r]amira (Dramira) countries of one hundred and
thirteen years, which has been a source of danger to (his) Country (Janapada).
And in the twelfth year he terrifies the kings of the Utarapatha with
(… lost …) thousands of

LINE 13
(… lost …) (He) builds excellent towers with carved
interiors and creates a settlement of a hundred masons, giving them exemption from
land revenue. And a wonderful and marvellous enclosure of stockade for
driving in the elephants (he)(… lost …) and horses, elephants, jewels and rubies
as well as numerous pearls in hundreds (he) causes to be brought here
from the Pandya King.

Sangam Tamil Literature

Poets of Sangam Tamil literature sang about the southward march of the Mauryas (in Tamil Moriyar) . Tamil poets also sang about the mysterious gold treasure under the River Ganges during Nanda period. It shows their knowledge about North India from Nanda period to Maurya period.

All the three Tamil kings Chera, Choza, Pandya went up to the Himalayas according to Tamil literature.  They did it with the help of mighty Satakarnis of Andhra (300 BCE to 100 BCE).

Tamil kings must have formed a confederation during Asoka’s time 268 to 232 BCE. But Ashoka stopped his southward march after killing 100, 000 people in Kalinga. Wisdom dawned upon him, and he started spreading Buddhism .If we deduct 113 years from this, we would get at mid-point of his rule 253-113=140 BCE.

So, we can guesss Kharavela broke the Dramila /Tamil Front around that time or even earlier.

54 Pandya Kings missing !!

Tiruvilayadal Puranam (T V P )written by Paranjothi Munivar 300 years ago provides is lot of historical information. He translated it from Sanskrit book Skanda Puranam. For some reason he skipped 54 Pandya kings and described all the 64 Leelas (Tiru Vilaiyadal in Tamil; Divine Sports in English) of Lord Shina during the reign of only twenty Panya Kings.

Generally, no poet sings the defeat of a king separately. They may mention it in other poems about victorious kings. In the TVP, we have references to several Jain invasions of Pandya country.

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First Jain Invasion

Kulasekara Pandya

Established Madurai in present location around 3^rd Century BCE

Malayadwaja (Mountain Flag) Pandya married Surasena Princess Kanchanamala around 3^rd Century BCE

Soundara or Sundara or Sundareswara Pandya married Goddess Queen Meenakshi. She was mentioned by Megasthenes (350 to 290 BC). as Pandeyaa queen. Again around 3^rd Century BCE.

****

Ukkirakumaran

Their son who may be compared to Mudu Kudumi peruvazuthi of Sangam Tamil Literature..

He was a great Yaga/Yajna enthusiast. Kalidasa of First century BCE praises him in his Raghuvansa as a Yaga Yajna supporter who always appear in the wet clothes because of Avabruda Snana (Yaga bathing).

We may place him in second century BCE

****

Veera Pandya

Killed by a tiger during hunting according to TVP.

Abhisheka Pandya

Took over the reign as a young boy.

Sangam literature also confirmed it and named him as Nedunchezian.

So this first Nedunchezian may be placed second century BCE.

****

Vikrama Pandya

Here comes the important detail

Jains invaded Pandya country with the help of Chozas

So, this is the period of Kharavelaa’s Invasion in second century BCE

****

Rajasekhara Pandya

A poet from Karikal Choza visited him; Karikal (Black Footed or Kalmasha Pada) belonged to second century BCE

****

Kulothunga Pandya

This name was chosen by Chozas and Alupas of Karnataka for their kings. This Pandya was famous for his number of wives. He is from second century BCE

Anatha Guna Pandya

Had lot of clashes with Jain invaders. from second century BCE

KHARAVELA DATE IS CONFIMED AS SECOND CENTURY BCE BY THE ABOVE REFRENCES.

****

Either Vikrama Pandya or Anantha Guna Pandya must be the contemporary of Great Jain King Kharavela. Because he was a just king, he gave back the kingdom to the Pandyas and accepted pearls, clothes, rubies and other gifts from the Pandyas as tributes which is confirmed by the Hathigumpha Inscription.

–Subham—

Tags- Kharavela, defeat of Pandyas, Hathigumpha cave Inscription, Jain invasion, Tamil confederation, Tamil front, tributes, 54 Pandya kings missing, Tiru  Vilaiyadal Puranam, Paranjoti