Utkala

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Utkala (उत्कल) was an ancient Kingdom located in the northern and eastern portion of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha and also included the districts of Bankura, Purulia and Midnapore districts of West Bengal.

Variants

• Okkala (ओक्कल) (AS, p.89)
• Ukkala (उक्कल) = Utkala (उत्कल) (AS, p.86)
• Utkala (उत्कल) (AS, p.89)

Origin

The early medieval literature says in Sanskrit "उत्कृष्ट कलायाः देशः यः सः उत्कलः " Meaning the land having excellent opulence of artists and art is called Utkala(Kala=Art, Utkrishta=Excellent); the land of Utkrishta=Excellent-Kala=Art. The Utkala Janapada occupied the territory of Mayurbhanj, a hilly region of Orissa state. The Mahabharata enumerates the Utkalas with the Mekalas among the peoples of India.[[Reference-Janapada State in Ancient India by Sudam Misra.]

History

This kingdom was mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, with the names Utkala, Utpala, and Okkala. It is mentioned in India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.The Mahabharata refers to Utkala as a distinct janapada along with Kekala, Poundra, Kalinga, Andhra, Nisada and Bahlika. In the same literary work Utkal is also mentioned as a clan living in the hilly tracts from Gaya to Orissa along with other clans. In the Ramayana and the Puranic literatures the Utkalas are associated with the Mekalas.The Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa refers to the Utkala country lying between the river Kapisa in the Midnapur district of present West Bengal and that of the land of Kalingas. Scholars have also attributed the river Kapisa i.e., modern Kasai running through the district of Midnapur as the boundary line between Vanga and Utkala.In the Puranas Utkalas are mentioned as a human race, and some of them locate Utkala in the Madhyadesa. In the Harivamsa Utkal has been stated as the son of Sudyumna residing in the area of the same name located in the north. The statement in the Harivamsa regarding the location of Utkala more or less corresponds to that of Kavyamimamasa which states that Utkala is one of those janapadas situated to the east of Kasi.Somdatta, a king of Sailodbhava dynasty refers to Utkala desa along with Dandabhukti in his Midnapur plate, thus making them adjacent provinces where he was governing authority. Since the modern district of Midnapur has been identified with Dandabhukti there can be no doubt Utkala was bordering the province of Dandabhukti. Thus, during the period of Somadutta, the Southern portion of present Bankura district of West Bengal, Singbhum and Manbhum districts of Bihar, and Mayurbhanj district of Orissa are identified with Utkala. This hypothesis is more tenable than the identification of modern Orissa with Utkala during the time of Tivaradeva. Further, considering another record of Somadatta where the Utkaladesa is referred to as Odra-visaya, it can be presumed that the district of Balasore was included in the Litkaladsa. The reference of Odra-visaya in the record of the same king which also refers to Utkaladesa makes an interesting point to the extent that the same region gradually became known as Odra at least from the late half of seventh century A.D.Reference-[Religion_Historical_Geography_By_Mr_Anand_Chandra_Sahoo].

Indian Origin Places in Burma

Dineschandra Sircar writes.... Some important old Indian names found in Burma are Aparanta, Avanti, Varanasi, Champanagara, Dvaravati, Gandhara, Kamboja, Kailasha, Kusumapura, Mithila, Pushkara, Pushkaravati, Rajagriha, etc. and the names Sankashya (Tagaung on the Upper Irawadi), Utkala (from Rangoon to Pegu) and Vaishali (modern Vethali in the Akyub district also fall in the same category. The name of the well-known river Irawadi reminds us of Iravati (modern Ravi River), one of the famous tributaries of the Indus.

उत्कल

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...

1. उत्कल (AS, p.89): उत्तरी ओडिशा का प्राचीन नाम जिसे उत् (उत्तर) कलिंग का संक्षिप्त रूप माना जाता है। कुछ विद्वानों के मत में द्रविड़ भाषाओं में 'ओक्कल' किसान का पर्याय है और उत्कल इसी का रूपांतर है। उत्कल का प्रथम उल्लेख सम्भवत: सूत्रकाल ( पूर्वबुद्धकाल) में मिलता है। कालिदास ने रघुवंश 4,38 में उत्कल निवासियों का उल्लेख रघु की दिग्विजय के प्रसंग में कलिंग विजय के पूर्व किया है- स तीर्त्वा कपिशां सैन्यैर्बद्धद्विरदसेतुभि:, उत्कलादर्शितपथ: कलिंगाभिमुखो ययौ'। इससे स्पष्ट है कि कालिदास के समय में अथवा स्थूलरूप से, पूर्व गुप्तकाल में उत्कल उत्तरी उड़ीसा और कलिंग दक्षिणी उड़ीसा को कहते थे।

उड्र, उड़ीसा के समग्र देश का सामान्य नाम था जो महाभारत में सभापर्व महाभारत 31,71 में उल्लिखित है। मध्यकाल में भी उत्कल नाम प्रचलित था। दिब्बिड़ दानपत्र से सूचित होता है कि उत्कल नरेश जयत्सेन ने मत्स्यवंशीय राजा सत्यमार्तंड के साथ अपनी पुत्री प्रभावती का विवाह किया था और उसे ओड्डवाडी का शासक नियुक्त किया था। इसकी 23 पीढ़ियों के पश्चात् 1269 ई. में उत्कल का राजा अर्जुन हुआ था जिसने यह दानपत्र प्रचलित किया था।

2. उत्कल (AS, p.89): उत्कल ब्रह्मदेश (बर्मा अब म्यांमार) में रंगून (अब यांगून) से लेकर पीगू तक के औपनिवेशिक प्रदेश को उत्कल कहते थे। यहाँ भारत के उत्कल देश के निवासियों ने आकर अनेक बस्तियाँ बसाई थीं। किवदंती है कि तपुस और भल्लूक नामक दो व्यापारी, जिन्होंने भारत जाकर गौतम बुद्ध से भेंट की थी तथा जो उनके शिष्य बनकर तथागत के आठ केशों को लेकर ब्रह्मदेश आए थे, इसी प्रदेश के निवासी थे।

In Mahabharata

Utkala (उत्कल) Mahabharata (VI.10.39),(VIII.17.20),

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 10 describes geography and provinces of Bharatavarsha. Utkala (उत्कल) province is mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.10.39)..... the Chedi-Vatsas, the Karushas, the Bhojas, the Sindhu-Pulindakas, the Uttamojas, the Dasharnas, the Mekalas, the Utkalas;

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Karna Parva/Mahabharata Book VIII Chapter 17 mentions Utkala (उत्कल) in Mahabharata verse (VIII.17.20). ....Utkalas were mentioned as taking part in the Kurukshetra War siding with the Kauravas. Many Mekalas and Utkalas, and Kalingas, and Nishadas, and Tamraliptakas, advanced against Nakula, showering their shafts and lances, desirous of slaying him (8:22).

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The Utpalas, the Mekalas, the Paundras, the Kalingas, the Andhras, the Nishadas, the Trigartas, and the Valhikas, were all vanquished by Karna (7:4).

In Ramayana

Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 41 mentions Utkala in verse 4-41-9.

...Sugreeva sends Vanara-s to southward which troop includes Hanuman, Jambavanta, Nila and others and Angada is its leader. Sugreeva gives a vivid picture of the southern side of Jambudvipa up to the south-most part of passable regions.... This troop is also given one month's time to find the whereabouts of Seetha.

8,9,10. "Search the thousand crested Vindhya mountains abounding with numerous tress and climbers, then the delightful Narmada river coursing a little southerly to that range, which is adored by great snakes, along with wonderful River Godavari, as well as River Krishnaveni and Maha Nadi, and then the greatly auspicious Varada River which is an adoration to great snakes. And the territories of Mekhala, Utkala, the cities of Dasharna, kingdoms of Abravanti, Avanti, and Vidarbha, also thus the charming kingdom of Mahihaka, are to be searched thoroughly.