The Mahameghavahana dynasty (, 2nd or 1st century BC to early 4th century CE) was an ancient ruling dynasty of

Kalinga Kalinga may refer to: Geography, linguistics and/or ethnology * Kalinga (historical region), a historical region of India ** Kalinga (Mahabharata), an apocryphal kingdom mentioned in classical Indian literature ** Kalinga script, an ancient writin ...

after the decline of the

Maurya Empire The Maurya Empire, or the Mauryan Empire, was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in the Indian subcontinent based in Magadha, having been founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing in loose-knit fashion until ...

. In the first century B.C., Mahameghavahana, a king of Chedirastra (or Cetarattha, i.e., kingdom of the Chedis) conquered

and

Kosala The Kingdom of Kosala (Sanskrit: ) was an ancient Indian kingdom with a rich culture, corresponding to the area within the region of Awadh in present-day Uttar Pradesh to Western Odisha. It emerged as a small state during the late Vedic peri ...

. During the reign of Kharavela, the third king of Mahameghavahana dynasty, South Kosala became an integral part of the kingdom. He patronised

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

, but did not discriminate against other religions. He is known by his Hathigumpha inscription. South Kosala was later conquered by

Gautamiputra Satakarni Gautamiputra Satakarni (Brahmi: 𑀕𑁄𑀢𑀫𑀺𑀧𑀼𑀢 𑀲𑀸𑀢𑀓𑀡𑀺, ''Gotamiputa Sātakaṇi'', IAST: ) was a ruler of the Satavahana Empire in present-day Deccan region of India. He was mentioned as the important an ...

of the

Satavahana dynasty The Satavahanas (''Sādavāhana'' or ''Sātavāhana'', IAST: ), also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty based in the Deccan region. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the la ...

in the early part of the 2nd century CE and remained in their possession up to the second half of the 2nd century CE. It was during the second and third century CE, the Meghas or Meghavahanas reappeared in the political scene and regained their suzerainty over South Kosala.

Samudragupta Samudragupta (Gupta script: ''Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta'', (c. 335–375 CE) was the second emperor of the Gupta Empire of ancient India, and is regarded among the greatest rulers of the dynasty. As a son of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta I and the ...

during his Daksinapatha expedition, defeated Mahendra of Kosala who probably belonged to the Megha dynasty. As a result, the South Kosala during the fourth century A.D, became a part of the Gupta empire.

List of rulers

The Hathigumpha inscription describes the following Rulers. It does not directly mention the relationship between Mahameghavahana and Kharavela, or the number of kings between them. Indraji interpreted the inscription to create the following hypothetical family tree: The Sada dynasty who ruled form

Amaravati Amaravati () is the capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Krishna in Guntur district. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone at a ceremonial event in Uddandara ...

region in their inscription from Guntapalli describe themselves as Maharaja of Kalinga Mahisaka countries belonging to Mahameghavahana family. They were Maha Sada, Sivamaka Sada and Asaka Sada.

Architecture

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves is the most prominent example of Mahameghavahana dynasty work. These caves were built in 2nd century BCE during the rule of King Kharavela. Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill" and has 18 caves while Khandagiri (means "Broken Hill") has 15 caves. The Hathigumpha cave ("Elephant Cave") has the Hathigumpha inscription, written by Raja Kharavela, the king of Kalinga in India, during the 2nd century BCE. The Hathigumpha inscription consists of seventeen lines incised in deep cut Brahmi letters starting with

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

Namokar Mantra The Ṇamōkāra mantra or Navkar Mantra is the most significant mantra in Jainism, and one of the oldest mantras in continuous practice. This is the first prayer recited by the Jains while meditating. The mantra is also variously referred to ...

. In Udayagiri, ''Hathigumpha'' (cave 14) and ''Ganeshagumpha'' (cave 10) are especially well known due to art treasures of their sculptures and reliefs as well as due to their historical importance. ''Rani ka Naur'' (Queen's Palace cave, cave 1) is also an extensively carved cave and elaborately embellished with sculptural friezes. Khandagiri offers a fine view back over Bhubaneswar from its summit. The ''Ananta cave'' (cave 3) depicts carved figures of women, elephants, athletes, and geese carrying flowers. File:Udayagiri puri - March 2010.jpg, Udayagiri File:Udayagiri Caves - Ganesha Gumpha 04.jpg, Ganesha Gumpha (cave no-10), Udayagiri File:Udayagiri Caves - Hathi Gumpha.jpg, Hathi Gumpha (cave no-14), Udayagiri File:Hatigumfa.jpg, Hathigumpha inscription File:KU24.jpg, Carving of Tirthankaras & Goddesses inside Navamuni Gumpha File:Udaygiri Stone Caves.JPG, Udaygiri Stone Caves File:Rishabhanatha and ambika, Khandagiri Caves.jpg, Carving of Jain Tirthanakars File:CAVE LIKE SNAKE MOUTH.jpg, Sarpa Gumpha (cave no-13), Udayagiri

References

Citations

Sources

External links

Map of India depicting Maha-Meghavahana kingdom
{{Odisha Jain dynasties History of Odisha Dynasties of Odisha States and territories established in the 3rd century BC 250s BC establishments