By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The 947th coronation day of Eastern Ganga King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva is celebrated by heritage lovers at Mukhalingam in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The event was jointly conducted by Rediscover Lost Heritage (RLH) group, Apanna Parichha Smruti Sansada (APSS), Odia Bhojana (OB) & Kalinga Epigraphical Research Society (KERS). On Monday morning, Nearly 20 heritage enthusiasts started their journey from the Gajapati Palace square of Paralakhemundi town to the famous Madhukeswara Shiva temple of Mukhalingam for celebrating this historic occasion.
Speaking on the event, Deepak Kumar Nayak, a founder member of the RLH group has said, Mukhalingam identified as ‘Kalinga Nagara’ 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 confirms the fact that the coronation of this great King took place here in Mukhalingam in 17th February 1078 CE. We celebrated this event in Puri town for 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 & specially Chodaganga Deva are still found in Mukhalingam, added Mr. Nayak.
Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, a member of KERS, said that during the reign of Chodaganga Deva the vast empire of Kalinga kingdom was stretched from the 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 Sri Jagannath temple at Puri. Kalinga & Utkala two separate territories were integrated into a single huge empire by Chodaganga Deva, the present day Odisha state that we are seeing today was possible due to that important integration by Emperor Chodaganga, said Mr. Adhikari.
Heritage enthusiasts & history lovers participated in this event appealed the Governments of Odisha & Andhra Pradesh to celebrate this day officially. They requested Government to erect huge statues of this great King at important places like Puri, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar & Mukhalingam as honor for his great contributions towards Kalinga.
On this occasion, Dr. J. N. Patnaik, Principal of Shri Krushnachandra Gajapati Autonomous College; Professor Mahant from the Department of History; Murali Dhar Parichha, secretary of the APSS Institution; Shri Susesh Maharana, Chief Inspector of Odisha’s Electrical Department; Rakesh Swain from the Odia bhojana Organization; along with many other enthusiastic participants, attended the event.
Shri Prabhakar Mahodaya, the Executive Officer (EO) of the Shri Mukhalingam Deva Temple, assured that such celebrations would continue in the coming days.
