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Puri :A Study of Early Trade and Pilgrim Routes

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Puri :A Study of Early Trade and Pilgrim Routes June - 2014 Odisha Review Puri :A Study of Early Trade and Pilgrim Routes Dr. Sunil Kumar Patnaik Since the dawn of the civilization, Indians have Mathura, Vidisa and Ujjain in central India and shown great interest in trade. The morphological Tamralipti, Tosali and Samapa, Kalinga Nagara features of the sub-continent have contributed to on the east coast and Paithan or Pratisthna in the development of maritime activity. The Deccan region of India. These trade centres were geographical location of Indian Peninsula well connected with the roads and communication projecting into the Indian Ocean bowl is network which has been described in favourable for contacts with Africa on the west Dathavamsa. Milestones were provided on the and with eastern Archipelago. During the early corner of the roads at intervals which helped to historical times (c.3rd B.C to c. 3rd A.D) the land indicate the distance and direction which were routes extended from Taxila to Kaveripattinam in evident from various excavated sites of India. the south and Tamluk in the east up to Broach in This is proved in some of the early historical sites the west. The major city centre of Kalinga of India like Sisupalgarh, Kankia-Radhanagar, (Ancient Odisha) of that time were Tosali, Manikapatna, Kausambhi,Taxila and some others. Kalingapatnam, Tamralipti, Pithunda which were all in the trade circuit. Here, an attempt is made The strategic geographical location of to present the historical evidences that shows Odisha helped her in rising to great heights in great heritage of Puri City being a pilgrim centre respect of trade and communication from pre- down in the lanes of history. The study of trade Buddhist period. Odisha served as a bridge routes on the basis of archaeological and material between the trans-oceanic and inland trade of evidences is the age old trend of Indian historical India, causing migration of cultural traits along with research apart from literature. The visible material trade and commerce. The entire strip of land evidences are considered as primary sources to running along the coast of Bay of Bengal and study the history of a region or a place. bounded on the north by river Kapisa or Kansai and on the south by the river Godavari was known The important Indian urban trade centres in ancient times as Kalinga Desa and constituted in the early historical(c.3rd B.C to c.3rd A.D) one of the prosperous kingdoms of India. The period were Bharukaccha (Broach) on the west Astadhyayi of Panini (c.5th B.C ) mentions coast, Puskalavati on the north-west frontier, Kalinga as an important Janapada.So great was Sravasti, Champa (modern Bhagalpur), the fame of Kalinga as a maritime power in ancient Pataliputra, Varanasi, Kausambi, Ayodhya, times that Kalidas in his Raghuvamsa referred to 103 Odisha Review June - 2014 the king of Kalinga as the lord of the sea there by establishing a close communication “Mohodadhipati”. contact. There are a number of literary references The Archaeological excavation at available regarding overseas trade route and Manikapatna, about 45 kms towards south of Puri commerce, so also inscriptions and excavated provides a running chronology of historical sites throw much light on the ancient trade routes. habitation being a port or trade centre from 1st The literary evidence are found from Arya century A.D. to 18th century A.D. which serves Manjushrimulakalpa Buddhist Jatakas, as benchmark to study the settlement pattern and Samantaprasadika, Uttaradhyanasutra, trade route of Puri. Abul Fazal described Brahmand Purana, Arthasastra, Madalapanji, Manikapatna as a sea port where taxes were Yuktikalpataru, Brihatsamhita, collected. There was a toll gate named Dasakumaracharita, Sambapuran, Samudrakara Bandha’ on the bank of Chilika Pavanaduta Kavya, Sunyasamhita, etc. Puri where taxes were collected from the sea traders. or Sri Kshetra or Purusottama Kshetra or The site of Manikapatna contains a series of Jagannatha Dham being on the coast and a mounds distinctly visible on the surface. On the religious centre emerged as a city centre towards top of the highest mound, there is 7th-8th century A.D. with the establishment of Bhabakundaleswar temple of 13th century A.D. Dhaam by Sankaracharya, of course, there was To the east of this temple is another important a settlement since the dawn of civilization which monument i.e., a Muslim tomb datable to 1885 awaits the spade of archaeologists. A.D. The reference of Manikapatna first appears in the legend of Kanchi-Kaveri expedition of the th In the second quarter of the 7 century Gajapati King Purusottama Deva of 15th century A.D. Yuan Chwang, the Chinese pilgrim was A.D. The limited excavation revealed (1989-90, travelling widely in India, and he also came to 1992-93) a cultural deposit of two periods. The Odisha (Kalinga, Utkala, Kangoda), called Wu- period I has revealed two Celts probably of Tu in the text. He says in his travels, near the shore Neolithic period along with pot-sherds. The of the Ocean in the south-east of this country was period I is dated by the excavator from 2nd century the city Che-li-ta-lo, about 20 li in circuit, which B.C. to 5-6th century A.D., and with the end of was a thoroughfare and resting place for sea-going period I there is a hiatus. traders and strangers from distant lands. This place has been restored to its Sanskrit name The deposit of period II can be dated from Charitra and some scholars have identified it with 9th century A.D. to the early part of 19th century Citrotpola and some others with Charitrpura or A.D. In the lowest strata of period II, fragments Puri. It is interesting to note that in 7th century of good quality jade green colour Chinese A.D. the Chinese pilgrim Itsing mentioned a place celadon made their appearance. In the habitation called Srikshetra in Burma which is generally area no complete structures are encountered. identified by Jayanasa with Prome region of Burma. Sumatra inscription of king Jayanasa (7th The most spectacular findings from century) reveals that his royal park was named Manikapatna are ceramics of various types as Srikshetra. Srikshetra stands for Sri including both indigenous and foreign fabrics. This Purusottama had spread as far as South East Asia, is probably the only site in the entire east-coast 104 June - 2014 Odisha Review of India from where so many varieties of imported So also the excavation at Khalkatapatna wares have been found. Some of these wares are near Konark focuses on the trade activities during rouletteware, knobbedware, egg-white glazed and Ganga period. This Khalakatapatana was one of glazed chocolate, Arabic ware, keoline ware, the major ports of Odisha which flourished during Chinese celadon, Chinese porcelain, black, grey, 11th century A.D. The evidence found from and black and red ware, a shred with Khorosti excavation (1987, ASI) are a brick jetty floor, script and a Puri-Kushana coin. Other noteworthy Chinese Celadonware, Chinese porcelain, with objects from the site are a Ceylonese coin with blue floral design, egg-white glazedware and legend Srimad Sahassamala, two triangular chocolateware, stamped pottery with geometrical copper coins of Shaha Alam, two east India design. Besides, Chinese coins are also found copper coins, a British Medal, Mughal coins, a from this site. A fragment of Chinese copper coins Chinese coin, harpoon, spearhead, fish-hooks, which is dated to 14th century A.D, and the circular game pieces, iron beads, terracotta beads of copper coin had a square perforation at the centre arceanut shape, terracotta figurines, two stone having a legend in Chinese character have been shelts, a four armed Vishnu image of chlorite, found. All these materials suggest that there was grinder and pestle, a male torso made of a strong trade relation between China and India khondalite, female miniature head, cart wheels, a and point to great marine trade in east-coast. large number of bangles of conch shell, terracotta lamps etc. Manikpatna is the only site along the There are many places in Puri district which sea coast of India from where varieties of ceramics bear the tradition of maritime trade. Some of the including Chinese Celadonware have been places like Banikapatna, Balipatna, Bandari reported. The presence of pottery, artifacts and (Astarang Block), Vandareswara (Near coins indicates the impact of early sea trade Charchika), Boitabhangatutha of Vishnupur near between Odisha and the Mediterranean world. Nimapada very close to river Kushabhadra, Findings of Rouletted ware, shreds with Khorosti Bedapurapatna in Gop block and near Kakatpur scripts, semi contact between Odisha , Bengal, in Prachi Valley and several places like Boyitakuda Assam and Tamilnadu dates back to early historic and a place called Jahaja-Padiya or ship field bear period. Manikapatna played a vital role in the testimony of sea trade. Archaeological remains internal trade of the east coast of India. It was a are visible in these places of Puri district which strong port and ruled by a Jagirdar up to early were the outlets for trade and commerce and part of 19th century. During the Mughal and served as trade routes in the historical periods. Maratha period, it was a flourishing port town as we get inscriptional evidence from the tomb. The The construction of huge temples such as formation of the sand bars and sedimentation in Sri Jagannath temple at Puri and Sun Temple at the Lake caused the decline of Manikapatna port. Konarak and display of sculpture panels on So also remains of archaeological importance has double mast boats, pilgrims Martand Bhairava and brought to limelight recently at Bardhyakuda, establishment of several shrines of Mangala, Podaghar, Jhatipadara and around Chilika which Ramachandi, Baliharchandi, Kalijai (goddess) etc, are datable to the early historical period to provide much evidence on continuity of sea trade medieval period.
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