The land, the rulers and the legacy behind our name
Kalinga was one of the great kingdoms of ancient India. It stretched along the eastern coast between the Ganga and Godavari rivers, covering much of present-day Odisha and the north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh — Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. Kalinga is mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Puranas, and was known for its brave armies, rich temples and seafaring traders. Our community proudly carries the name of this land.
Kalinga's ports traded across the Bay of Bengal with Sri Lanka, Burma and the islands of Southeast Asia (Java, Sumatra and Bali). This seafaring heritage is still remembered every year at the Bali Jatra festival in Cuttack, Odisha.
The Mauryan emperor Ashoka invaded Kalinga. The war was so terrible that Ashoka gave up conquest by war and turned to Dhamma (the way of peace). His rock edicts at Dhauli and Jaugada in Odisha still stand as witnesses to this turning point in history.
Under the Mahameghavahana (Chedi) dynasty, Kalinga rose again. Its greatest king, Kharavela, led successful campaigns across India and built public works for his people. His achievements are recorded in the famous Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri, near Bhubaneswar.
The Eastern Ganga kings ruled Kalinga for nearly a thousand years. Their early capital, Kalinganagara, is identified with Mukhalingam in Srikakulam district, where the Sri Mukhalingeswara (Madhukeswara) temple still stands. King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva built the Jagannath Temple at Puri, and Narasimha Deva I built the world-famous Konark Sun Temple in the 13th century.
The Kalinga people of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha carry forward this heritage — a love of family and tradition, devotion to our temples, and a spirit of hard work. Kalinga Matrimony Welfare Society exists to keep our families connected, preserve our customs and help the next generation build happy homes.
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