“ODISHA IN MAHABHARAT
If we will look back to the ancient past history,we can find Odisha as KALINGA in some scriptures in the MAHABHARAT era.The region Kalinga was spread over most of the modern state of Odisha, as well as some northern areas Andhra Pradesh. Kalinga was a fertile land stretched from Godavari in south to Subarnarekha in north and from Bay of Bengal in east to Amarkantak range in the West.
As per Mahabharata, a king Bali, the son of Sutapa, had no sons. This Bali kingdom seems to be an Asura Kingdm close to Magadha Kingdom. So the King requested to a sage Dīrghatamas to bless him with son.Queen Sudeshna gave birth 5 sons.Actually they are the sons of Dīrghatamas.They were Anga,Vanga,Kalinga,Sumha and Pundara.These five princess later found five kingdoms according to their names.
Adiparva, Bhismaparva, Sabhaparva, Banaprava of Mahabharata have described about Kalinga Kingdom.”
“Dantapura and Rajpura were two famous cities(capitals) in the kingdom of Kalinga.Duryodhana married to the daughter of the Kalingan King Chitrangada.
A king Srutayudha of Kalinga , son of Varuna and river Parnasa, had joined with Kaurava in the Kurukshetra War. He was defeated and killed by Bheema.
As per MAHABHARAT the Kalingan king Ritayu, was present at Draupadi’s swayamwar(Adiparva chapter 185 verse 13).
During the time of pilgrimage ,Arjun came to this kingdom(Adiparva chapter 214 verse 9).
During the time of exile from their kingdom,Pandavas visited the river BAITARANI(Vanaparva Chapter 114 verse 4).
Lord Parshuram defeated the king of Kalinga which is mentioned “Dronaparva Chapter 79 verse 12” .
Karna also captured Kalinga as per Vanaparva Chapter 254 verse 8.
Sabhaparva Chapter 31 says Sahadev also conquered Kalinga.
Basudev Krishna also demolished Kalingan kingdom (Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 48 verse 76).
Udyogaparva Chapter 23 verse 24- Kalingan army were lost to Sahadev.
Dronaparva Chapter 29 verse 6- The Kalinga army participated in the Mahabharata war against Pandavas.
Sabhaparva Chapter 52 verse 18-The people from Kalinga brought presents for Yudhishtira during his rajasuya.
Also the Sabar clan of Odisha represented themselves in ancient texts like Jara Savara and Ekalavya .
After Mahabharat,Kalinga was ruled by 32 kings till Mahapadmnanda who captured the throne of Magadga in 364 BCE as per historian R. K. Mookerji.
Mahagovinda Suttanta,a Buddhist text also described about Kalinga and its ruler, Sattabhu.”