The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s6.32

v1.c7.s6.32

After the death of Khāravela, the power of Kaliṅga died down as quickly as it had risen. The Svargapuri cave inscription records the establishment of a cave by his chief queen, daughter of rājan Lālaka, great-grandson of Hathisiṁha.² Nothing more is known of these persons. Information of some importance is forthcoming from the Mañcapuri inscription, which mentions a king of Kaliṅga, Kudepa Siri by name, who styled himself Aira, Mahārāja, Mahāmeghavāhana. Prince Vaḍukha is also referred to in another part of the same cave.³ Except that Kudepa Siri appropriated all the high-sounding titles which king Khāravela really deserved, he appears to have accomplished nothing. His name suggests, if it has indeed any particular significance, the Sātavāhana influence that had come over Kaliṅga. Mr. R. D. Banerji remarks: ‘after Kudepasiri the pall of dense darkness again descends on the history of Kaliṅga, and most probably the country was subjugated by the Sātavāhanas before their conquest of Magadha in the 1st century B.C.’⁴