Historical Geography of Ancient India c7.428

c7.428

*Oḍḍaviṣaya.*—The country of the Uḍras or Oḍḍas or Oḍras (Telegu Oḍhrulu; Kanarese Oḍḍaru and the U-Cha of Hiuen Tsang) is the modern Orissa (*S.I.I.*, I, p. 97). It is mentioned in the *Bṛhat-saṃhitā* (XIV. 6) as Uḍra. The *Yoginītantra* (2. 9. 214ff.) mentions it as Oḍra. In the *Mahābhārata* the Uḍras are associated with the Utkalas, Mekalas, Kaliṅgas, Puṇḍras and Andhras (Vanaparva, LI, 1988; Bhīṣmaparva, IX, 365; Droṇaparva, IV, 122). The Pali *Apadāna* (II, 358) mentions Oḍḍakas who were the same as Oḍrā or Uḍrā. According to the *Brahmapurāṇa* (28, 29, 42) the country of the Oḍras extended northwards to Birajāmaṇḍala (Jājpur), and consisted of three kṣetras called Puruṣottama or Śrīkṣetra, Savitu or Arkakṣetra, and Birajākṣetra through which flew the river Vaitaraṇī. Hiuen Tsang who visited this country travelled from Karṇasuvarṇa south-west for about 722 li and then reached the Wu-t’u or U-Cha country. The Tirumalai Rock Inscription of the 13th year of king Rājendracoḷa refers to the conquest of Oḍḍaviṣaya by king Rājendracoḷa. According to the Ādipur copperplate of Narendrabhañjadeva (*E.I.*, XXV, Pt. IV, p. 159) Oḍḍaviṣaya originally denoted only a small district but it was afterwards applied to the whole province. This country was above 7,000 li in circuit. It was rich and fertile, though the climate was hot. The people were fond of learning and most of them believed in the law of the Buddha. There were many *Saṅghārāmas* and some *Deva* temples (*Beal, Buddhist Records of the Western World*, II, 204; cf. Watters, *On Yuan Chwang*, II, pp. 193-194).