Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c11.12

c11.12

Cuḍagaṅga Karṇāṭa-deśaru āsi, etc. The mother tongue of the Imperial Gaṅgas was originally Telugu. This is clearly indicated not only by the great part Telugu plays even in their later documents but also by the popularity of names like Aniyaṅkabhīma which was later Sanskritised as Anaṅgabhīma through the intermediate form Aanaṅkabhīma. After the transference of their capital to the heart of Orissa, the Imperial Gaṅgas began to become Oriyas; but most of their matrimonial alliances were still contracted with South Indian royal families and a large number of their officials and protégés were South Indians.