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Abstract Orissa is a coastal state. It is also part of ancient Gondwana . The coastal plains are bounded by ancient hill ranges in the north , west , south and by the Bay of Bengal in the east. They act as natural barriers. The drainage systems are shore oriented , they cut across these barriers and traverse the plains. These drainage systems have eroded the barriers forming wide valleys, which have been used as pass for the invaders and expeditionary forces to march upon each other. They have also acted as germ pans and as harbours for urban centers. Locations having strategic vantage , evolved into urban centers termed as Garahs and Katakas i.e. a Garah and Kataka concept emerges , which indeed is a unique cantonised system. Invasions also dictated resettlement of urban centers. A west to east migration of urban centers in tune with the drainage pattern is discernable. Orissa was a maritime state. Favourable maritime facility have acted as adjuvant factor. Key Words : Drainage, Invasions , Maritime facility , Coastal Orissa , Garah-Kataka concept. Introduction : Geographical Aspects and Historical Background Orissa marks the North East terminus point of ancient Gondwana 1 . This has resulted in a geomorphology of mixed topographical features . At its center and to its north, west and south , we note a high land and denuded hill chains rising to between 1000 – 3000 feet high 2 . Extensive denudation have widened the channels into valleys which have traditionally been used for seasonal communication. As a result, the coastal belts of Orissa is composed of rich alluvial soil . The intervening valleys have settlements while the highland have historically been bereft of habitation. The orography between Kalingapatna in the south and Kasaphala in the north is that of uninterrupted flat coastal belt , with a flat hinterland . Orissa has a inclined shore line. This has resulted in additional benefit in the past, as because a inclined shore experiences less diurnal tide amplitude effect , shallow draught and a short inter-tidal zone , which were necessary for easy cross over and quick access to the placid sea by the merchandise laden sea going vessels, which then all had non mechanised propulsion. Inclination of the shore line also reduces the tidal bore effect during cyclones. This helped settlements to close up towards the shore at select places, that allowed safe anchorage. The ring of highlands to the hind of the coastal hinterland, apart from acting as a natural barrier between coastal Orissa and rest of India also creates limited obstruction to the monsoon draft. The obstruction is the cause of heavy rainfall in Orissa and a long rainy season locally known as chaturmasia ( four month period ) 3. This had resulted in lush ever green flora all over the hill-ridge zones with a variety of fauna , which had accentuated the effectiveness of that natural barrier. The pouring rain also eroded the hill sides and annually surcharged the top soil in the coastal flat lands. Such Geographical and meteorological conditions gave to Orissa’s coastal belts a self sustaining condition. It sustained a easy way of life . Greece also has a similar topography 4 . Orissa has a rich maritime history , its sea going vessels and ports have been acclaimed as the best 5 . The sea provided the scope for global trade . Ancient Orissa, had therefore, remained a natural isolate. Conquering it was profitable , but it also required special wherewithal. The number of invasions through the entire historical period , hence has been few and far between and Orissa always was among the last destination . For similar reasons, only two Orissan dynasties ( the Chedis and the Suryavansis ) had indulged in expeditions across these formidable barriers. Emperor Kharvela ( 2nd B.C. ), who had for the first time crossed these natural barriers in his repeat invasions , states in his Udaigiri Prasati , that he had his ‘ Mah-vijaya Prasada ’ in his capital 6. The Prasati also suggests the name of his domain as Kalinga 7. This means Kalinga had buildings in its capital in 2nd B.C. It could therefore be a urban center. If present Bhubaneswar’s neighbourhood be accepted as Kharvela’s erstwhile capital, it then was effectively bounded by all these natural barriers and easy access to the sea i.e. it was selected on the basis of geostrategic consideration. Such natural protection , lack of invasions and consequent isolation is also noted in the case of Brahmaputra and Bagmati valley areas. Invasions were always capital ( urban center ) and prime asset oriented . Expeditions were always controlled from urban centers. The need for security on one hand led to the migration of sub-populations and resettlement of urban centers and on the other, a pattern of cantonisation comprising garhs and katakas evolved to protect the prime assets ( such as ports , docks , trade routes , edifices and merchandise ) which in this study is nomenclatured as the Garah-Kataka concept. In Fig.- 1 and in Table II , they are numbered as 1 – 15 . In Oriya lingua the term Cuttack is pronounced and spelt as in Kataka , which is hereinafter adhered to. Kharavela’s Prasati names only urban centers that he had taken during his expeditions ( 2nd BC ) 8 . Kapilendradeva’s ( 1434 –1468 A.D.) campaigns were also settlement centric , the campaigns of Samudragupta to Krisna Deva Raya were all urban settlement centric 9 . Untill the expeditionary forces of the East India Company took Orissa in 1803 A.D., no invasion had ever happened from the Bay of Bengal route. All successful invasion of Orissa are always noted to have been associated with large campaigns ( elaborate preparation events ). This is because of the fact, that, ( i ) crossing the natural barriers required time ( ii ) the principal urban centers and assets were all located on an average of 300 to 400 kms. from such barriers ( iii ) this needed special and elaborate logistics. Therefore, natural barriers were a limiting factor. In Fig.- 1, the invasion paths are suggested by arrows , along the borders of Orissa , Table – I gives a select short descriptive tabulation.
Table – I
Period Invader ( dynasty ) Track no. Result Defender
3rd
B.C. Asoka ( Maurya )
9 Occupied N K Index: N K = Not Known; W = Weak. The above Table which may be read along with Fig. 1 shows 15 select invasions/ occupations which covers the period from 3rd B.C to 19th A. D ( 2200 yrs ). The principal defender in two instance was strong . While in the rest were either weak sovereigns or are not known . In the last case the defender himself was the previous occupier. Pre 12th A.D all invasions seem to have met by weak defenders , which suggests that the Garh-kataka concept and the tentacular defense system possibly became operational from 12th A.D.
Varius Ragirs ( principalities ) dot the river valleys of Orissa . Using Geographical Information Systems ( GIS ) , this study identifies urban centers that have geo-strategic locations , which acted as the center of erstwhile Rajgirs , many of which had a long list of Rajas . Locational plan suggests, that such principle settlements avoided the hills and ravines ( which had hill streams, mud slides , due to seasonal heavy rain ) , instead chose sakata bhumis ( carriagable ground ), which were proximal to ancient passes and routes , which in turn further suggests that macro area geo-strategic aspects were taken into consideration even for locating the Rajbatis ( palaces ). These study shows that the Ragirs, jointly and severally functioned as a bulwark against any invader. On a map we mark out 48 urban centers . Of these, 29 have the suffix garh , 10 are general names , 6 are katakas , 2 are river bank vantage posts for observation and 1 new settlement ( 29 + 10 + 6 + 2 + 1 = 48 ). All the centers when connected by imaginary lines form deltas ( triangles ) and trapeziums ( quadrants having irregular sides ) and tentacles ( flexible paths ). World over, the delta and the trapezium formats have been used in sea and land battles 10 and flexible paths have been used to deploy forces. Table - I interphases invasions , defender , dates, routes and geography i.e. Fig. 1 . Table - II gives the constituent members of the garhs and the katakas, with their numeric identifying codes. Table – III gives the list of the drainage with their alphabetic identifying codes. Table - IV gives the constituent members of the delta formats , represented by the alphabet ‘D’. Table V gives the constituent members of the trapezium formats, represented by the alphabet ‘T’ Fig. 1 graphically presents the locations of all the 46 constituent members along with geographical factors. Fig. 2 graphically presents the delta and the trapeziums. Fig. 3 graphically presents the tentacular system. Table – II : The members of the Garh-Kataka scheme. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Code. Garahs Katakas General Names Drainage Special Remark --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 - Raibania Suvarnarekha Costal tract 2 - Nilagiri Salandi 3 - Jajpur Baitarani 4 - Amravati - do - 5 - Chowdwargarh Mahanadi 6 - The Kataka - do - 7 - Keradagarh Hansua Delta mouth & connector 8 - Arighagarh ( Righagarh ) Brahmani - do - 9 - Paradeepgarh Mahanadi - do – 10 - Sisupalgarh/Badagada Gandhabati 11 - Khurdhagarh Chilika Head 12 - Nayagarh Mahanadi 13 - Daspalla - do – 14 - Fatehgarh/Khandapada - do – 15 - Kantilo - do Watch tower 16 - Banki - do - - do – 17 - Barangagarh - do - Delta head 18 - Rodhangagarh Chilika lake mouth 19 - Parikudgarh - do – lake central 20 - Khalikot \ Garh Huma - do - Costal tract lake south 21 - Jaugarh Risikulya 22 - Chikitigarh Costal tract 23 - Parlakhemendi Vansadhara - do - 24 - Raygada Nagavalli 25 - Bisama kataka Vansadhara & Nagavalli 26 - Puruna kataka * - do - Gorge 27 - Kaintaragarh ( Athmallik ) - do – - do - 28- Boudh - do – 29 - Asurgarh Tel 30 - Dharmagarh - do - 31 - Titlagarh - do – 32 - Patnagarh Suktel & Mahanadi -Tel head areas 33 - Sunapura Kataka - do - confluence zone 34 - Bargarh Mahanadi 35 - Sarangagarh - do - 36 - Raigarh - do – 37 - Dharmajaygarh - do – 38 - Sundargarh - do – 39 - Junagarh - do – 40 - Tigiria - do - 41 - Athagarh - do - 42 - Hindol Brahmani 43 - Kamakshyanagar - do – 44 - Deogarh - do – 45 - Keonjhargarh Baitarani 46 - Deogan - do - 47 - Khichingagarh - do – 48 - Puri New settlement. * - The term Sunapura kataka is adopted on the basis of the Khambeswari stone inscription of Sonepore .
The following table gives the list of the drainage with their alphabetic identifying codes as mentioned in Fig. 1,2 & 3.
Table
- III : Drainage members and their Codes. A Suvarnarekha. G Tel. M Birupa. B Salandi. H Indra. N Devi.
C
Baitarani. I Hatti.
O Kathajhudi, Kuakhai, E Mahanadi. K Vansadhara. F Ong. L Risikulya.
Cantonised Formats : Urban Centers In Fig. 2 we can observe that the 38 member centers can be joined with imaginary lines forming triangles and trapeziums . The following Table gives the constituent members of the delta formats, represented by the alphabet ‘D ’.
Table – IV D1 - Jajpur kataka( 3 )- Deogaon( 46 ) –Nilgiri ( 2 ) :: Mid Baitarani & Upper Salandi. D2 - Jajpur kataka( 3 ) -Kamakshyanagar (43)–Deogan( 46 ) :: Bramhani – Baitarani connect valley. D3 - Kataka ( 6 )- Amravati kataka ( 4 ) - Jajpur kataka ( 3 ) :: Mahanadi , Birupa & Brahmani. D4 - Jajpur kataka ( 3 )- Chowdwargarh ( 5 )- Athagarh ( 41 ) :: Mahanadi ,Birupa flood plains. D5 - Kataka ( 6 )- Sisupalgarn/Badagada ( 10 )-Barangagarh ( 17 ):: Mahanadi south Delta. D6 - Puruna kataka ( 26 )-Kaintaragarh ( 27 )- Boudh ( 28 ):: Mahanadi Pre Gorge picket. D7 - Patnagarh ( 32 )- Sunapura ( 33 )- Titlagarh ( 31 ) :: Mahanadi – Tel confluence south west.
D8 -
Patnagarh ( 32 ) - Sunapura ( 33 ) – Bargarh ( 34 ) ::
Mahanadi – Tel confluence north west.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Code. Constituent Members of the Trapezium formats Drainage.
T1 - Khichingagarh ( 47 ) – Deogan( 46 ) – Kamakshyanagar ( 43 ) – Keonjhargarh ( 45 ) :: Upper Baitarani
T2 - Kamakshyanagar ( 43 ) - Hindol ( 42 ) - Deogarh ( 44 ) - Keonjhargarh ( 45 ) :: Upper Brahmani.
T3 - Jajpur kataka ( 3 ) - Amravati kataka (4 ) - Chowdwargarh ( 5 )- Athagarh ( 41 ) – Hindol ( 42 ) - Kamakshyanagar ( 43 ) :: Mid Brahmani.
T4 - Kataka ( 6 )- Barangagarh ( 17 )– Tigirai ( 40 )- Athagarh ( 41 )- Chowdwargarh ( 5 ) :: Mahanadi delta head
T5 - Kataka ( 6 )- Jajpur kataka ( 3 ) – Keradagarh ( 7 )- Arighagarh ( 8 )- Paradeepgarh ( 9 ) :: Combined delta & mouth
T6 - Sisupalgarh/Badagada ( 10 ) – Khurdagarh ( 11 )- Nayagarh ( 12 )- Daspalla ( 13 )- Khandapada ( 14 )- Kantilo/Fathegarh ( 15 )- Mahanadi mid-lower, Banki ( 16 )- Barangagarh ( 17 ) :: and south bank.
T7 - Boudh ( 28 ) - Asurgarh ( 29 ) - Dharmagarh ( 30 )- Titlagarh ( 31 ) - Sunapura ( 33 ) :: Tel & its tributaries.
T8 - Sunapura ( 33 ) - Bargarh ( 34 ) - Junagarh ( 39 )- Sundargarh ( 38 ) – Boudh ( 28 ) :: Upper Mahanadi.
T9 - Bargarh ( 34 )– Sarangagarh ( 35 )- Raigarh ( 36 )- Dharamjaygarh ( 37 )- Sundargarh ( 38 )- Junagarh ( 39 ) :: Outer Mahanadi.
The following Table gives the constituent members of the trapezium formats , represented by the alphabet ‘T ’.
1 - The head areas of the Baitarani drainage system provides a land route connection directly into the flat land territories of Bihar and West Bengal. The defense trapezium ( T1 ) that can be generated is as follows Khichingagarh ( 47 ) – Deogan( 46 ) – Kamakshyanagar ( 43 ) – Keonjhargarh ( 45 ).
2 - The head areas of the Brahmani drainage system is locked into the high lands of the Chota Nagpur , which has acted as a natural barrier. Yet it allows sufficient pass for a odd intrusion. The defense trapezium ( T2 ) that can be generated is as follows : Kamakshyanagar ( 43 ) - Hindol ( 42 ) - Deogarh ( 44 )- Keonjhargarh ( 45 ) . T2 is less compact than T1.
3 - The head areas of the upper Mahanadi is divided into three segments . They are the ( i ) Outer Mahanadi and upper Mahanadi segment which includes the present day Hirakud dammed areas ( ii ) Tel and in its distributaries that flow in from the south west ( iii ) tributaries of the Mahanadi and the Tel that flow in from the west .
( i ) the proper Mahanadi drainage system provides a easy land route connection directly into the mid Mahanadi drainage system that leads into the coastal heartland. Two defense trapeziums that can be generated here, are as follows: T8 – Sunapura ( 33 ) - Bargarh ( 34 ) - Junagarh ( 39 )- Sundargarh ( 38 ) – Boudh ( 28 ) and T9 – Bargarh ( 34 )– Sarangagarh ( 35 )- Raigarh ( 36 )-Dharamjaygarh ( 37 )- Sundargarh ( 38 )- Junagarh ( 39 ).
( ii ) the drainage system of the tributaries of Mahanadi and Tel provides a easy land route connection directly from Chattisgarh into the mid Mahanadi drainage system that leads into the coastal heartland. The defense deltas that can be generated is as follows ( D6 ) Patnagarh ( 32 )- Sunapura ( 33 )- Titlagarh ( 31 ) and ( D7 ) Patnagarh ( 32 ) - Sunapura ( 33 ) – Bargarh ( 34 ).
( iii ) the drainage system of the Tel and in its distributaries also provides a easy land route connection from Chattisgarh and Andhra directly into the mid Mahanadi drainage system that leads into the coastal heartland. The defense trapezium ( T7 ) that can be generated is as follows : Boudh ( 28 ) - Asurgarh ( 29 ) - Dharmagarh ( 30 )- Titlagarh ( 31 ) - Sunapura ( 33 ) .
From the above study, we observe that in the scheme of defense and consequent urbanisation, the Mahanadi was divided into two segments . One to the west of the Satkosia gorge and the other that was to the east of it. Puruna Cuttack of Boudh and Kaintaragada ( Athamallick ) seems to have acted as the base camps on the either banks of Mahanadi, for all military cum river traffic related activities in the outer and upper sections of the Mahanadi-Tel drainage systems that was to the west of the Satkosia gorge. The Rani pathar hills ( nearby to Puruna kataka ) acted as a excellent high level watch and ward tower for observing in either of the directions , this includes a significant stretch of the Mahanadi . Puruna kataka , acted as the cantonment. In the eastern segment of this drainage , Kantilo and Banki offered observation posts , while the Kataka acted as the cantonment of the eastern side. Therefore two katakas bounded the trunk portion of the Mahanadi. Puruna kataka, Kaintaragarh , Athagarh , Fatehgarh, Chowdwargarh, Barangagarh and the Kataka facilitated easy evacuation , quick and effective redeployment of forces , reinforcements and resources mobilisation in a north by south and east by west axis. This takes into account , the use of water ways for heavy transshipments ( over long hauls and over difficult terrain ) and land route for the light infantry and for the elephant squadrons 11. This is conscious use of natural assets and resources for military purpose and civil purpose.
4 - The Mid Mahanadi has a gorge at Satkosia , popularly known as Ganda . It is a natural geo-strategic point , which when allowed to pass unhindered throws open to a invader the entire coastal belts of Orissa which includes the properties and assets as in the Mahandi lower valley , the united delta zones and the Chilika . The defense delta ( D5 ) that can be generated is as follows : Puruna kataka ( 26 )-Kaintaragarh ( 27 )- Boudh ( 28 ). D6 was of extraordinary strategic importance . It is noteworthy that the cantonment ( kataka ) was located on the right bank.
5 - Central Orissa could also easily be accessed via the rivers that intermesh the lower delta zones . The entire delta is also fertile property and even Kanika was a rice exporting Rajgir . The defense trapezium ( T5 ) that can be generated is as follows : Kataka ( 6 )- Jajpur kataka ( 3 ) – Keradagarh ( 7 )- Arighagarh ( 8 )-Paradeepgarh ( 9 ) 12.
6 - Central Orissa and her maritime assets could also easily be accessed via the Chilika which has waterway connection with the lower delta zones , as well with the mid lower mid Mahanadi and as well with the extensive sakata bhumis that lay to its west . The military establishments are as follows , Khurdagarh ( 11 )– Rodhangagarah( 18 ) – Parikudgarh( 19 ) – Khalikote ( 20 ) . Thus we find , that, even the possibility of ingression through the Chilika or thorough the delta region or a possible take over of the lake or marine pirate activity, seems to have been consciously taken into consideration in such scheme of cantonisement . The mud , slush , the veritable flora and the fauna it seems were also considered as state property and defended on a schematic basis. Every route to the central zone ( capital ) was marked.
7 – Map rotation studies also indicates that , geographically , Amaravati kataka ( 4 ) was a all weather logistic center for the Birupa-Brahmani-Batarani inland waterways , for the collinear land route access for D1,D2, and T1,T2,T3,T5 zones . Khurdhagarh was the all weather logistic center for defense of the right bank distributaries , northwest segment of the Chilika , the inland waterways and as well the land route access for T6 zone. Khurdhagarh and Amaravati kataka are nearly equi-distanced from the Kataka i.e. from Mahanadi channel. The above facts also reinforces the observations that the threat of invasion was less from the sea and from the Chilika .
8 – The Mahanadi’s right bank also plays host to the Sunapura , Boudh, Daspalla,Nayagarh , Khandapada and Kataka, while the left bank plays host to Kaintaragarh , Tigiria and Athagarh royal families , in a series . The right bank which offers less precipitous topography , allowed easier conditions for surface transport . It is marked by defense trapezium T6 , namely Sisupalgarh/Badagada ( 10) – Khurdagarh ( 11 )- Nayagarh ( 12 )-Daspalla ( 13 )- Khandapada ( 14 )- Kantilo/Fathegarh ( 15 )- Banki ( 16 )- Barangagarh ( 17 ) . T4 along the left bank and T6 along the right bank are observed to be defended in a very close knit manner . T4 and T6 are close knit trapeziums. They, seem to have jointly defended Kataka ( the cantonment ) and Bhubaneswar ( the capital ) , which lay to the east , from incursions along the Mahanadi channel . Therefore, histo-geographically, invasion from the direction of the sea ( delta and lake ) was given less weightage. Excluding the gorge areas , the garh-katakas of the Tel-Mahanadi drainage system also seem to augment each other in a manner so as to maintain round the year physical communication lines between the western and the eastern parts of Orissa. The deltas and the trapezium formats of defense could have been used by the Rajgirs jointly and severally for individual and as well for zonal defense.
Similarly, radiating lines can be traced on a map connecting the 47 centers . They radiate out from Bhubaneswar-Cuttack area . These have been termed as tentacles 13 . If we consider the well consorted defense efforts and campaigns , under a centralised command of a paramount power , which also had centralised location as was the case from the mid tenure of Choda Ganga Dev ( 1200 A.D. ) through Ananga Bhima Dev –III ( 1211-38 A.D. ) and Narasingha Dev – I ( 1238 – 64 A.D. ) of the Ganga dynasty and again during emperor Kapilendradeva ( 1435-67 A.D. ) and Purushottama Deva ( 1467-97 A.D. ) of the Suryavansi dynasty ( i.e. 300 yrs ), we then find that force deployment was more a matter of the scope of the objective ( distance – direction-season-enemy’s size, etc. ). Technology enabling higher mobility , the scope of the objective was also flexible. Tentacles indicates the gross lines of the scope in relation to any known direction , when the stimulus be ( i ) militarised enemy ( ii ) internal administration ( iii ) climatic inclemency. The tentacular system is primarily also a product of military activity . Most of these tentaclular paths over a period of time metamorphosed into seasonal carriageable tracks, which in turn facilitated in the kinematics of non river side urban centers 14 . Alike the riparian system , the tentacular system facilitated in defense-cum-offense and also in urban kinematics.
9 - The defense tentacle that radiates towards the north ( from Bhubaneswar ), connects the following frontal urban centers cum battlements ( among others ) : Barangagarh ( 17 ) – Kataka ( 6 )– Chowdwargarh ( 5 )– Amravati kataka ( 4 ) – Jajpur kataka ( 3 )– Nilagiri ( 2 ) – Raibania ( 1 ). This tentacle continues upto Mughal mari 15 near Dantan of Minapore district in West Bengal.
10 - The defense tentacle that radiates towards the south , connects the following frontal urban centers cum battlements ( among others ). Khurdagarh ( 11 ) – Rodhangagarh( 18 ) – Parikudgarh ( 19 )- Khalikote \ Garh Huma( 20 ) - Jaugarh ( 21 ) – Chikitigarh ( 23 ) Parlakhemendi ( 23 )– Raygada ( 24 ) – Bisama kataka ( 25 ). Later on this tentacle went via Puri ( 48 ). This tentacle continues upto Kalingapatna in Srikakulam district ( see Fig. 4 ).
The Tentacular System
11 - The defense tentacle that radiates towards the west , connects the western group of tentacles with the eastern half via the southern bank of Mahanadi at the Satkosia gorge .
12 - Map study also indicates that the tentacular system cross the rivers at fjordable points . They are collinear to drainage and the highlands, but do not cut across the highlands .
Fig. 3 graphically presents the tentacular format of defense lines . These tentacles had logistical function , allowed retention of connection with the central authority even during the chaturmasia ( monsoon cum flood period ). No invasionary force ever got through so long as the central command did not suffer any incumbency vacuum . Krisna Deva Raya had stopped south of river Nagavalli. The Islamic occupation , followed by the Maratha intrusions and the British take over had bridged these natural barriers and these unique defense formats only when there was no central unified command in Orissa i.e.( post 1560 A.D. ) . Probably for such reasons, the expeditionary forces of the East India Company had simultaneously used the north, the south routes and also the sea route ( and bribe ) as part of its multi pronged strategy of invasion of Orissa in 1803 16 . A tentacular system is also traceable between the establishments that were located along the upper and lower Nile. Caesar and Napoleon we know, had also laid great stress on logistical paths. The Indian army had used this method in 1971 war to liberate Bangladesh.
The garhs, the katakas and the tentacular scopes were also used by the Ganga and Suryavansi expeditionary forces . The connected centers therefore also acted as the launching pads during expeditions, they had two way function 17 . Evidence, as yet has not emerged to suggest the existence of these centers either as frontal advanced fortifications or as organised human settlements on the eve of the Magadhan invasion in 3rd B.C. or on the eve of emperor Kharvela’s expeditions in 2nd B C. Yet however, it can be logically argued, that, the lower date of an embryonic cantonisement can be pushed back to emperor Kharavela’s reign. There being no alternative to these tracks and passes, emperor Kharavela , during his repeat long scope military campaigns , surely required frontal positions and base camps for logistical purposes along these tracks and passes. We know that, Asoka and Kharavela were great generals . World over, every good general have always valued natural geo-strategic locations . The above named sites/centers are indeed natural geo-strategic locations. On the basis of Table – I , it can only be said that the Garh-Kataka-Tentacular system of defense , although may have been in position , was possibly not operational until 12th A.D. A robust policy for concerted defense via the Garh-Kataka-Tentacular system is traceable from Ananga Bhima Dev –III ( 1211-38 A.D. ) reign 18 . The term Garh means embattlements or fortification 19. The term Kataka is of Prakrit genealogy . Alone Orissa has numerous katakas. The term kataka means military camp alias cantonment and it also means ‘wrist’, alias pivot 20 . If we rotate Fig 3 ( in a angular manner ) we will then see that in either of views D3 and D4 are at the base of the Baitarani-Brahmani-Mahanadi defense format conglomerate and at the head of the combined delta zone. D6 is at the base of the Mahanadi-Tel combined defense format conglomerate . Puruna Kataka and the Kataka have near identical geo-strategic locations along the Mahanadi drainage system. Such a ( theoretical ) complementing interlay of defense system has not been reported from any other drainage-delta systems.
Fig 4 juxtaposes the delta , the trapezium formats and the tentacular system. This graphic method, clearly establishes, that, Orissa was divided into two segments, namely the eastern and the western halves. The central highland ridge separated them. The Mahanadi joined both the halves. The tentacular system ran only along the Mahanadi to join either of the zones. That, between the either zones. D6 provided comprehensive defense to the gorge section , while Puruna kataka ( 26 ) was its cantonment. D7 and D8 provided comprehensive defense to the main confluence point of the tributaries of the Mahanadi to its north , while Sunapura kataka ( 33 ) was its cantonment. Similarly, D3, D4 and D5 provided comprehensive defense to the Mahanadi delta head , while Chowdwargarh ( 5 ) and the Kataka (6 ) were the two cantonments across Mahanadi’s either bank in the south . Sunapura kataka , the gorge and the delta head were considered as vital geostrategic positions, whose defense was augmented with cantonments . Neither geographically nor historically, can it be said that Orissa possessed the best of fertile alluvial tracts or produced the best quality of rice, which may acted as a cause for invasions. The afore given figures and tables jointly and severally, graphically presents, that, the main drainage, the riparian zones, the channels , the urban the built and the maritime assets there beside were selectively defended . Not the arable tracts. As per the system prevalent in Puri, 16 Vendias ( well bodied youths ) makes a Jaga ( alert full place, presently known as gymnasiums) . Even to this date, all jagas have numerous shastra Guru(s) ( arms teachers ) and Pahelwan(s) ( musclemen ) as the head and leaders respectively of each faculty of physical training. The vendia graduated to become Samartha ( capable one) and on to become a Pahelwan. Numerous jaga(s) would meet at a Pentha ( congregation place ) , numerous pentha(s) alias congregations constituted a Thata ( regiment ), numerous thata(s) may be said to constitute a Kataka ( cantonment ). Kota as in the pronunciation of Khalikote and Bajrakot , means fort or castle, which is different from kotha ( store \ ware house) as in kotha voga. Therefore, the Garh -Kataka concept includes, all the micro cum macro divisions and constituents thereof. All these constitutes a institutionalised system of defense personnel selection and a graduation hierarchy. Invasion and Resettlement : A New Urban CenterTo understand the kinematics as to how settlements also shifted in face of invasions, we take a select case study. The Rastrakuta sovereign, Govinda III ( 798 – 829 AD ) alias Raktavahu’s invasion of Orissa had happened during the Bhauma sovereign Sivakara – II’s reign ( 790-829 AD ). K.C. Panigrahi 21 has cited Sanjan plates of Amoghavarsha and the tradition as is preserved in the Madala Panji , which states that Raktavahu had come via the sea. The Rastrakutas were monarchs of the land locked central India , they could not have taken the sea route. They were Saivas and apparently were also on the outlook for rooting |
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Drainage Channels , Invasion
& Maritime facility as Factors of Urbanisation in Orissa :
The Garh - Kataka Concept. |
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