Ancient Sea Voyages of Odisha…
The Odisha coast’s geography is uniquely suited and conducive for maritime trade, with natural harbours and deltas facilitating establishing and setting up ports. The presence of rivers and abundant water, such as the Ganges, Mahanadi and Godavari, allowed for efficient transportation of goods from inland areas, bypassing the need for land-based trade routes. The availability of precious and semi-precious stones from the western Odisha mountains made them valuable commodities to trade. During medieval times, some of India’s most operational ports were located along the coasts of Odisha, including Tamralipti, Chandraketugarh Nanigaina, Katikadarma, Kannagara, Salihundam, Dharanikotam situated in present-day West Bengal, Puri, Cuttack, Konark and Andhra Pradesh respectively.
The maritime history of the coasts in India is a complexity woven with the threads of trade, adventure, commerce and cultural exchange. These harbours were gateways for international trade and crucial travel methods for vibrant internal trade along the Indian subcontinent. The periodicity of the monsoon winds dictated the flow of maritime activity. The routes chosen by the traders are very well documented in ‘Periplus of the Erythrean Sea’ a Roman-era text on trade routes and in the accounts of Chinese Buddhist monks who traversed these seas in pursuit of sacred knowledge.
Ships from the port of Tamralipti heading to Southeast Asia would often stop at either Sri Lanka or the Andaman-Nicobar Islands to pick up supplies. Travellers said the journey from Tamralipti to the Nicobar Islands was covered in a month. From there, the ships would navigate the open waters towards Sumatra. Upon reaching Sumatra, they had three options: sail down the coast of Sumatra, all the way to Java and Bali; engage in trade along the Sumatran coast; they could traverse the narrow Malacca Strait, venturing northward towards Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Japan, or southward towards Borneo, renowned for its coveted spices, a trade secret fiercely guarded by Indian merchants.
These voyages were fraught with danger, with storms and shipwrecks ever-present threats. However, Indian merchants had cordial relationships with the locals and often settled in the region. Many earned the favour of local rulers, becoming advisors or even establishing royal dynasties through strategic marriages. The dharmic culture bought by Indians seamlessly intertwined with the local culture and became a rich tapestry that still forms the maritime cognisance of the modern nations of Southeast Asia. This rich legacy stands as a testament to the enduring impact of ancient Indian maritime trade, a story of daring voyages, cultural fusion, and the enduring spirit of the Indian merchant.
Maritime Folklore of Seafaring Activities of Odisha…
An annual festival named Bali Yatra is celebrated in Cuttack, Odisha. It is observed during Kartik Purnima around Oct – Nov when the monsoon winds turn southeast. Earlier, during this time, the ancient mariners and traders from Odisha used to go for their nearly six-month voyage to distant destinations, commonly Bali, Java, Sumatra, Vietnam and Cambodia. And their families used to gather at the shore to bid them farewell. They also used to pray for their safety on the high seas and foreign lands. The practices are still followed; when people gather at the banks of the Mahanadi River, they float paper boats, sing songs, and light sky lanterns as a symbol of good wishes for the sailors to remember and commemorate Odisha’s rich maritime history. This festival is also associated with Tapoi (a legend from a famous folk ballad).
The strength and influence of the Kalinga empire are often reflected in ancient texts, including the Ramayana. The knowledge of Kalinga in ocean trade is also mentioned in Kalidas’s play Raghuvamsa; here, the King is referred to as Mohodadhipati (King of the Ocean). In many texts, the King of Kalinga is often called King of the Seas, such as some versions of Odia Mahabharat, Yosawant Das’s Tika Govind Chandra, etc. The traveller’s account also has a unique and crucial place in Odia literature with the particular accounts of Lavanyavati and Vaidehi Vilasa, which speak about seagoing voyages; the Odia version of the Mahabharata also has accounts of ship-building, Rasakallola by Dinakrushna Das has stories of shipwrecks by sea storms, and Kavya Parimala by Narasimha Sinha references Kalinga’s trade with Sri Lanka. One of the most significant narratives within Odisha’s extensive mercantile history is the ballad of Tapoi. The ballad’s lyrical storytelling encapsulates personal emotional experiences and reflects the complexities of trade and cultural exchange that characterized the era.
The trade traces of Odisha…
There is a lot of evidence of trade activities between India and Southeast Asia, known as Suvarnabhumi, a land of gold by Indian sailors. The fertile lands of Suvarnabhumi were home to a vibrant culture, where artisans crafted exquisite goods that would be traded along the fabled spice routes. The merchants of Kalinga were mainly renowned for their expertise in high-quality textiles, including the coveted blue cotton cloth known as Kalingam. Artefacts such as glass, agate and terracotta beads have been discovered in Odisha, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, highlighting the long-lasting and extensive trade networks that traversed the region.
The excavation of Pottery and seals found in Chandraketugarh has yielded Kharosthi script-inscribed pieces, which date back to Gandhara. The artefacts have carvings of ships and shells on them and seem to portray the ships that set sail from the ports east of the subcontinent. Ashoka’s edicts also mention trade voyages from Kalinga to distant lands. Epigraphical evidence from Malaysia and Indonesia reveals that the people known as the Kling referred to the inhabitants of Kalinga.
Orissa’s rich maritime heritage is characterized by its long-standing legacy as a significant maritime hub, dating back to the ancient ports of Puri and Chandipur. As we navigate through the currents of history, Orissa still stands as a vibrant testament to humanity’s enduring bond with the sea, a narrative poised to be shared and revisited across generations
