Kalinga War, Year, Background, Winner, Aftermath, Significance, UPSC Notes!

The Kalinga War, fought around 261 BCE, was a fierce battle between the Mauryan Empire under Emperor Ashoka and the independent kingdom of Kalinga, located in present-day Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. The war is believed to have taken place near the Dhauli hills on the banks of the Daya River. It ended with Ashoka’s victory, but the enormous bloodshed—nearly 250,000 lives lost—deeply transformed him. The king of Kalinga is believed to have been from the Mahameghavahana dynasty, though exact records are uncertain. The Battle of Kalinga is considered one of the deadliest conflicts in Indian history, remembered not just for its destruction but for its aftermath, when Ashoka renounced violence, embraced Buddhism, and shifted towards a policy of Dharmavijaya (conquest by dharma).

Topics related to important historical events form an important part of the UPSC Civil services exam under the syllabus of the General Studies- 1 paper. 

This article on Testbook will discuss in a detailed way the background of the Kalinga War, its origins, causes, impact, aftermath, and significance which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation. The UPSC aspirants can also take the help of Testbook’s UPSC Online Coaching to boost their UPSC Exam preparation! 

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What was the Kalinga War?

The Kalinga War is one of the most famous battles in Indian history. It was fought between the powerful Mauryan Empire, led by Emperor Ashoka, and the independent state of Kalinga. The war is known for its huge scale, the heavy loss of life, and its impact on the ruler Ashoka, who transformed after witnessing the brutality and destruction. The Kalinga War not only changed Ashoka’s own path, but also had a lasting effect on Indian history and culture, especially with the spread of Buddhism.

In which Year was the Battle of Kalinga Fought?

The Battle of Kalinga was fought in 261 BCE (Before Common Era), during Ashoka’s eighth year as emperor of the Mauryan dynasty.

Who was the King of Kalinga during the Kalinga War?

During the Kalinga War, the king of Kalinga was King Anantha Padmanabhan (also referred to as local princes and republican chiefs in some sources). However, many historical sources indicate Kalinga may have been ruled by a confederation of local rulers or republican chiefs at the time.

Between whom was the Kalinga War Fought?

The Kalinga War was fought between the Mauryan Empire led by Emperor Ashoka and the State of Kalinga. Kalinga was an independent and prosperous kingdom located in present-day coastal Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Who won the Kalinga War?

Emperor Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire won the Kalinga War. Kalinga was defeated and annexed into the Mauryan Empire. However, the victory came at a huge cost, as thousands were killed and the suffering of the people deeply affected Ashoka, leading him to embrace non-violence and Buddhism.

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The Kalinga War which was fought around 261 BCE was of colossal nature in which as many as 1 lakh people were killed and around further 1.5 lakhs were taken captives while as many as the same number died as an aftermath of the war. King Asoka was deeply moved by the enormous bloodshed caused by this war and got himself converted to Buddhism. 

• Kalinga was a prosperous and wealthy state with talented artists, a strong army, and peaceful people which was until 321 BCE ruled by the Nanda Empire in Magadha.
• The Mauryan Empire perceived Kalinga as a threat because they had the potential to interrupt communications between Patliputra, the Mauryan capital, and their possessions in the central Indian peninsula. 
• The Kalingan King refused to surrender to the demands of King Ashoka which initiated Ashoka to wage a war against the empire. 
• King Ashoka wanted to embark upon the path of his father, Bindusara, and his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, and make Kalinga a part of the Magadha empire once again. 
• Kalinga became an independent state and detached from the Magadha empire after the Nandas were defeated by Chandragupta Maurya. While Chandragupta Maurya and his successor Bindusara attempted to re-conquer it, they were unsuccessful in their attempts. It was Ashoka who led the charge to reclaim the throne.
• Since the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, Kalinga was well-known for its military power and relations with far-flung regions such as Malay, Ceylon, and Java. Kalinga was a prosperous and wealthy region as well.
• Kalinga was also strategically located, with trade routes reaching to Southeast Asia. It possessed several significant ports and a powerful fleet as well.
• These were the main reasons which encouraged Ashoka to conquer Kalinga and further expand his kingdom.
• Ashoka sent a message to the ruler of Kalinga and requested that his empire be submitted to the Mauryas. However, the ruler of Kalinga refused to submit to the Mauryan Empire. Thus, in 261 BC, a deadly war was waged between Ashoka and the state of Kalinga for control over the region.

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What were the Major Events During the Kalinga War?

During the Kalinga War, Raja Ananta Padmanabha was the King of Kalinga who fought valiantly against the vast Mauryan army in the battle. 

• According to the Edicts of Ashoka, the war started in the eighth year of Ashoka’s coronation as the king and was concluded in the ninth year of Ashoka's rule, which was in 261 BCE.
• Kalinga's monarch possessed a force that included infantry, cavalry, and elephants whose numbers stood only at 60 thousand infantry, 1 thousand cavalries, and 700 elephants.
• The Greek ambassador Megasthenes mentioned the Mauryan military might as being around one lakh, consisting of 1700 horses, thousands of elephants, and about 60 thousand soldiers.
• The 13th Ashokan edict states that 1.5 lakh people were deported, another one lakh were killed and many more died from other causes of the Kalinga War. 
• Though the Mauryas under Ashoka came out victorious, the repercussions of the war and deaths affected Ashoka's ideals on war and drove him to vow never to undertake a conquest like this again.
• Ashoka came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dhamma, a love for the Dharma, and for instruction in Dharma. 
• As per the edict, Ashoka felt deep sorrow for having conquered the Kalinga.

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The outcome of the Kalinga War had significant ramifications on the region and on the future times to come. The results were catastrophic in the immediate term due to the bloodshed as a result of the war. 

• Ashoka successfully conquered Kalinga. It became the 5th province of the Magadha empire along with four others Prachaya, Avanti, Uttarapatha, and Dakshinapatha.
• The Battle of Kalinga resulted in massive loss of human lives. 1 lakh soldiers were killed in the battle and 1.5 lakh soldiers from Kalinga were captured by King Asoka, who later succumbed to death for various reasons streaming out of the Kalinga War.
• It was an empty and shallow victory as considered by King Ashoka himself, because of the massive loss of life and property.
• After the disastrous war, Ashoka decided to convert to Buddhism and embarked upon a mission to spread Buddhism in India and to the neighboring countries.
• Following the conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka ended the military expansion of the Magadha empire and began an era of more than 40 years of relative peace, harmony, and prosperity.
• Ashoka played an important role in the spread of Buddhism from North India to Ceylon and from Greece to Burma.

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The Aftermath of the Kalinga War

Even after emerging victorious, King Ashoka was dissatisfied and dejected. Kalinga suffered an irreparable loss and the course of history in the region changed forever. 

• The Kalinga War inspired Ashoka to devote the remainder of his life to nonviolence, truth, and Dhamma triumph.
• Ashoka converted to Buddhism under monk Acharya Upgupta and given the vastness of his empire, the popularity of Buddhism received a boost as a result. 
• Ashoka even sent missionaries of Buddhism abroad and thus the religion spread to Sri Lanka, China, etc. 
• Ashoka vowed that he would never again take up weapons in a conquest war. He put a stop to the empire's expansionist policies. His first and only conflict was the Battle of Kalinga.
• The Magadhan monarchs' old policy of war and conquest otherwise came to an end. The empire established a new state policy of peace and non-violence.
• Except for the far south region, Ashoka ruled the entire Indian subcontinent after the Kalinga war. 
• His Dhamma rules were carved into rocks and stone pillars which in the later periods became a source of inspiration for many. 
• Ashoka led the Mauryan Empire through 40 years of peace, harmony, humanism, love, nonviolence, and prosperity.

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The Kalinga War was very significant in history for many reasons which are discussed below:

• Buddhism: After the Kalinga War, Ashoka converted to Buddhism which helped the religion get royal patronage and as a result, it expanded over to many regions of India and abroad. 
• Humanism: Ashoka was deeply touched by the events of the war and thus, he discarded the policy of war and violence which provided a humane touch to statecraft. 
• Peace: In the next 30 years in which Ashoka ruled the region, peace and harmony was the utmost principle of the state. The era of expansionism was said to be over and no more violent wars took place. 
• Benevolent Administration: Ashoka changed the course of administration in his state and principles like secularism, mutual trust, efficient service delivery, etc were provided for as per his edicts. 
• Spread of Dhamma: Ashoka appointed officers called Dhamma mahamatras who would help in propagating the message of Dhamma and also enabling the emperor to keep in touch with public opinion. The duties of the Dhamma mahamatras are explained in the major rock edict V.

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Conclusion

The Kalinga War was an event in ancient India between the Mauryan Empire led by King Ashoka and the state of Kalinga, which was an autonomous kingdom on India's east coast comprising present-day Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Following Ashoka's victory, there were significant changes to the statecraft policies in the region. Buddhism received royal patronage and a boost as well and non-violence and peace was the primary policy of the day. The Battle of Kalinga is considered one of the most spectacular and deadly wars ever fought in Indian history. It is unsurpassed in terms of the number of deaths and injuries sustained in a battle even today. 

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