Kalinga as a state is as old as history itself. The territory of Kalinga roughly comprised of the areas lying between the eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. Its northern limits reached the Gangetic Delta while its southern limit was bounded by Godavari basin.

Kalinga was an independent state until vanquished by Magadhan king Ashoka in the infamous Kalinga war in 261 B.C. After the death of Ashoka, Kalinga once again asserted her independence under the Chedi or Cheta dynasty. The Chedis or Chetas originally belonged to the Madhyadesa and some members of the Chedi clan migrated to Kalinga. Maha-Meghabahana a member of Chedi clan founded the Chedi dynasty in Kalinga. Kharavela was a descendant of Mahameghabahana, probably his grand son.

Mahameghabahana Kharavela is one of the most remarkable figures in ancient Indian history. The Hatigumpha inscriptions of Udayagiri hills speak of his heroic achievements in detail. The Hatigumpha inscription however mentions no date. There is thus no unanimity among scholars about the date of Kharavela. Some scholars assign him to the first half of 2nd century B.C. while to others it was second half of 1st  century B.C. The whole controversy stems from one word ‘Tiba-sa-sata’ mentioned in the Hatigumpha inscription which some scholars interpret to be 300 while others believe it to be 103. Kharavela has mentioned in the inscription that a Nanda king ruled 103 years (300?) before him. If we believe the Nanda king to be Ashoka due to his Nanda lineage, then Kharavela’s time can be deduced to be 261 B.C (Kalinga War) - 103 =158 B.C.

The Hatigu-mpha inscriptions gives a continuous and consistent narration of Kharavela’s activities in a chronological order for the thirteen years of his reign. According to this inscription Kharavela spent 15 years of his playful boyhood in pleasurly joy and merry- making besides having physical  training and education. At the age of 16 he became the crown prince and at 24 he was installed as the king of Kalinga with the title Kalingadhipati or Kalingachakrabartini.

In the first year of his reign Kharavela undertook the task of internal reforms. He repaired the gates, walls and buildings of Kalinanagar damaged by cyclone. He dug deep cool ponds and reconstructed the gardens. In the 2nd year he drove his vast army west ward and crossed the kingdom of Satakarni and attacked Asakanagar or Musikanagar which was situated in the Godavari Delta. In the 3rd year Kharavela provided entertainment to his subjects by organizing dance, song and musical performances. In the 4th year Kharavela occupied the capital of a prince called Vidyadhara. He also obtained the submissions of Bhojakas and Rathikas and plundered their wealth and other valuables. These Rathikas and Bhojakas lived in Maratha speaking areas of Berar, Ahmadnagar and Thane etc. which Kharavela wrested from the Satabahanas. In the 5th year he dug and extended the canal upto his capital which was constructed by Nanda kings 103 (300?) years back. He spent 1 lakh coins for this purpose. In the 6th year he introduced many reforms for the rural and urban folks. He waived the different taxes and revenues to celebrate his victories and success. The account of the 7th year of his reign is illegible as the inscription for that part is damaged. In the 8th year, Kharavela proceeded towards Magadha and defeated the king of Gorathagiri and advanced his army towards Rajagriha and laid seize the city. He then proceeded to Mathura and the army of a Yavana invader beat a hasty retreat after he heard of Kharavela’s terror. After his return to Kalinga he spent 100 thousand coins to entertain his subjects with music, dance and mass feasts. In the 9th year he built a huge palace on the bank of river Prachi to commemorate his victories in the North. In the 10th year he once again led a campaign to the North to revenge against the defeats inflicted upon his predecessors. In the 11 the year, he proceeded towards south and sacked the city of Pitundra the capital city of Muslipatnam. He defeated the Tamil country of Pandya whose monarch paid him tribute in pearls. In the 12th year Kharavela once again led his army to the northern plains as his quest for complete victory over North was still unfulfilled. The Magadhan king Brihatsvamitra or Brihaspatimitra was forced to accept his authority. The king of  Anga also conceded his sovereignty to Kharavela. Kharavela then pushed up his army upto the Ganges where he watered his horses an elephants. He took revenge of the humiliating defeat Kalinga had earlier suffered in the hands of Magadhan kings including Ashoka. Kharavela brought back a lot of wealth and valuables with him and utilized it in building a magnificent temple at Kalinganagar. He also brought back the image of a Jaina saint which the Nandas had taken away from Kalinga. In the 13th year Kharavela celebrated his victories over both North and South by executing a number of pious and benevolent deeds. He carved 117 caves in the Udayagiri hills for the monks and Rishis.

Kharavela was a devout Jaina who made significant contributions for the spread of Jainism. He spent lavishly for the beneficiary of jaina saints and monks. He was however not a bigot. In spite of being a staunch Jaina he had respect and tolerance for other sects too. His broad outlook and greatness is evident from the fact that he wanted to take revenge on Magadha for the misdeeds the Magadhan king Ashoka had inflicted upon Kalinga but he did n’t destroy the rock edicts of Ashoka. A great ruler can never be so clumsy. Kharvela was aware of the heroic achievements of  Ashoka  but he did n’t take his name in his inscription but referred merely as a Nanda king to express his selfpride or Swabhiman. He was not only a great empire builder but a nation builder as well. He always thought of the welfare of the people. He was a farsighted ruler who thought of irrigation projects even 2000 years ago. He spent 75 lakh coins to build a huge palace as a mark of victory over North and South. He amply retrieved the lost glory of Kalinga by defeating Magadha. He also  held the Satabahanas in check. His sway in south extended as far as the Tamil kingdom of Pandya. It  means from Mathura in the North to Pandya in South and Thane and Barar in the west marked the territory of his empire.

Kharavela rose like a meteor to great heights of glory and grandeur but Kalinga is unfortunate to have had a true successor of him. His legacy is still a story of pride and price for the people of Orissa.