Page:Ancient History of the Deccan.djvu/13

 CHAPTER 1. THE EARLY KINGS

§ 1. Aśôka.

One of the well-known events in the history of Aśôka is the conquest of Kaliṅga which probably took place about 261 B. C. and it is not astonishing to find an inscription of Aśôka at Dhauli. This town situated in the delta of the Mahânadi is in all probability the ancient Tosalî, capital of the kingdom of Kalinga; for, according to Mr. Haraprashad Sastri, Tosalî is etymologically identical with Dhaulî. It is not more astonishing that there is another inscription at Jaugada (Ganjam District, Madras Presidency), as this place certainly formed part of the kingdom of Kaliṅga (concerning the Kaliṅga edicts, see Ind. Ant., Vol V, pp. 82-102; see also Arch. Surv. Southern India. Amaràvatî, by Burgess, pp. 114-2S).

The discovery of an inscription at Sopârà (Thânà District, Bombay Presidency) near Bombay, has proved that the north-west of the Deccan as well as the north-east where Kaliṅga is situated has been under the domination of Aśôka. But the discoverv. in 1802, of the inscriptions of Aśôka near Siddâpura, in Mysore, which have immortalised the name of Mr. Rice, has caused very great surprise. They did not, in fact, think that the empire of Aśôka extended up to the southernmost part of the Deccan. One very important point in the history of India was thus well established. So, the discovery, (see Hyderabad Archælogical Series No 1) only a few years ago, of an