Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/mWvQuC8AJqE
References: https://www.aimwell.org/DPPN/dantapura.html
https://frontierweekly.com/views/aug-20/13-8-20-Dantapuram.html
Dantapura (Dantapuram) had been the capital
of Kalinga country when it was reigned by King Sattabhu, contemporary with
Renu. Other kings mentioned to have ruled were: Nalikira, Karandu. The left-eye
tooth of Buddha was in Dantapura, till it was taken to Sri Lanka by
Dantakumara. It had been handed over by Khema Therra (Dathavamsa) for its identification to
Brahmadatta, king of Dantapura.
Dantapuram is situated around 6 KMs from Amadalavalasa
in Srikakulam Dist, AP.
Brief Legends and History (Ref: https://frontierweekly.com/views/aug-20/13-8-20-Dantapuram.html )
The Mahabharata refers to
Dantavakrunikota and the Kaurav chief Duryodhana got his wife Bhanumathi from
Kalinga. Noted scholar Godavarthi Ram Das in one of his papers on Kalinga
in 1928 citing ‘Sacred Books of the East’ explained that the Vedic Aryans
considered the inhabitants of Kalinga were impious natives and retorted that
those who enter the region should get themselves absolved through a fire ritual
( Baudhayana Sutra p148). As an eminent epigraphist Ramdas has discovered
and published Purle Plates of Indravarman of Ganga dynasty in the Epigraphia
Indica in 1930 at page 360 Vol XIV including the inscription in Sanskrit
issued in the Ganga year 149 ( 496-535) from Dantapuram. Ramdas has
identified Dantapuram as the one that we have mentioned above. This is the
inscriptional evidence to note that the capital of Kalinga was Dantapura at the
time of Indravarman, the Eastern Ganga king of Trikalinga. It was also perhaps
the capital when the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha was brought by a Brahmin
(named Khema) to the place called Vetadipa at that time when BrahmaDatta was
ruling Trikalinga. This is how Rhys Davids explained as to how the mortal
remains of Buddha got distributed among 8 claimants citing Mahaparinibbana
sutta. Dantapura now stands near the right bank of Vamsadhara river along which
in another 20 Kms towards Kalinga sea (Bay of Bengal) Salihundam a 3rd century
BC Buddhist structure exists (excavated by ASI in 1954). Thus the place was
perhaps named as Dantapura after the pious Tooth Relic of Buddha was brought
here, whatever may be its original name ( Simhapura, dvipa etc). After some
years it is reported that there were several skirmishes about the relic as per
DipaVamsa, Dalada Vamsa of Sri Lanka and therefore finally the relic was taken
to Anuradhpura and the name Dantapura remains with Kalinga. Dantapuram
was mentioned in the records of Roman and Egyptian Geographers along with
Kalinga. It was called as Dandagula and the boundaries were misplaced due to
the typical Indian names and the reading of records of Megasthnes and others
who came to India along with Alexander and had taken notes on places, kings,
socio-economic strictures etc. It was Cunningham in his ‘The Ancient Geography
of India’, 1871 noted as follows. Based on the records of Hwuen Tsang, he
has mentioned that, “ in the seventh century, the capital of the kingdom of
Kie-ling-kia, or Kalinga, was situated at from 1400 to 1500 li, or from 233 to
250 miles, to the south-west of Ganjam. Both bearing and distance point either
to Rajamahendiri on the Godavari river, or to Koringa on the seacoast, the
first being 251 miles to the south-west of Ganjam, and the other 246 miles in
the same direction. But as the former is known to have been the capital of the
country for a long period, I presume that it must be the place that was visited
by the Chinese pilgrim. But, the original capital of Kalinga is said to have
been Srikakola, or Chikakol, 20 miles to the south-west of Kalingapatam. The
kingdom was 5000 li, or 833 miles, in circuit.” Thus, the geographical
accounts noted by erstwhile foreign visitors interpreted as late as 1871 by a
British officer had cleared the air that Dantapuram was the capital of Kalinga
for a longtime and it was in Srikakulam district.
Current
Status
Currently there is a Buddha statue on the
right side of the road as you drive through the Kottur-Srikakulam road coming
from Parvaatheesam Petha road. The statue is maintained in a beautiful country
side park. A few 100 meters ahead on the same road, there a narrow road on the
left side inside the forest, where few mud layered stupas can be noticed.
Overall the place is well maintained and very easy to travel too.
Photography and Parking
The approach to
the location is very nice and a beautiful countryside road and is best covered by
own vehicle. There is no restriction to photography
Drones can be
easily used from a distance. Don’t use from near the site as the ASI person
visits the moment he sees any visitor.
Local
transportation to the location could be difficult.
Stay and
Accomodation:
Rajam or Srikakulam is the place to stay. Hotels
in Srikakulam are available, but not that easily though. JJ Innotel hotel at
Rajam is a very reasonably priced hotel with good rooms. The food in the
restaurant is also very good. Do try the Masala Dosa for just Rs 50 and awesome
in taste.
Route and Location:
Our route was to
cover the temple and move on to Rajam covering Dantapuram, Kamalingeshwara
Temple too.
We started from
Srikakulam and had to cover Dantapuram, and Uma rudra koteshwara Temple on way,
so the route we took was this:
