Hemangada

Hemangada (Odia: ହେମଙ୍ଗଦ) was a powerful 4th century C.E.warrior king of the ancient Indian Kingdom of Kalinga (Odisha) who finds elaborate mention in the sixth chapter of Kalidasa's classical Sanskrit literary work, Raghuvansham. According to Kalidasa, Hemangada was present at the Swayamvara of the princess Indumati of Vidarbha as a participant while Sunanda, the counsel of the princess describes his glorious achievements, strength and his kingdom to her. Only besides the mention of Hemangada there are no details about his lineage or the dynasty he belonged to. He could be placed as a vassal of the Gupta rule in Kalinga those days but didn't either belong to the Vindhyatabi Naga or Nala rulers who were prominent or declining in other parts of ancient Tri-Kalinga region in that era.

Since the whole work of Raghuvamsham is based on descriptions for the descendants of a mythical king Raghu, the timeline of Hemangada's existence is also debatable as it is not necessary that he existed as a living personality around the time when Kalidasa composed his work. The existence of the king could very well be before the Guptas as an independent and powerful monarch of Kalinga.

Hemangada is described over six stanzas from the chapter (sarga) six in Raghuvasham of Kalidasa.

Chapter 6, Satnza 53

अथाङ्गदालिष्टभुजम् भुजिष्या हेमाङ्गदम् नाम कलिङ्गनाथम् |
आसेदुषीम् सादितशत्रुपक्षम् बालामबालेन्दुमुखीम् बभाषे ॥ ६-५३

Kalidasa writes that as Indumati approaches the proximity of Hemangada, Sunanda explains to her that the king was wearing bicep ornaments in his upper arms and had crushed all his enemies.

Chapter 6, Satnza 54

असौ महेन्द्रादिसमानसारः पतिर्महेन्द्रस्य महोदधेश्च |
यस्य क्षरत्सैन्यगजच्छलेन यात्रासु यातीव पुरो महेन्द्रः ॥ ६-५४