Gajapati Kingdom

Gajapati Empire
CE 1434–CE 1541
Capital		Cuttack
Religion		Hinduism
Government		Monarchy
Sri Sri Gajapati Gaudesvara Navakoti Karnata Utkala Kalavargeshvara
•	1434–66	Kapilendra Deva
•	1466–97	Purushottama Deva
•	1497–1540	Prataparudra Deva
•	1540–1541	Kalua Deva
•	1541	Kakharua Deva
Historical era		Medieval India
•	Established	CE 1434
•	Disestablished	CE 1541
Preceded by Succeeded by Eastern Ganga dynasty Reddy dynasty Vijayanagara Empire

The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty (ଗଜପତି ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟ୍) that ruled over Kalinga (the present day Odisha), large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand from 1434-1541. Gajapati dynasty was established by Kapilendra Deva (1434–66) in 1434. During the glorious reign of Kapilendra Deva, the first Gajapati emperor, the borders of the empire of Kalinga-Utkal were expanded immensely and the king took the title of Sri Sri ... (108 times) Gajapati Gaudesvara Nava Koti Karnata Kalvargesvara. This title is still used by the kings of Puri during the Ratha Yatra. The significant rulers of this dynasty were Purushottama Deva (1466–97) and Prataparudra Deva (1497–1540). The last ruler Kakharua Deva was killed by Govinda Vidyadhara in 1541, who founded the Bhoi dynasty.

"Gaja" (ଗଜ) in Odia means elephant and "Pati" (ପତି) means master or husband. As such, Gajapati etymologically means a king with an army of elephants.

History

The region known as Kalinga (present-day Odisha) was controlled by the Odia rulers Eastern Gangas of the Vasistha gotra. The early Eastern Gangas ruled from Kalinga-nagara (Mukhalingam near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh). They shifted their capital to Cuttack in the 12th century. Religious leader Ramanujacharya had a great influence on the Raja Choda Ganga Deva, who renovated the temple at Puri. Narasimha Deva built the Sun Temple at Konark. The Gangas were succeeded by the Gajapati rulers. Two copper plates of the early Pallava dynasty have been found in the Kolleru Lake, traced to Gajapati Langula Narasimha Deva, an Oriya ruler(Odiya Rajulu/Vaddi). According to legend, the Gajapathi fort was located at Kolleti Kota on one of the eastern islands of the lake, which protected the Odia forces. The enemy general encamped at Chiguru Kota located on the shores and tried to excavate a channel in the modern-day Upputeru, so that the water of the lake would empty into the sea and allow an attack on the Gajapathi fort. The Odisa army general sacrificed his own daughter (Perantala Kanama) to propitiate the gods and ensure his success against his enemies.

The Suryavamsi Gajapatis of Odisha, at the height of their power in the 15th century, ruled over an empire extending from the Ganges in the north near Hoogly to the Cauvery in the south under Gajapati Kapilendra Deva. But by the early 16th century, the Gajapatis lost great portions of their southern dominion to Vijayanagar and Golconda. This period was marked by the influence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and by the construction of Jaganatha temples across the length and breadth of the empire. One of the causes of the reduction in militarism of the population has been attested to the Bhakti movement initiated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who arrived in the empire at the time of Emperor Prataparudra and stayed for 18 long years at Puri. Emperor Prataparudra was highly influenced by the works of Chaitanya and gave up the military tradition of the Oriya emperors. He retired himself into the life of an ascetic leaving the future of the empire uncertain. The traitor Govinda Vidyadhara took the opportunity to murder the sons of the emperor and usurped the throne himself and carved out the destruction of the once mighty empire.

Cultural contributions

Their rule in eastern India is associated with a high point in the growth of regional culture and architecture. Sarala Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa, a transcreation of the original Sanskrit one was written during this period. Similarly transcreation of the Ramayana and Bhagvata Purana were written. They constitute the best examples of Odia literature till today.

Rulers

1. Kapilendra Deva (1434–70)
2. Purushottama Deva (1470–97)
3. Prataparudra Deva (1497–1540)
4. Kalua Deva (1540–41)
5. KakharuaDeva (1541

See also

• Eastern Ganga dynasty
• Paricchedis or Poosapati
• Raju Zamindaris