Gajapati Empire

Suryavamsa Gajapatis
1434–1541
The dynasty's greatest extent under Kapilendra Deva, with briefly held territories in a lighter colour and dashed border [2]
Capital	Cuttack
Common languages	Odia (court language, literature) [3] [4] Sanskrit (religious) [5] Other Indian languages
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchy
Gajapati
• 1434–67	Kapilendra Deva
• 1467–97	Purushottama Deva
• 1497–1540	Prataprudra Deva
• 1540–1541	Kalua Deva
• 1541	Kakharua Deva
Historical era	Medieval India
• Established	1434
• Disestablished	1541
Preceded by Succeeded by Eastern Ganga dynasty Bhoi dynasty Bahmani Kingdom Golconda Sultanate Bengal Sultanate

The Gajapati Empire ^[6] was a medieval Hindu monarchy in the Indian subcontinent, originally from the region of Odisha that reigned from c.1434 to 1541. It succeeded the Eastern Gangas as the Gajapati monarchs and was founded by Kapilendra Deva of Suryavamsa lineage after the death of the last ruler of Eastern Ganga Dynasty Bhanu Deva IV. At its peak, it ruled over an empire stretching from the Ganges in the north to the Kaveri in the south, comprising large parts of Andhra Pradesh and some parts of western regions of West Bengal. ^[7] Their Capital was Kataka. ^[8]

20°31′25″N85°47′17″E / 20.52361°N 85.78806°E / 20.52361; 85.78806

The Gajapati kings patronized Vaishnavite Hinduism and were ardent devotees of the God Vishnu. They also commissioned many temples dedicated to the God Vishnu. ^[9]

Etymology

In Odia, "Gaja" means elephant and "Pati" means master or husband. As such, Gajapati etymologically means a king with an army of elephants or master of elephants. Gajapati was one of the four titles adopted by kings who ruled in pre-colonial era India, the others being Narapati (e.g. Vijayanagara emperors), Aswapati (e.g. the Bahmani sultans), and Chattrapati. ^[10]

History

The region known as Kalinga (present-day Odisha) was ruled by the Eastern Gangas.The early Eastern Gangas ruled from Kalinga-nagara (currently Mukhalingam near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh). They shifted their capital to Cuttack in the 13th century. The Hindu philosopher Ramanujacharya had a great influence on the Raja Choda Ganga Deva, who renovated the temple at Puri. Narasingha Deva I built the Sun Temple at Konark and Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam at Visakhapatnam. The Gangas were succeeded by the Gajapati monarchs. Two copper plates of the early Pallava dynasty have been found in the Kolleru Lake, traced to Gajapati Langula Narasimha Deva, an Oriya ruler (Odia Raja). According to legend, the Gajapati 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 Gajapati fort. ^[8]

Kapileswar Temple at old Bhubaneswar built during the reign of Kapilendra Deva (r. 1434–66).

The Gajapatis 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 Kaveri in the south under the Emperor Kapilendra Deva. ^[11] But by the early 16th century, the Gajapatis lost great portions of their southern dominion to the Vijayanagara Empire and the Turko-Persian Golconda Sultanate. ^[12] This period was marked by the influence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and by the expansion of Jagannath temple across the length and breadth of the empire. One of the causes of the reduction in militarism among the population has been attested to the Bhakti movement initiated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who arrived in the empire during the reign of Emperor Prataparudra and stayed for 18 long years at Puri. ^[13] Emperor Prataparudra was highly influenced by the works of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and gave up the military tradition of the Kalinga emperors. ^[14] He retired to the life of an ascetic leaving the future of the empire uncertain. Govinda Vidyadhara took the opportunity to assassinate the sons of the emperor and usurped the throne for himself. ^[12]

Gajapati military

The records of the Suryavamsi Gajapatis gives a picture of their military administration which they had inherited from the Eastern Gangas rulers. The Gangas had a vast and well-organised military which was improved upon by Kapilendra Deva. The empire was built on the lines of a military state, with the protection of the state and its expansion being the responsibilities of the state and population. Militarism had penetrated into different ranks of the society and the Emperor had a large standing army which included a large number of soldiers and local-militants in the standing army. Besides the feudal tributary states of the Gajapatis also provided a stipulated number of soldiers at the time of war and had to fight for the Gajapati in the battle field. ^[15]

Military titles

Some of the military titles include: ^[16]

• Senapati, Champati, Routray, Sundaray, Paikaray (commander of the cavalry), Sahani (commander of elephant force), Dandapata, Dandasena, Paschimakavata, Uttarakavata (guardian of the marches), Samantray, Bidyadhara, Bhramarabara, Harichandana, Jagadeva, Mardaraja, Samantasimhara, Raya, Singha, Mansingha, Baliarsingha, Pahadasingha, Nayaka, Pattanayaka, Dandanayaka, Gadanayaka, Patra, Mohapatra, Behera, Dalabehera, Jena, Badajena, Pradhana, Samala, Routa, Khuntia, Parichha, Parija, Padhihari, Dandapani

Gajapati military divisions

Sculpture of Kapilendradeva.

The Odia poet Sarala Das who lived during the reign of Kapilendra Deva, has given descriptions about the military divisions in his Odia Mahabharata. ^[16] The divisions mentioned are:

• Hantakaru Dala: The first division of the army. It was in the forefront of the marching army and was responsible forward scouting, clearing jungles and marking roads for the army. It was equivalent to the engineering division of the modern armies of the world.

• Aguani Thata: The advance units or the first in line to march or charge in the battle formations. The division marched ahead of the main army.
  • Dhenkiya: The attack groups
  • Banua/Dhanuki: The archers
  • Cavalry

• Pradhana Vala: The main division of the army with maximum concentration of the soldiers.
  • Dhenkiya: Warriors wielding Sword and Shield. Forming the frontline of battalion.
  • Banua: Marksmen with poisoned arrow and composite bows with formidably accurate shots.
  • Phadikara: The fighters bearing mostly close combat weapons. They wore leather armor.
  • Cavalry
  • Elephant Corps
  • Itakara: Mainly used for motivating the army with war time music and dance with Ghumura. Carried with them various musical instruments and reported to the officer with the rank of Bahubalendra, in charge of non-combatants.

• Pachhiani Thata: The fourth and the rear division guarding the flanks.

• Angavala: The groups with the main bodyguards of the monarchs, other royalties, commander, military generals and officers.

• Paridhana: The detachments with commanding officers and fort duty officers left in charge of the captured territory and forts. The rank of the officer involved in this division is Nayak or Gadanayak.
  • Dhenkiya
  • Banua
  • Phadikara
  • Prahari: The guards on duty and also serve as military police at home.

Gajapati Infantry units

Depiction of Gajapati Prataparudradeba in Sarpeswara temple, built during his rule at Balarampur village near Kakhadi.

The infantry units of the Gajapati military are as follows: ^[16]

• Dala: Band of 27 Paikas, mostly from the same locality and commanded by an officer with the rank of Dalabehera.

• Bhuiyan: A platoon of 70 Paikas and commanded by an officer with the rank of Paikaray.

• Vahini: A brigade consisting of multiple Bhuiyan platoons and commanded by an officer with the rank of Vahinipati.

• Chamu: An entire regiment of the army consisting multiple Vahinis and commanded by an officer with the rank of Chamupati or Champati.

Military instruments and weapons

Musical instruments used to motivate soldiers during march and warfare. The names of musical instruments include Damalu, Damame, Tamaka, Bizighosa, Daundi, Ghumura, Bheri, Turi, Ranasingha etc. The names of weapons used by the Gajapati army are also mentioned like Dhanu, Trona, Sara, Asi, Parigha, Pattisa, Kunta, Jathi, Buruja, Saveli etc. Information with regards to breaking of gateways and walls of forts with the help of horses, elephants and iron instruments are also found in the same text. ^[16]

Contemporary sources

Other contemporary sources also reveal details on characteristics of the Gajapati military. Muslim texts like Buhan-m-Mansir give accounts of the Emperor Kapilendra Deva having an elephantry numbering two hundred thousand. Such a large number of war elephants is highly unusual even when compared with any contemporary military of the existing kingdoms during the times of Kapilendra Deva himself, in India.^{[ citation needed ]} Nizzamuddin writes that the Gajapati encamped on the banks of the river Godavari with an infantry of seven hundred thousand. Fernão Nunes, the Portuguese-Jewish traveler who spent three years at Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire estimates size of the army of Emperor Prataparudra to the extent of 13,000 elephants, 20,000 horses, while fighting against the Vijayanagara Empire and also notes that the Odia soldiers were excellent fighters. Rayavachakamu also gives interesting accounts about the feats and exercises practised by the Gajapati soldiers at their capital Cuttack. ^[17]

Descendants

Talcher branch

Main article: Talcher State

During the reign of the Emperor Purushottama Deva, the overlordship of Bhimanagari was established in 1471 CE by Narahari Singh who was a scion of the family of the ruling Suryavamshi Gajapati kings. Later in 1578, under the reign of Padmanabha Birabara Harichandan, the kingdom was renamed as Talcher in the honor of their family goddess Taleshwari. ^{[18] [19]} The kingdom acceded to India and merged into the state of Odisha following independence in 1947.

List of rulers

List of Gajapati rulers ^[20]

Image	Ruler	Reign (CE)	Notes
	Kapilendra Deva	1434–1467	Founder and first ruler of dynasty
	Purushottama Deva	1467–1497	Second ruler of dynasty
	Prataparudra Deva	1497–1540	Third ruler of dynasty
	Kalua Deva	1540–1541	Fourth ruler of dynasty
	Kakharua Deva	1541	Fifth and last ruler of dynasty

_Culture

Narendra Tank built During the rule of Kapilendra deva

Deities enshrined in the Jagannath Temple

The Gajapatis are devout worshipper of Lord vishnu patronized Vaishnavite Hinduism and expanded the Jagannath temple at Puri. The Jagannath temple became the center for an efflorescence of drama and dance (Odissi) and other forms of art during Gajapati rule. ^[21] During the rule of Kapilendra Deva construction of the Shaivite Hindu Kapilesvara Temple in Bhubaneswar is done.The Narendra tank in the Puri Jagannath temple premises was constructed by Kapilendra Deva where the Chandan Jatra festival of Lord Jagannath takes place. ^{[9] [11] [8]}

The Gajapatis believed themselves as the servants of Lord Jagannath and start their mornings with their worship and blessings. ^[11]

Gallery

• 
  15th century copper plate grant of Gajapati emperor Purushottama Deva
• 
  Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva
• 
  Narendra tank at Puri built during the rule of Kapilendra Deva
• 
  Meghanada wall fortifications of the Puri Jagannath temple constructed during the rule of Kapilendra Deva

See also

• Eastern Ganga dynasty
• Poosapati

References

2. Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 40 (c). ISBN   0226742210.
3. Tripathī, Kunjabihari (1962). The Evolution of Oriya Language and Script. Utkal University. p. 19. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
4. Mansinha, Mayadhar (1962). History of Oriya Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 50. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
5. Srichandan, G. K. (February–March 2011). "Classicism of Odia Language" (PDF). Orissa Review. p. 54. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
6. Mishra, Patit Paban (2016), "Eastern Ganga and Gajapati empires", The Encyclopedia of Empire, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–4, doi:10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe402, ISBN   978-1-118-45507-4 , retrieved 21 February 2025
7. R.C.Majumdar, A.D.Pusalker, A.K.Majumdar (1967). The History and Culture of the Indian People, The Delhi Sultanate, Volume:-6. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 366.
8. bhuyan, annapurna (1999). "Kapilendra Deva and his times" (PDF). www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Utkal University. p. 31. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
9. B. Hemalatha (1991). Life in Medieval Northern Andhra: Based on the Inscriptions from the Temples of Mukhalingam, Srikurmam, and Simhachalam. Navrang Publishing. p. 81. ISBN   9788170130864. The study of Gajapati temples reveals that they patronized Vaishnavism . Purushottama Gajapati called himself Parama - Vaishnava in an undated inscription found at Draksharama.
10. Bal, Ashok Kumar; Singh, Karan (2022). Gajapati: a king without a kingdom. New Delhi: Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd. ISBN   978-81-949286-2-1.
11. Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Pusalker, A. D.; Majumdar, A. K., eds. (1960). The History and Culture of the Indian People Volume=VI: The Delhi Sultanate. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 365. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
12. Sastri, K.A.N. (1976). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford India paperbacks. Oxford University Press. p. 255. ISBN   978-0-19-560686-7 . Retrieved 24 September 2021.
13. Hermann Kulke (1976), Kshatriyaization and social change: A Study in Orissa setting (PDF), Popular Prakashan, p. 402, archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021, retrieved 2 July 2021, Suryavamsa...kings of the Suryavamsa(1435-1540)
14. Das, H.C. (1989). Sri Chaitanya in the Religious Life of India. Punthi Pustak. p. 145. ISBN   978-81-85094-22-9 . Retrieved 24 September 2021.
15. "MILITARY SYSTEM UNDER THE SURYAVAMSI GAJAPATIS" (PDF). www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
16. "MILITARY SYSTEM UNDER THE SURYAVAMSI GAJAPATIS" (PDF). www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. pp. 153, 154. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
17. "MILITARY SYSTEM UNDER THE SURYAVAMSI GAJAPATIS" (PDF). www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. p. 155. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
18. ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS ANGUL (PDF), GAD, Govt of Odisha, 2010, pp. 51–54
19. Mishra, DP (1998). People's Revolt in Orissa: A Study of Talcher. Atlantic. pp. 51–54. ISBN   978-81-7074-014-8 . Retrieved 6 March 2021.
20. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 121–122. ISBN   978-9-38060-734-4.
21. "Sanskrit Poets and Scholars of Orissa". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2011.

Bibliography

• Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Pusalker, A. D.; Majumdar, A. K., eds. (1960). The History and Culture of the Indian People . Vol. VI: The Delhi Sultanate. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 365–372.
• Subrahmanyam, R, ed. (1957). The Sūryavaṁśi Gajapatis of Orissa. Waltair: Andhra University. OCLC   613268261.