Gajapati Empire

File:Konark Sun Temple - IRCTC 2017 (11).jpg (Lord of the elephants) which would become the imperial title of the ruling monarchs of Trikalinga and its later manifestation as the region of Odradesha. The title was first used in the 1246 CE inscription at Kapilash Temple.]]

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.{{Cite book |last=Bal |first=Ashok Kumar |title=Gajapati: a king without a kingdom |last2=Singh |first2=Karan |date=2022 |publisher=Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-81-949286-2-1 |location=New Delhi}}

File:Barabati durga Cuttack Barabati Fort Front-2.JPG

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.

File:Monuments of ekamrakhetra.JPG (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.{{cite book |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=Ramesh Chandra |editor1-link=R. C. Majumdar |editor2-last=Pusalker |editor2-first=A. D. |editor3-last=Majumdar |editor3-first=A. K. |date=1960 |url=https://archive.org/details/delhisultanate00bhar/page/364/mode/2up |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People Volume=VI: The Delhi Sultanate |location=Bombay |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |page=365|access-date=11 March 2021}} But by the early 16th century, the Gajapatis lost great portions of their southern dominion to the Vijayanagara Empire and the Golconda Sultanate.{{cite book | last=Sastri | first=K.A.N. | title=A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar | publisher=Oxford University Press | series=Oxford India paperbacks | year=1976 | isbn=978-0-19-560686-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FjxuAAAAMAAJ | access-date=2021-09-24 | page=255}}

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.{{citation |title=Kshatriyaization and social change: A Study in Orissa setting |publisher=Popular Prakashan |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/83630303.pdf |author=Hermann Kulke |page=402 |quote="Suryavamsa...kings of the Suryavamsa(1435-1540)" |date=1976 |access-date=2 July 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203426/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/83630303.pdf |url-status=dead }} Emperor Prataparudra was highly influenced by the works of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and gave up the military tradition of the Kalinga emperors.{{cite book | last=Das | first=H.C. | title=Sri Chaitanya in the Religious Life of India | publisher=Punthi Pustak | year=1989 | isbn=978-81-85094-22-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bLMcAAAAMAAJ | access-date=2021-09-24 | page=145}} 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.

File:Jaunpur Sultan Hussain Shah Surrendering Before Prataparudra Gajapati.jpg

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.{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/191019/10/10_chapter%205.pdf|title=MILITARY SYSTEM UNDER THE SURYAVAMSI GAJAPATIS|website=www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|access-date=10 October 2018}}

Some of the military titles include:

• 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

File:Gajapati Kapilendradeva.jpg.]]

The Odia poet Sarala Das who lived during the reign of Kapilendra Deva, has given descriptions about the military divisions in his Odia Mahabharata.{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/191019/10/10_chapter%205.pdf|title=MILITARY SYSTEM UNDER THE SURYAVAMSI GAJAPATIS|website=www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|pages=153, 154|access-date=10 October 2018}} 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.

File:Gajapati Prataprudra Deva.png in Sarpeswara temple, built during his rule at Balarampur village near Kakhadi.]]

The infantry units of the Gajapati military are as follows:

• 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.

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.

File:Udayagiri Fort (40).jpg

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. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/191019/10/10_chapter%205.pdf|title=MILITARY SYSTEM UNDER THE SURYAVAMSI GAJAPATIS|website=www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|pages=155|access-date=10 October 2018}}

{{Main|Talcher State}}

File:Flag of the Talcher Princely State.svg

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.{{citation |title=ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS ANGUL |publisher=GAD, Govt of Odisha |url=http://www.gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Angul_Gazetteer.pdf |pages=51–54 |date=2010 }}{{cite book | last=Mishra | first=DP | title=People's Revolt in Orissa: A Study of Talcher | publisher=Atlantic | year=1998 | isbn=978-81-7074-014-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8GXSR0SiF8C&q=talcher+suryavanshi&pg=PA51 |pages=51–54 | access-date=2021-03-06 }} The kingdom acceded to India and merged into the state of Odisha following independence in 1947.

{{Main|Jeypore Estate}}

File:Royal elephants of the Jeypore Kingdom of Kalinga.jpg

According to the study of the sign-manual at the end of a copper-plate chatter of Raghunath Krishna Dev, then ruler of Jeypore, the new dynasty was founded by one of the feudal vassals of the Gajapati of Cuttack and the crescent seal indicated that they originally claimed to be Somavanshi rulers.{{Cite book |last=Not Available |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.55402/page/n13/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Journal Of The Andhra Historical Research Society,vol.6,pt-1,july-1931 |date=1931}}

File:Narendra Pokhari.jpg

File:Deities enshrined in the Jagannath Temple.jpg

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.{{cite web |title=Sanskrit Poets and Scholars of Orissa |url=http://www.indiadivine.org/articles/232-sanskrit-poets-scholars-orissa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804040129/http://www.indiadivine.org/articles/232-sanskrit-poets-scholars-orissa.html |archive-date=2012-08-04 |access-date=2011-03-21}} 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.

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

During Gajapatis Odisha saw a great social, cultural, linguistic, religious, artistic revival. Odia language was given importance. Odisha reached its zenith during the rule of gajapatis.{{Cite web |title=Gajapati Kapilendra Deva |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199136692-gajapati-kapilendra-deva |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Goodreads |language=en}} The gajapatis are great patron of art and literature and had built many famous temples.

By 1464, Gajapati Empire was one of the most powerful empire in the medieval India, especially under Kapilendra Deva who was the undisputed master of an empire stretching from the Ganges in the north to Tiruchirappalli in the south along the coast.{{Cite book |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People |date=1960 |editor-last=Majumdar |editor-first=RC |editor-link=R. C. Majumdar |volume=VI: The Delhi Sultanate |location=Bombay |pages=365–372 |editor-last2=Pusalker |editor-first2=A. D. |editor-last3=Majumdar |editor-first3=A.K.}}

Gajapatis are devout vaishnavites and popularised Jagannath worship throughout their kingdom.

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Narendra Tank, Puri, Odisha 1.JPG

| caption1 = Narendra Tank, Puri

| image2 = Kapilesvara temple (6).jpg

| caption2 = Kapilesvara temple

| image3 = Udayagiri Fort (3).jpg

| caption3 = Udayagiri Fort

}}

{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}

File:Oriya land grant.jpg|15th century copper plate grant of Gajapati emperor Purushottama Deva

File:Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva 1.png|alt=Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva issuing warning to the vassal kings for complete loyalty to him or else loose their property and be banished from the kingdom|Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva

File:Narendra Tank, Puri, Odisha.JPG|Narendra tank at Puri built during the rule of Kapilendra Deva

File:Meghanad wall.jpeg|Meghanada wall fortifications of the Puri Jagannath temple constructed during the rule of Kapilendra Deva

• Eastern Ganga dynasty
• Poosapati

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=Ramesh Chandra |editor1-link=R. C. Majumdar |editor2-last=Pusalker |editor2-first=A. D. |editor3-last=Majumdar |editor3-first=A. K. |date=1960 |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People |volume=VI: The Delhi Sultanate |location=Bombay |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |pages=365–372}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Subrahmanyam |editor1-first=R |date=1957 |title=The Sūryavaṁśi Gajapatis of Orissa |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/613268261 |location=Waltair |publisher= Andhra University |oclc=613268261 }}

{{Odisha}}

{{Andhra Pradesh}}

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Category:Medieval Indian dynasties

Category:History of Odisha

Category:History of Andhra Pradesh

Category:Dynasties of Odisha

Category:Hindu dynasties

Category:Culture of Andhra Pradesh

Category:Suryavansha

Category:1434 establishments in Asia

Category:15th-century establishments in India

Category:1541 disestablishments in India

Category:States and territories disestablished in 1541