Gajapati is a regnal title from the region of modern Odisha in the Indian subcontinent. The word 'Gajapati' in Odia refers to "Gaja" meaning elephant and "Pati" meaning master or lord. Thus Gajapati etymologically means a lord with an army of elephants. The institution of Gajapati lordship as a title was used by the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was used by succeeding dynasties, as Gajapati dynasties, with the patronisation of Lord Jagannath as the deity of the Odia cultural realm. Four ruling dynasties have been part of Gajapati lordship or dynasties.
The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of the Bhoi dynasty, as the dynasty inherited the legacy of the historical ruling lords of Odisha invested in the title of Gajapati. They also exercised administrative control of the Jagannath Temple at Puri.
History The ruling lords of Kalinga, Utkala and Dakshina Kosala used various regnal titles upon coronation or conquest of regions, chiefly being the titles of Kalingadhipati and Tri-Kalingadhipati. Anantavarman Vajrahasta V assumed the titles as Trikalingadhipati (lord of the three Kalingas) and Sakalakalingadhipati (lord of complete Kalinga) challenging the authority of the Somavanshis and eventually laying the foundations for the Eastern Ganga dynasty as the unification of the Odia kingdoms eventually culminated under Anantavarman Chodaganga.
Narasingha Deva I was the first ruler from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title of Gajapati among the Odishan rulers in the 1246 CE inscription at the Kapilash Temple.
Anangabhima Deva III laid the foundations of the Gajapati institution and establishment of Lord Jagannath as the patron deity of the realm. His son Narasingha Deva I was the first ruler from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title of Gajapati among the Odishan rulers in the 1246 CE inscription at the Kapilash Temple. The Gajapati monarchs were devout worshipper of Lord Jagannath and patronized the Vaishnavite Hinduism with the Jagannath temple at Puri becoming the major religious hub of the Gajapati rule.
Events
Eastern Ganga monarch Narasingha Deva I institutes the Gajapati title in 1246 CE Eastern Ganga reign till 1434 CE Coronation of Kapilendra Deva in 1434 CE Suryavamsa dynasty reign till 1541 CE Govinda Vidyadhara usurps the throne in 1541 CE Bhoi dynasty 1st reign till 1560 CE Mukunda Deva of Eastern Chalukya usurps the throne in 1560 CE Mukunda Deva is overthrown during the Bengal Sultanate invasions in 1568 CE Ramachandra Deva I restores the Bhoi dynasty at Khurda in 1568 CE Coronation of Ramachandra Deva I as the Gajapati in 1575 CE Bhoi dynasty becomes the incumbent holder of Gajapati dynasty and institutions Reign of the Bhois over Khurda Kingdom till 1804 CE Establishment of the Puri Estate in 1809 CE during British rule and control of Jagannath Temple Indian independence in 1947 and titular institutions
Gajapati dynasties The Gajapati dynasty refers to the ruling dynasty from the region of modern Odisha in the Indian subcontinent, whose monarch carries the regnal title of Gajapati. The institution of Gajapati dynasty or lordship was founded by the monarchs of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was used by the succeeding dynasties. A major religious function included the patronisation of Lord Jagannath as the deity of the Odia cultural realm.
Till date, four ruling dynasties from the region of Odisha have presided over the institution of Gajapati dynasty. The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of the Bhoi dynasty, which the dynasty had inherited the legacy of the historical ruling lords of Odisha invested in the title of Gajapati. They also exercised administrative control of the Jagannath Temple at Puri.
Gajapati dynasty Reign Notes Eastern Ganga dynasty 1246–1434 Gajapati lordship initiated in 1246 Suryavamsa dynasty 1434–1541 Bhoi dynasty 1541–1560 1st reign Chalukya dynasty 1560–1568 Bhoi dynasty 1568–present 2nd reign, titular since 1947
Modern ceremonial titles The ceremonial regnal title of the Gajapati Maharaja is as follows:
Shree Shree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnata Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra Bahu Kshetriya kula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja (regnal name)
Customary title of Gajapati upon accession The cyclical order the names of the Gajapati Maharaja: Ramchandra Deva Birakeshari Deva Divyasingha Deva Mukunda Deva
Customary title of the ladies of Gajapati upon accession Chandramani Patamahadei Suryamani Patamahadei Leelavati Patamahadei Padmabati Patamahadei
List of Gajapatis of the ruling dynasties
Ruler Reign NotesEastern Ganga dynasty Narasingha Deva I 1246–1263 Initiation of Gajapati title in 1246, reign since 1238 Bhanudeva I 1264–1279 Narasimhadeva II 1279–1306 Bhanudeva II 1306–1328 Narasimhadeva III 1328–1352 Bhanudeva III 1352–1378 Narasimhadeva IV 1378–1414 Bhanudeva IV 1414–1434 Suryavamsa dynasty Kapilendra Deva 1434–1470 Purushottama Deva 1470–1497 Prataparudra Deva 1497–1540 Kalua Deva 1540–1541 Kakharua Deva 1541 Bhoi dynasty (1st reign) Govinda Vidyadhara 1541–1548 Chakrapratapa 1548–1557 Narasimha Jena 1557–1558 Raghuram Chhotaraya 1558–1560 Chalukya dynasty Mukunda Deva 1560–1568 Bhoi dynasty (2nd reign) Ramachandra Deva I 1568–1600 founder of the Khurda Kingdom Purusottam Deva 1600–1621 Narasingha Deva 1621–1647 Balabhadra Deva 1647–1657 Mukunda Deva I 1657–1689 Divyasingha Deva I 1689–1716 Harekrushna Deva 1716–1720 Gopinath Deva 1720–1727 Ramachandra Deva II 1727–1736 Birakesari Deva I (Bhagirathi Deva) 1736–1793 Divyasingha Deva II 1793–1798 Mukundeva Deva II 1798–1817 Puri Estate in 1809 Ramchandra Deva III 1817–1854 Birakesari Deva II 1854–1859 Divyasingha Deva III 1859–1882 Mukundeva Deva III 1882–1926 Ramchandra Deva IV 1926–1956 Pretender since 1947 (Indian independence) Birakisore Deva III 1956–1970 Pretender Divyasingha Deva IV 1970–current Pretender
References