Gajapatis
| Gajapati Kingdom | ||||||||||
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ଗଜପତି ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟ |
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| Capital | Cuttack | |||||||||
| Languages | Odia | |||||||||
| 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 | 1434 | ||||||||
| • | Disestablished | 1541 | ||||||||
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The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty from the Indian subcontinent (ଗଜପତି ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟ୍), that ruled over Kalinga region (present Odisha) from 1434 to 1541. Their territory also included large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
The 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 (1466–1497) 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.
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 Puri 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 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 Gajapathi fort.
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