Purushottama Deva
| Purushottama Deva | |
|---|---|
| Reign | 1466–1497 |
| Predecessor | Kapilendra Deva |
| Successor | Prataprudra Deva |
| Died | 1497 |
| Spouse | Padmavati |
| House | Suryavansha |
| Father | Kapilendra Deva |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Purushottama Deva or Purushottamadeva was an Odia ruler and the second king of the Gajapati kingdom.
According to the family account of the Ganga Rajas of Khemundi, Purushottama Deva was the son of Kapilendra Deva and a concubine. According to other sources he was the youngest son of the king. On his accession in 1466, Kapilendra's eldest son, Hamvira Deva rebelled. Hamvira asked the Bahmani Sultan Muhammad Shah Lashkari for help, who sent Hussan Bheiry to support him.
In 1472 Hamvira, supported by Hussan Bheiry, defeated Purushottama and occupied the throne. He presented Kondapalli and Rajahmundry to Sultan Muhammad in thanks. His victory was short lived because, in 1476, Purushottama was able to rally his forces, defeat Hamvira and retake the throne.
When Sutan Muhammad died, Purushottama took advantage of the youth of the new ruler Mahmood and retook Kondapalli and Rajahmundry. He slso successfully sent his army to occupy Udayagiri which had been taken by Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya during the civil war.
During his reign there was a flourishing of poetry with a number of works, Abhinava Venisamhara, Abhinava Gitagovinda, Namamalika and Gopalapujapaddhati, attributed to the king.
Purushottama died in 1497 and was succeeded by his son Prataprudra Deva.
Purushottama is the subject of a number of legends. There is a story that when, under divine guidance, Kapilendra Deva announced that he was naming Purushottama as heir apparent, the eighteen older sons in anger threw spears at Purushottama, all of which missed.
Another legend, found in a Pattachitra, speaks of a battle with the Vijayanagara Empire. The gods Jagannath and Balarama walk ahead of the army. They ask a milkwoman, Malika, for food and Jagannath gives his ring in pledge that Purushottama will pay for them. When Purushottama meets Manika, he rejoices that the gods go before him and honours her with the village Malika Patana. Blessed by the gods, he defeats his enemies and takes captive Princess Padmavati and a statue of Ganesha. Purushottama commands his chief minister to give the princess in marriage to a sweeper. At the next Ratha Yatra, Purushottama sweeps out one of the chariots with a golden broom, the Chief Minister announces his has found the perfect sweeper for the Princess and the king marries his new queen.
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