Gajapati is a regnal title from the region of modernOdisha in the Indian subcontinent. The word 'Gajapati' inOdia refers to "Gaja" meaning elephant and "Pati" meaningmaster orlord. Thus Gajapati etymologically meansa lord with an army of elephants. The institution of Gajapati lordship as a title was used by theEastern Ganga dynasty and was used by succeeding dynasties, asGajapati dynasties, with the patronisation of LordJagannath as the deity of theOdia cultural realm. Four ruling dynasties have been part of Gajapati lordship or dynasties.[1]
The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of theBhoi dynasty, as the dynasty inherited the legacy of the historical ruling lords of Odisha invested in the title ofGajapati.[2][3] They also exercised administrative control of theJagannath Temple atPuri.[4]
The ruling lords ofKalinga,Utkala andDakshina Kosala used various regnal titles upon coronation or conquest of regions, chiefly being the titles ofKalingadhipati andTri-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 underAnantavarman Chodaganga.
Narasingha Deva I was the first ruler from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title ofGajapati among the Odishan rulers in the 1246 CE inscription at theKapilash Temple.[5][6]
Anangabhima Deva III laid the foundations of the Gajapati institution and establishment of LordJagannath as the patron deity of the realm. His sonNarasingha Deva I was the first ruler from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title ofGajapati among the Odishan rulers in the 1246 CE inscription at theKapilash Temple.[7][8] The Gajapati monarchs were devout worshipper of LordJagannath and patronized theVaishnavite Hinduism with theJagannath temple atPuri becoming the major religious hub of the Gajapati rule.[9]
TheGajapati dynasty refers to the ruling dynasty from the region of modernOdisha in the Indian subcontinent, whose monarch carries the regnal title ofGajapati. The institution of Gajapati dynasty or lordship was founded by the monarchs of theEastern Ganga dynasty and was used by the succeeding dynasties. A major religious function included the patronisation of LordJagannath as the deity of theOdia cultural realm.[10]
Till date, four ruling dynasties from the region ofOdisha have presided over the institution of Gajapati dynasty. The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of theBhoi dynasty, which the dynasty had inherited the legacy of the historical ruling lords of Odisha invested in the title ofGajapati.[11][3] They also exercised administrative control of theJagannath Temple atPuri.[12]
| Ruling 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 |
The ceremonial regnal title of the GajapatiMaharaja is as follows:[13]
ShreeShree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnata Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra BahuKshetriya kula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja (regnal name)
The cyclical order the names of the Gajapati Maharaja:[14]
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern 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[15] | 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 theKhurda 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)[16] | 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 |
Shree Shree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnatatkala Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra Bahu Kshetriyakula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja...
