TheGajapati Empire^[1] was amedieval powerfulHindu monarchy in theIndian subcontinent, originally from the region ofOdisha that reigned from c.1434 to 1541. At its peak, it ruled parts of modern-dayWest Bengal toTiruchirappalli (modern-dayTamil Nadu).^[2] It succeeded theEastern Gangas as theGajapati monarchs and was founded byKapilendra Deva ofSuryavamsa lineage after the death of the last ruler ofEastern Ganga king Bhanu Deva IV. Gajapatis were great patrons of art, architecture and literature which during their time flourished and witnessed tremendous growth, they ruled over a vast stretch of land and had continuous rivalry with theVijayanagara Empire.^[1] Their capital wasKataka.^[3]

TheGajapati kings patronizedVaishnavite Hinduism and were ardent devotees of theGod Vishnu. They also commissioned many temples dedicated to theGod Vishnu.^[4] They established the Jagannath cult over kalinga.

Gajapati Empire
1434–1541
Greatest extent of the Gajapati Empire.[5]
Capital	Kataka
Common languages	Odia (court language, literature)[6][7] Sanskrit (religious)[8] Other Indian languages
Religion	Hinduism Vaishnavism
Government	Monarchy
Gajapati
• 1434–67	Kapilendra Deva
• 1467–97	Purushottama Deva
• 1472–76	Hamvira Deva
• 1497–1540	Prataprudra Deva
• 1540–1541	Kalua Deva
• 1541	Kakharua Deva
Historical era	Medieval India
• Established	1434
• Battle of Devarakonda	1458
• Gajapati invasion of Bidar	1461
• Disestablished	1541
Preceded by Succeeded by Eastern Ganga dynasty Bhoi dynasty Golconda Sultanate Bengal Sultanate
Today part of	India

20°31′25″N85°47′17″E / 20.52361°N 85.78806°E /20.52361; 85.78806

InOdia, "Gaja" means elephant and "Pati" meansmaster orhusband. As such,Gajapati etymologically meansa king with an army of elephants ormaster 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. theBahmani sultans), andChhatrapati.^[9]

The region known as Kalinga (present-day Odisha) was ruled by theEastern Gangas.The early Eastern Gangas ruled from Kalinga-nagara (currently Mukhalingam nearSrikakulam, Andhra Pradesh). They shifted their capital to Cuttack in the 13th century. The Hindu philosopherRamanujacharya had a great influence on the Raja Choda Ganga Deva, who renovated the temple atPuri.Narasingha Deva I built theSun Temple atKonark andVaraha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam atVisakhapatnam. 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 theOdia 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.^[3]

The Gajapatis at the height of their power in the 15th century, ruled over an empire extending from theGanges in the north nearHoogly to theKaveri in the south under EmperorKapilendra Deva.^[10] But by the early 16th century, the Gajapatis lost great portions of their southern dominion to theVijayanagara Empire and theGolconda Sultanate.^[11]

This period was marked by the influence ofChaitanya Mahaprabhu and by the expansion ofJagannath 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 ofEmperor Prataparudra and stayed for 18 long years atPuri.^[12] Emperor Prataparudra was highly influenced by the works of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and gave up the military tradition of the Kalinga emperors.^[13] 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.^[11]

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 byKapilendra 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.^[15]

Some of the military titles include:^[16]

• 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,padhy,Dandapani

The Odia poetSarala Das who lived during the reign ofKapilendra Deva, has given descriptions about the military divisions in his Odia Mahabharata.^[16] 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.

The infantry units of the Gajapati military are as follows:^[16]

• Dala: Band of 27Paikas, 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 includeDamalu, Damame, Tamaka, Bizighosa, Daundi, Ghumura, Bheri, Turi, Ranasingha etc. The names of weapons used by the Gajapati army are also mentioned likeDhanu, 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.^[16]

Other contemporary sources also reveal details on characteristics of the Gajapati military. Muslim texts likeBuhan-m-Mansir give accounts of theEmperor Kapilendra Deva having anelephantry numbering two hundred thousand. Such a large number ofwar elephants is highly unusual even when compared with any contemporary military of the existing kingdoms during the times of Kapilendra Deva himself, in India.^[15] Nizzamuddin writes that the Gajapati encamped on the banks of the riverGodavari with an infantry of seven hundred thousand.Fernão Nunes, the Portuguese-Jewish traveler who spent three years atVijayanagara, the capital of theVijayanagara Empire estimates size of the army ofEmperor Prataparudra to the extent of 13,000 elephants, 20,000 horses, while fighting against theVijayanagara 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.^[17]

List of Gajapati rulers^[18]

Image	Ruler	Reign (CE)	Notes
	Kapilendra Deva	1434–1467	Founder and first ruler of dynasty
	Purushottama Deva	1467–1497	Second ruler of dynasty
	Prataparudra Deva	1497–1540	Third ruler of dynasty
	Kalua Deva	1540–1541	Fourth ruler of dynasty
	Kakharua Deva	1541	Fifth and last ruler of dynasty

The Gajapatis are devout worshipper ofLord vishnu patronizedVaishnavite Hinduism and expanded theJagannath temple atPuri. The Jagannath temple became the center for an efflorescence of drama and dance (Odissi) and other forms of art during Gajapati rule.^[19] During the rule of Kapilendra Deva construction of theShaivite HinduKapilesvara Temple inBhubaneswar is done. The Narendra tank in thePuri Jagannath temple premises was constructed by Kapilendra Deva where theChandan Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath takes place.^[4][10][3]

The Gajapatis believed themselves as the servants ofLord Jagannath and start their mornings with their worship and blessings.^[10]

During the reign of the Gajapatis, Odisha saw a great social, cultural, linguistic, religious, and artistic revival. Odia language was given importance. Odisha reached its zenith during the rule of the Gajapatis. The Gajapatis were great patrons of art and literature and built various famous temples.

By 1464, the Gajapati Empire was one of the most powerful empires in medieval India, especially under Kapilendra Deva who was the undisputed master of an empire stretching from theGanges in the north toTiruchirappalli in the south along the coast.^[20]

Gajapatis were devout Vaishnavites and popularised worship of Jagannath throughout their kingdom.

• 
  Deities enshrined in theJagannath Temple
• 
  Meghanada wall fortifications of the PuriJagannath Temple
• 
  Narendra Tank, Puri
• 
  Kurumbera Fort
• 
  Barabati Fort, Cuttack
• 
  Udayagiri Fort
• 
  Kapilesvara Temple
• 
  Temples of Ekamra Kshetra (Old Bhubaneswar)
• 
  Lingaraj Temple inscription ofKapilendra Deva
• 
  15th-century copper-plate grant ofPurushottama Deva

• Eastern Ganga dynasty
• Poosapati

• Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Pusalker, A. D.; Majumdar, A. K., eds. (1960).The History and Culture of the Indian People. Vol. VI: The Delhi Sultanate. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 365–372.
• Subrahmanyam, R, ed. (1957).The Sūryavaṁśi Gajapatis of Orissa. Waltair: Andhra University.OCLC 613268261.

• Gajapati Empire
• Medieval Indian dynasties
• History of Odisha
• History of Andhra Pradesh
• Dynasties of Odisha
• Hindu dynasties
• Culture of Andhra Pradesh
• Solar dynasty
• 1434 establishments in Asia
• 15th-century establishments in India
• 1541 disestablishments in India
• States and territories disestablished in 1541

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