Gajapati (title)

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 husband. Thus Gajapati etymologically means a king with an army of elephants. The institution of Gajapati kingship as a title was used by the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was used by succeeding dynasties, with the patronisation of Lord Jagannatha as the imperial deity of the Odia cultural realm.[1]

The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of the Bhoi dynasty, as the dynasty inherited the legacy of the historical ruling chiefs of Odisha invested in the title of Gajapati.[2][3] They also exercised administrative control of the Jagannath Temple at Puri.[4]

History

The ruling chiefs of Kalinga, Utkal, 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 Gangas as the unification of the Odia kingdoms eventually culminated under Anantavarman Chodaganga.

Narasingha Deva I was the first king from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title of Gajapati among the Odishan kings in the 1246 CE inscription at the Kapilash Temple.[5][6]

Modern ceremonial titles

The ceremonial regnal title of the Gajapati Maharaja is as follows:[7]

Shree Shree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnatatkala Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra Bahu Kshetriyakula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja (regnal name)

Customary title of Gajapati upon accession

The cyclical order the names of the Gajapati Maharaja:[8]

  • Ramchandra Deva
  • Birakeshari Deva
  • Divyasingha Deva
  • Mukunda Deva

Customary title of the queens of Gajapati upon accession
  • Chandramani Patamahadei
  • Suryamani Patamahadei
  • Leelavati Patamahadei
  • Padmabati Patamahadei

List of Gajapatis of the ruling dynasties
RulerReignNotes
Eastern Ganga dynasty
Narasingha Deva I1246–1263Initiation of Gajapati title in 1246, reign since 1238
Bhanudeva I1264–1279
Narasimhadeva II1279–1306
Bhanudeva II1306–1328
Narasimhadeva III1328–1352
Bhanudeva III1352–1378
Narasimhadeva IV1378–1414
Bhanudeva IV1414–1434
Suryavamsa dynasty
Kapilendra Deva[9]1434–1470
Purushottama Deva1470–1497
Prataparudra Deva1497–1540
Kalua Deva1540–1541
Kakharua Deva1541
Bhoi dynasty (1st reign)
Govinda Vidyadhara1541–1548
Chakrapratapa1548–1557
Narasimha Jena1557–1558
Raghuram Chhotaraya1558–1560
Chalukya dynasty
Mukunda Deva1560-1568
Bhoi dynasty (2nd reign)
Ramachandra Deva I1568-1600founder of the Khurda Kingdom
Purusottam Deva1600–1621
Narasingha Deva1621–1647
Balabhadra Deva1647–1657
Mukunda Deva I1657–1689
Divyasingha Deva I1689–1716
Harekrushna Deva1716–1720
Gopinath Deva1720–1727
Ramachandra Deva II1727–1736
Birakesari Deva I (Bhagirathi Deva)[10]1736–1793
Divyasingha Deva II1793–1798
Mukundeva Deva II1798–1817Puri Estate in 1809
Ramchandra Deva III1817–1854
Birakesari Deva II1854–1859
Divyasingha Deva III1859–1882
Mukundeva Deva III1882–1926
Ramchandra Deva IV1926–1956Titular since 1947 (Indian independence)
Birakisore Deva III1956–1970
Divyasingha Deva IV1970–current

References
  1. Panda, Shishir Kumar (2008), "Gajapati Kingship and the Cult of Jagannatha: A Study on the Chhamu Chitaus (Royal Letters)", Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Indian History Congress, 69: 226, JSTOR 44147183
  2. ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS PURI (PDF), GAD, Govt of Odisha, 1994, p. 37
  3. ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS DEOGARH (PDF), GAD, Govt of Odisha, 1994, p. 19
  4. "History". Government of Orissa. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. Kulke, Hermann (1993). Kings and Cults: State Formation and Legitimation in India and Southeast Asia. p. 22. ISBN 9788173040375.
  6. Manas Kumar Das (24 June 2015), HISTORY OF ODISHA (FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO 1434 A.D.) (PDF), DDCE Utkal University, pp. 109, 111
  7. Bhaskar Mishra (July 2011), The Traditional Role of Gajapati Maharaja in Shri Jagannath Temple (PDF), Orissa Review, p. 28, Shree Shree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnatatkala Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra Bahu Kshetriyakula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja...
  8. Bhaskar Mishra (July 2011), The Traditional Role of Gajapati Maharaja in Shri Jagannath Temple (PDF), Orissa Review, p. 28
  9. Tripathi, K.B. (1956), "THE 19TH ANKA YEAR INSCRIPTION OF KAPILESWARADEVA OF THE PURI—JAGANNATHA TEMPLE" (PDF), Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Indian History Congress, 19: 251–253, JSTOR 44140844
  10. Hermann Kulke (1974), "Kings without a kingdom: The rajas of Khurda and the Jagannatha cult" (PDF), South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 4: 60-77, doi:10.1080/00856407408730688
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