The
Gajapati Empire was a
Medieval India powerful Hindu monarchy in the Indian subcontinent, originally from the region of
Odisha that reigned from c.1434 to 1541. At its peak, it ruled parts of modern-day
West Bengal to
Tiruchirappalli (modern-day
Tamil Nadu).
It succeeded the Eastern Gangas as the Gajapati monarchs and was founded by
Kapilendra Deva of
Suryavamsa lineage after the death of the last ruler of
Eastern 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 the Vijayanagara Empire.
Their capital was
Cuttack.
The Gajapati kings patronized Vaishnavism and were ardent devotees of the Vishnu. They also commissioned many temples dedicated to the Vishnu.
Etymology
In
Odia language, "Gaja" means elephant and "Pati" means
master or
husband. As such, Gajapati etymologically means
a king with an army of elephants or
master 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. the
Bahmani Kingdom), and
Chhatrapati.
History
The region known as Kalinga (present-day Odisha) was ruled by the Eastern Gangas.The early Eastern Gangas ruled from Kalinga-nagara (currently Mukhalingam near
Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh). They shifted their capital to Cuttack in the 13th century. The Hindu philosopher
Ramanujacharya had a great influence on the Raja Choda Ganga Deva, who renovated the temple at
Puri. Narasingha Deva I built the Sun Temple at
Konark and Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam at
Visakhapatnam. 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 the
Odia people 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.
The Gajapatis at the height of their power in the 15th century, ruled over an empire extending from the Ganges in the north near Hooghly district to the Kaveri in the south under Emperor Kapilendra Deva.
This period was marked by the influence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and by the expansion of Jagannath 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 of Emperor Prataparudra and stayed for 18 long years at Puri.
Gajapati military
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 by
Kapilendra 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.
Military titles
Some of the military titles include:
-
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
Gajapati military divisions
The Odia poet
Sarala Das who lived during the reign of
Kapilendra Deva, has given descriptions about the military divisions in his Odia Mahabharata.
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.
Gajapati Infantry units
The infantry units of the Gajapati military are as follows:
-
Dala: Band of 27 Paikas, 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.
Military instruments and weapons
Musical instruments used to motivate soldiers during march and warfare. The names of musical instruments include
Damalu, Damame, Tamaka, Bizighosa, Daundi, Ghumura, Bheri, Turi, Ranasingha etc. The names of weapons used by the Gajapati army are also mentioned like
Dhanu, 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.
Contemporary sources
Other contemporary sources also reveal details on characteristics of the Gajapati military. Muslim texts like
Buhan-m-Mansir give accounts of the
Kapilendra Deva having an
elephantry numbering two hundred thousand. Such a large number of
war elephants is highly unusual even when compared with any contemporary military of the existing kingdoms during the times of Kapilendra Deva himself, in India.
Nizzamuddin writes that the Gajapati encamped on the banks of the river
Godavari with an infantry of seven hundred thousand. Fernão Nunes, the Portuguese-Jewish traveler who spent three years at
Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire estimates size of the army of Emperor Prataparudra to the extent of 13,000 elephants, 20,000 horses, while fighting against the Vijayanagara 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.
List of rulers
+List of Gajapati rulers |
| | 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 |
|
Family Tree
Culture
The Gajapatis are devout worshipper of
Vishnu patronized
Vaishnavism and expanded the
Jagannath temple at
Puri. The Jagannath temple became the center for an efflorescence of drama and dance (
Odissi) and other forms of art during Gajapati rule.
During the rule of Kapilendra Deva construction of the
Shaivite Kapilesvara Temple in
Bhubaneswar is done. The Narendra tank in the Puri Jagannath temple premises was constructed by Kapilendra Deva where the
Chandan Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath takes place.
The Gajapatis believed themselves as the servants of Lord Jagannath and start their mornings with their worship and blessings.
Legacy
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 the Ganges in the north to Tiruchirappalli in the south along the coast.
Gajapatis were devout Vaishnavites and popularised worship of Jagannath throughout their kingdom.
Gallery
File:Deities enshrined in the Jagannath Temple.jpg|Deities enshrined in the Jagannath Temple
File:Meghanad wall.jpeg|Meghanada wall fortifications of the Puri Jagannath Temple
File:Narendra Tank, Puri, Odisha 1.JPG|Narendra Tank, Puri
File:Kurumbera Fort 2.jpg|Kurumbera Fort
File:Barabati durga Cuttack Barabati Fort Front-2.JPG|Barabati Fort, Cuttack
File:Udayagiri Fort (3).jpg|Udayagiri Fort
File:Kapilesvara temple (6).jpg|Kapilesvara Temple
File:Monuments of ekamrakhetra.JPG|Temples of Ekamra Kshetra (Old Bhubaneswar)
File:Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva 1.png|Lingaraj Temple inscription of Kapilendra Deva
File:Oriya land grant.jpg|15th-century copper-plate grant of Purushottama Deva
See also
Bibliography
