Gajapatis

The Ganga dynasty was followed by the establishment of the rule of another glorious dynasty known as the Suryavamsi Gajapatis. The political chaos which had been prevailing in Odisha from the middle of the fourteenth century A.D. due to the weakness and ineffectiveness of the later Gangas was ended by the emergence of a powerful military leader, named Kapilendradeva who overthrew the Gangas and founded a new dynasty, called Suryavamsi (solar dynasty). For personal glorification, the rulers of this dynasty claimed their descent from the mythical solar dynasty to which Lord Ramachandra belonged. As they possessed large elephantry in their army, they were popularly known as Gajapatis, i.e. the lords of the elephants.

The Suryavamsi rulers traced their origin to the Sun God. The title ‘Gajapati’ or ‘Lord of elephants’ was invariably born by the rulers of this dynasty. Earlier some Eastern Ganga rulers also bore ‘Gajapati’ title but they were not famous as Gajapati rulers. Perhaps the royalty of the rulers of this dynasty owed a lot to the possession of a large number of elephants. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Odisha reached the zenith of its glory under the Suryavamsi kings. The Suryavamsi Gajapati kings were not only noted for their aggressive imperialism but their rule for a century and also for the renaissance in Odia literature.

The rule of Suryavamsi Gajapatis started with the rule of Kapilendradeva. He was a great military genious. After centuries of military inactivity, he brought Odisha into the chess board of Indian politics. He took the pompous title like ‘Gajapati Gaudesvara Navakoti Karnata Kalavargesvara’. Besides that he himself was a man of literature and a great patron of poets. On the other hand, Purusottamadeva was a great diplomat . During his reign, the boundary of Odisha did not expand. As an administrator, Purusottama was a liberal man. His reign was peaceful which created circumstances for the Growth of Odia literature. However, during the rule of Prataprudradeva, the imperial greatness of Odisha, built by Kapilendradeva and maintained by Purusottamadeva was lost. Due to the appearance of Sri Chaitanya and the Panchasakhas, the people of Odisha lost their military tactics which opened the path for the decline of Gajapati dynasty.

Governance and administration of Gajapatis

The Vast empire of the Suryavamsi Gajapatis extended from the river bank of the Ganges to that of Godavari. The capital of this vast empire was Kataka-Pattana (Cuttack) which was known during the glorious days of the Gangas as Abhinava Varanasi Kataka. The second citadel of the Gajapati power was Kruttivasa Kataka (Bhubaneswar) where Kapilendradeva had been coronated. In order to give stability to the vast empire, the Gajapati rulers had given a good administration.

The Suravamsi Gajapatis had given a benevolent administration to their subjects When the feudatories became disobedient to him Kapilendra went to the temple of Lord Jagannatha and engraved an order on the Jagamohana invoking the name of Jagannatha and declaring that the chiefs revolting against him, would actually rebel against this great deity.

From the reign of Kapilendra the Suryavamsi kings assumed high-sounding titles such as Maharajadhiraja, Paramesvara, Gajapati, Gaudesvara, Navakoti Karnataka Kalavargesvara etc. Kapilendra first assumed these titles after his conquests in Bengal, the Bahamani kingdom and the Vijayanagara empire and all these titles were continued by his son and grandson and even by the Bhoi rulers.

The king was assisted by a good number of ministers and officers in discharging his duty. Some of them were the amatyas (ministers), Mantri sreni siromani (Head of the ministers), Sandhivigrahi (Minister of war and peace), Sena-narendra (Chief of the army), Vahinipati (Leader of the contingent), Rautaraya (Captain of the army), Kathaghara, Samantaraya. Pariksha (Secretary for treasury), Mudra Hasta (Seal bearer). Budha Lenka (Chief priest of the temple of God Jagannath). Srikarana (writer of accounts) etc.

The provincial administration under the Gajapati kings was quite efficient. The empire was divided into several provinces known as Dandapata or Rajya. The governors of such provinces were designated Parikhas or Rajas. Provinces were divided into simas which were further subdivided into sthalas or muthas that consisted of some villages and the lowest unit of the provincial administration was village (grama).

The Gajapati empire was also divided into fragments, each under a Samanta or feudal lord. It is clear that feudalism was at its blooming phase during the Gajapati rule. Among the feudal lords, mention may be made of the Matsyas of Oddadi, the Suryavamsis of Nandapur, the chiefs of Panchadharala, Palkonda, Narasapur etc. This feudalism, an ugly feature of medieval period, contributed a lot for the downfall of the Suryavamsi Gajapati rule in Odisha.

In order to give stability to the vast empire, the Gajapati rulers had given a good administration. The Suravamsi Gajapatis had given a benevolent administration to their subjects. The Suryavamsis mainly based their administration on that of the Gangas and introduced a few innovations. Kapilendra Deva could not give a good administration during his rule as he was involved in wars and conquests. It was during the rule of Purusottama Deva, the people enjoyed peace and tranquility. However, Prataprudra Deva‟s period saw instability due to external attack. So, good administration was not possible during his reign.

Land revenue under Gajapatis

The land revenue system of the Gajapati period was well developed. The land was measured and accordingly tax assessment was made. The Guntha (20 Cubits square). Mana (25 Gunthas) and Bati (20 Manas) denoted different units of land. The crown lands were divided into Khanda or Bisi under two hereditary officers like Khandadhipati or Bisayee respectively. To facilitate revenue collection from the village, the king appointed its headman like pradhan or Bhai. The revenue officers in the south were called as the Nayaka and Naidu. At the time of natural calamities, the peasants were assisted by the state with seeds to carryon their cultivation.

Millitary administration under gajapatis

A strong military organisation was an indispensible concomitant of a strong state, which was necessary both for its protection and expansion. The Gajapati kings like that of the Gangas were famous for their military organisation. The Suryavamsi records however enable us to form a clear picture of their military organisations. The Suryavamsis inherited from the Gangas a wellorganised military system which was improved upon and made a very strong force that accounted for their success in building up an empire. In the reign of Kapilendradeva Odisha was virtually made a military state and all the castes and communities were called upon to render military service at the time of emergency. The Brahmins seems to have been exempted from a compulsory military service, but even then some Brahmins entered into the army as big and small officers. If the Madalapanji is to be believed, the traitor Vasudeva Ratha, a Brahmin, was the commander-in-chief of the last Somavamsi king and it is through his treachery that Chodaganga succeeded in conquering Odisha. In the Chatesvara Inscription Vishnu, the Brahmin minister of Anangabhimadeva HI (A.D. 1211-1238), is represented to have led an army against the Kalachuris of Ratnapura and to have succeeded in wresting the Sonepur tract from them. In the Gopinathapura Stone’ Inscription Gopinatha Mahapatra is represented to have been a Brahmin minister and general of Kapilendradeva. From these evidences it is clear that Brahmins also occupied high posts in the army, though they, as a rule, were exempted from compulsory military service. The other castes had no option but to serve in the military organisation as officers and soldiers.

The Gajapatis were a Hindu dynasty that ruled the eastern Indian kingdom of Odisha from the 14th to the 16th centuries. They were founded by Kapilendra Deva, who ascended to the throne in 1361. The Gajapatis reached the height of their power under the reign of Narasimha Deva I (1464-1504), who conquered large parts of eastern India and extended his kingdom’s influence as far as Bengal and the Deccan. The Gajapatis were patrons of art and literature, and their capital city of Cuttack became a major center of Learning and culture. The dynasty declined in the 16th century, and was finally overthrown by the Mughals in 1568.

Kapilendra Deva was the founder of the Gajapati dynasty. He was a powerful ruler who expanded the kingdom of Odisha and made it a major power in eastern India. He was also a patron of art and literature, and he built many temples and palaces in Odisha.

Narasimha Deva I was the most famous ruler of the Gajapati dynasty. He was a great conqueror who extended the kingdom of Odisha to its greatest extent. He was also a patron of art and literature, and he built many temples and palaces in Odisha.

Cuttack was the capital of the Gajapati kingdom. It was a major center of learning and culture during the Gajapati period. Many temples and palaces were built in Cuttack during this time.

The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty that ruled northern India from the 16th to the 18th centuries. They were a powerful empire that conquered much of India. The Mughals invaded Odisha in the 16th century and eventually overthrew the Gajapati dynasty.

Odisha is a state in eastern India. It is a beautiful state with a rich history and culture. The Gajapatis were one of the most important dynasties in the history of Odisha. They ruled the state for over 200 years and made it a major power in eastern India. The Gajapatis were patrons of art and literature, and their capital city of Cuttack became a major center of learning and culture. The dynasty declined in the 16th century, and was finally overthrown by the Mughals in 1568. However, the legacy of the Gajapatis continues to live on in Odisha today.

What is the history of the Gajapatis?

The Gajapatis were a dynasty of Hindu kings who ruled the eastern Indian kingdom of Odisha from the 14th to the 16th centuries. They were founded by Kapilendra Deva, who ascended to the throne in 1361. The Gajapatis reached the height of their power under the reign of Narasimha Deva I (1464-1520), who conquered large parts of eastern India and extended his kingdom’s borders to the Bay of Bengal. The Gajapatis were overthrown by the Mughals in the 16th century.

What were the Gajapatis known for?

The Gajapatis were known for their military prowess, their patronage of the arts, and their construction of temples and other monuments. They were also known for their Tolerance of other religions, and their kingdom was a center of learning and culture.

What are some of the achievements of the Gajapatis?

The Gajapatis achieved a number of things during their reign. They expanded their kingdom to include much of eastern India, they built a number of temples and other monuments, and they patronized the arts. They were also known for their tolerance of other religions.

What were some of the challenges faced by the Gajapatis?

The Gajapatis faced a number of challenges during their reign. They were constantly at war with their neighbors, and they had to deal with internal rebellions. They also faced the challenge of maintaining their kingdom’s independence from the Mughal Empire.

What was the legacy of the Gajapatis?

The Gajapatis left a lasting legacy on India. They were one of the most powerful dynasties in Indian history, and they made significant contributions to Indian culture and architecture. Their kingdom was a center of learning and culture, and they were known for their tolerance of other religions.

Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of the Gajapatis, the Mughal Empire, and the MARATHA EMPIRE:

The Gajapatis were a dynasty that ruled over the eastern Deccan region of India from the 14th to the 16th centuries. They were known for their military prowess and their patronage of the arts.
The Mughal Empire was an Islamic empire that ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It was founded by Babur, a descendant of Timur, and reached its peak under the rule of Akbar the Great.
The Maratha Empire was a Hindu empire that ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It was founded by Shivaji Maharaj, and reached its peak under the rule of Bajirao I.

Here are some MCQs on the Gajapatis:

The Gajapatis were a dynasty that ruled over the eastern Deccan region of India from the 14th to the 16th centuries. They were known for their:
(A) Military prowess
(B) Patronage of the arts
(C) Both (A) and (B)
The founder of the Gajapati dynasty was:
(A) Harihara I
(B) Bukka Raya I
(C) Krishnadeva Raya
The Gajapatis were eventually overthrown by the:
(A) Mughals
(B) Marathas
(C) British

Here are some MCQs on the Mughal Empire:

The Mughal Empire was founded by:
(A) Babur
(B) Humayun
(C) Akbar
The Mughal Empire reached its peak under the rule of:
(A) Akbar
(B) Jahangir
(C) Shah Jahan
The Mughal Empire was eventually overthrown by the:
(A) Marathas
(B) British
(C) Sikhs

Here are some MCQs on the Maratha Empire:

The Maratha Empire was founded by:
(A) Shivaji Maharaj
(B) Sambhaji Maharaj
(C) Rajaram I
The Maratha Empire reached its peak under the rule of:
(A) Shivaji Maharaj
(B) Bajirao I
(C) Balaji Bajirao
The Maratha Empire was eventually overthrown by the:
(A) British
(B) Nizam of Hyderabad
(C) Mysore Sultanate