Gajapati Empire
20°31′25″N 85°47′17″E / 20.52361°N 85.78806°E
Gajapati Empire | |||||||||||||||
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1434–1541 | |||||||||||||||
GOLKONDA SULTANATE | |||||||||||||||
Capital | Cuttack | ||||||||||||||
Common languages | |||||||||||||||
Religion | Prataprudra Deva | ||||||||||||||
• 1540–1541 | Kalua Deva | ||||||||||||||
• 1541 | Kakharua Deva | ||||||||||||||
Historical era | Medieval India | ||||||||||||||
• Established | 1434 | ||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1541 | ||||||||||||||
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The Gajapati Empire,
The Gajapati dynasty was established by
The Gajapati Emperors patronized Vaishnavite Hinduism and were ardent devotees of the God Vishnu. They also commissioned many temples dedicated to the God Vishnu.[15]
Etymology
In Odia, "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.
History
The region known as Kalinga (present-day Odisha) was ruled by the
The Gajapatis at the height of their power in the 15th century, ruled over an empire extending from the
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.[18]
Military titles
Some of the military titles include:[19]
- 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, Dandapani
Gajapati military divisions
The Odia poet
- 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:[19]
- 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.[19]
Contemporary sources
Other contemporary sources also reveal details on characteristics of the Gajapati military. Muslim texts like Buhan-m-Mansir give accounts of the
Descendants
Talcher branch
During the reign of the Emperor Purushottama Deva, the overlordship of Bhimanagari was established in 1471 CE by Narahari Singh who was a scion of the family of the ruling Suryavamshi Gajapati Emperors. Later in 1578, under the reign of Padmanabha Birabara Harichandan, the kingdom was renamed as Talcher in the honor of their family goddess Taleshwari.[21][22] The kingdom acceded to India and merged into the state of Odisha following independence in 1947.
List of rulers
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 |
Gallery
History of South Asia | |
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(330–323 BC) | |
Maurya Empire | (321–184 BC) |
Seleucid India | (312–303 BC) |
Sangam period | (c. 600 BC – c. 300 AD) |
Pandya Empire | (c. 300 BC – AD 1345) |
Chera Kingdom | (c. 300 BC – AD 1102) |
Chola Empire | (c. 300 BC – AD 1279) |
Pallava Empire | (c. 250 AD – AD 800) |
Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire | (c. 250 BC – c. AD 500) |
Parthian Empire | (247 BC – AD 224) |