Kapilendra Deva

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Kapilendradeva
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Kapilendra Deva
Suryavamsha
FatherJageswara
MotherBelama
ReligionHinduism

Kapilendra Deva (

Kalaburagi and of nine crore
(90 million) subjects.

Early life

There are multiple popular theories about the origin of Kapilendra Deva's family and his initial life. Records from the

Jagannath Temple in Puri state that he was known as Kapila Rauta and belonged to the Surya Vamsa line. He used to graze cattle along with a Brahmin named Kasia. Due to a divine symbol of cobra (naga) seated by his head covering him from the sunlight while he was resting, Kasia predicted that Kapila would become a king one day. Later Kapila went to Puri where he used to beg near the Vimala Temple of the Puri Jagannath temple complex and was later adopted by the last Eastern Ganga dynasty ruler Bhanudeva following a divine dream. He was later appointed in his younger days as a military general of the Ganga forces and was assigned the task to fight the Muslim forces of Bengal. Another version of the Madala Panji maintains the same account with regards to the origin of Kapilendra Deva but changes his name to Kapila Raut who was at the service of the Ganga king Bhanudeva IV and stayed inside the palace. When the kingdom of Bhanudeva was threatened by an invasion, Kapila Raut gave a good account of himself as a brave soldier and after the death of Bhanudeva, Kapila became the ruler of Odisha assuming the name Kapilendra Deva.[7]

Inscriptions

Raghudevapuram copper plate grant of Raghudeva Narendra who was the governor of

Rajamahendravaram Rajya and also a nephew of Kapilendra Deva gives valuable details about the family's history. Their lineage can be traced back to Kapilendra Deva's grandfather Kapileswara who was holding the position of a Nayaka. Kapileswara Nayaka was thus in the military service of the Gangas and occupied the position of a lieutenant in the army. He had a son named Jageswara who was also in the service and possessed a great number of elephants. Jageswara was married to Belama and they had three sons named Balarama, Kapilendra and Parashurama Harichandana. Raghudeva Narendra was the son of Parashurama.[8][9]

Consolidation of Authority by Suppressing Internal Rebellions

Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva issuing warning to the vassal kings for complete loyalty to him or else lose their property and be banished from the kingdom
Lingaraj Temple Inscription of Kapilendra Deva issuing warning to the vassal kings for complete loyalty to him or else lose their property and be banished from the kingdom

Due to the weakening administration of the

Sultanate of Jaunpur also posed an external threat to his realm. He appointed his able minister Gopinath Mahapatra to deal with the Jaunpur threat, which he successfully executed, and Kapilendra Deva himself suppressed the internal rebels with force. The rebels were suppressed by the year 1440 CE. The rebellious troubles that he dealt with by force are proven by his Lingaraj Temple declaration in which he ordered the rebels to accept his rule or be toppled from power.[10]

Coronation as Gajapati

The chronicle Madala Panji detailed the event of Kapilendra Deva's coronation as Gajapati of the realm succeeding Bhanu Deva IV, the last ruler of the Eastern Gangas. It mentioned that the coronation took place at Bhubaneswar on 2 kākara śukḷa 4 aṅka 2. The date with respect to the Odia calendar corresponds to the Gregorian calendar on 29 June 1435. Thus with the coronation of Kapilendra Deva as the Gajapati of the Odradesa realm, he started his era known as Kapilabda and laid the foundation of the Suryavamsa dynasty.[11]

The Odia Military under Kapilendra Deva

Gajapati Kapilendra Deva Routray depicted holding a sword and seated in a dominating Lakulisha position at Kapileswar Temple in Old Bhubaneswar
Gajapati Kapilendra Deva Routray depicted holding a sword and seated in a dominating Lakulisha position at Kapileswar Temple in Old Bhubaneswar

Different historical sources give varied accounts about the Odishan military commanded by the Gajapatis. According to Muslim text Buhan-m-Mansir, Kapilendra had an elephant force numbering two hundred thousand (2,00,000). This number of war elephants is usually a very huge number compared even to any military of the existing kingdoms during the times of Kapilendra Deva himself in India. Nizzamuddin writes that the Gajapati encamped on the Godavari river banks with an infantry of seven hundred thousand (700,000). Another Muslim source documents that Kapilendra Deva raided Bidar with only 10,000 foot soldiers while being assisted by the Vellamati chiefs of Telangana.[12] The Odia poet

Sarala Das
who lived during the era of Kapilendra Deva, has given descriptions about the military divisions in his Odia Mahabharata. The divisions mentioned are:-

  • Hantakaru Dala :- This division was in the forefront of the marching army and was responsible forward scouting, clearing jungles and marking roads for the army.
  • Aguani Thata :- The division that marched ahead of the main army.
  • Pradhana Vala :- The main division of the army
  • Pachhiani Thata :- The rear guard division
  • Angavala :- The specially deployed bodyguards of the military generals and the royalties.
  • Paridhana :-The contingent of the army that stayed in charge of conquered forts and the adjoining regions.

Sarala Das also gives a picture of different musical instruments used to motivate soldiers during the march and warfare Some names of the weapons used by the Gajapati army are also mentioned like Dhanu, Troua, Sara, Asi, Parigha, Pattisa, Kunta, Jathi, Buruja, Saveli, etc. Information with regard to breaking of the gateways and the walls of the fort with the help of horses, elephants and iron instruments is also found in the same text.

Military Conquests and Territorial Expansion

Kuruma Bedha or Kurumbera fort compound built during the rule of Kapilendra Deva Routray and which is today within the territorial limits of West Bengal state.
Kuruma Bedha or Kurumbera fort compound built during the rule of Kapilendra Deva Routray and which is today within the territorial limits of West Bengal state.

The military hegemony of Odisha had declined during the last line of Eastern Ganga dynasty rulers which provided enough opportunity for the rising powers in its neighborhood. When Kapilendra Deva took over the throne, hostile Muslim powers like the Sultan of

conquered advancing as far as the Simhanchalam territory in the south. Along with suppressing internal rebellions, Kapilendra Deva first defeated the Jaunpur forces and then contained the Bengal forces with the help of his minister Gopinath Mahapatra after which only he initiated his aggressive military campaigns of the Southern and Deccan parts of India.[13][14][15][16]

Conquest of Gauda region in Bengal

The Gopinathpur inscription of 1447 CE describes his campaign against the

better source needed][19] Katakarajavanshavalli records state about the holy dip of the Gajapati himself in the river Ganges and the Dāna of Tulasipur shasan villages to the Brahmins there. This clearly indicates that Kapilendra Deva was in control of regions beyond the river Ganga to its East.[citation needed
]

The Conquest of Rajamahendri

Malwa expeditions

Conquest of Telangana (Gulbarga or Kalaburagi)

The political situation in

Bahmani Sultan Alau'd-din Ahmad Shah had cordial relations in the initial stages but on the event of war between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahmani Sultanate, the Velama rulers backed the Bahmani Sultanate and sought to fight the Vijayanagara Empire. In an act of revenge the Bahmani sultan invaded the Telegana region and the Bahmani commander Sanjar Khan extracted vengeance on the common people. Native Hindus were sold as slaves. In 1456 CE, Humayun Shah ascended the throne of the Bahmani sultanate and his general Sikander Khan suppressed the rebel Velama chiefs after occupying Devarakonda. Kapilendra Deva was invited by the Velama chiefs to rescue them from the Bahmani sultans. In 1458 CE, a battle ensued at Devarakonda between Odia forces led by Prince Hamvira Deva and the Bahmani forces.[23] As a result of this battle Odia forces came out as victorious and Telangana region became a feudal state of the Gajapati empire with the Velama chiefs as the vassal rulers. The victory over the Bahmani Sultanate forces at Devarakonda in 1458 CE enabled Kapilendra Deva to assume the title of Kalavargeśvara which meant the Lord of Kalaburagi.[24]

Gajapati Invasion of Bidar

Main article: Gajapati invasion of Bidar

In 1461, Kapilendra Deva orchestrated a significant military campaign during the reign of Nizam Shah Bahmani. The primary aim of this strategic maneuver was to capture Berar, with a specific focus on the town of Achalpur in what is now modern-day Maharashtra. Backed by Kakatiya chiefs, Kapilendra Deva led his forces into a consequential military confrontation against the Bahmani Sultanate. Despite their initial intentions, the Gajapati forces, under Kapilendra Deva's leadership, found themselves effectively repelled by the Bahmani army, led by Muhibullah. This turn of events forced the surrender of the Gajapati forces. The outcome of this campaign, set against the backdrop of Nizam Shah Bahmani's rule, left a lasting imprint on the historical tapestry of the region, shaping the narrative of Kapilendra Deva's military endeavors.[25]

Subjugation of the Vijayanagara Empire and Expansion till Tiruchirappalli

Udayagiri
fort situated in Nellore district was first built by the conquering forces of Kapilendra Deva as the military headquarters of his Gajapati empire's southern territories.

From the documents of the Gangadasa Bilasa Charitam, it is known that Kapilendra Deva ordered prince

Arcot in south before stopping his advance. Hamvira Deva's son Dakshina Kapileswara Kumara became the governor of the southernmost territories of Chandragiri in the year 1464 CE after its conquest.[26]

By 1464 CE, Kapilendra Deva was the undisputed master of an empire stretching from the Ganges in the north to Tiruchirappalli in the south along the coast. Thus he could proudly assume the imperial titles of Gajapati Gauḍeśvara Navakoṭi Karṇāṭa Kalavargeśvara with due justification. According to the historian R. C. Majumdar, Kapilendra Deva was the most powerful Hindu monarch of his time and under him Odisha became an empire stretching from the lower Ganga in the north to the Kaveri in the south.[27] The Gopinathpur inscription aptly describes his position in 1464 CE:[28]

Kṛtvā saṃyati Māḷāvendra-jayinaṃ senādhināthaṃ tu yaṃ Gauḍendrasya nitāntam Utkala-patha-prasthāna rodhārgaḷaṃ Śrīkhaṃṇḍādri payodharopāri karaṃ nirmāya Sānaṃdaṃ Kapileśvaro viharate Karṇāṭa-rājya-śriyā

Consolidation of the Gajapati Empire

Extent of Odisha under Kapilendra Deva[29]

The Gajapati Empire which reached its height in 1464 CE under Kapilendra Deva was organised into two administrative divisions of Dandapata and Rajya. Most of core regions of the empire in the north came under his direct control which were divided into Dandapathas(the division continuing from the Eastern Gangas) under a Governor(parikśa) or were controlled by the feudatory Samanta rajas. The southern parts of the empire were divided into Rajyas which were ruled by Governors.[30]

Constructive Activities and Cultural Renaissance of the Odia Society

Narendra tank at Puri dug during the rule of Kapilendra Deva
Narendra tank at Puri dug during the rule of Kapilendra Deva
Meghanada wall fortifying the Puri Jagannath temple constructed during the rule of Kapilendra Deva
Meghanada wall resistant to even the sounds from outside and fortifying Jagannath temple was constructed during Kapilendra Deva
Kapileswar Temple at old Bhubaneswar built during Kapilendra Deva
Kapileswar Temple at old Bhubaneswar built during Kapilendra Deva

Kapilendra Deva patronized

Sarala Das wrote the Odia Mahabharata. Several learned poets and writers were promoted by him.[32] Sanskrit poets also flourished during this era like Visvanatha Kaviraja who wrote Sahitya Darpana and Chandrakala Natika along with other works, Narsingha Mishra Vajapeyi wrote Samksepasariraka vartika and Kalidasa Chayani wrote Suddhichandrika.[33]

Kapilendra Deva had declared himself as a servant-ruler of the

Lord Jagannath which also reflects in his regnal title Routaray meaning the Lord's servant-king. The Narendra tank in the Puri Jagannath temple premises was constructed by Kapilendra Deva in the memory of his martyred younger brother, Veer Narendra Deva. Fourteen out of sixteen ghats of the tank are named after his fourteen nephews. The two concentric defensive stone walls known as Kurma Prachira (the inner wall measuring 400’ x 278’) and Meghanada Prachira (the outer wall measuring 665’ x 644’ with height varying from 20’ to 24’) were constructed during the reign of Kapilendra Deva. The Chandan Jatra festival of Lord Jagannath was initiated during his rule. He himself donated a large amount of jewelry and utensils to the Puri temple during the 41 anka of his rule. The Gajapati pledged to donate equal amount of wealth and rights to the Brahmins. He ordered the abolition of Chaukidari tax paid by Brahmins previously and also banned the resumption of waste and pasture lands.[34] He had ordered his officials to follow the path of justice, righteousness and Hindu spiritual teachings and had warned them that they will face the punishment of exile if they failed to do so.[35] During his rule, two Dadhivamana temples were constructed, one each in the village of Kaunrpur and Gopinathpur in Cuttack
district. Kapilendra Deva was a builder of a welfare state and had ordered not to commit atrocities or impose excessive hardships on the people of his empire.

Last days of Kapilendra Deva

Kapilendra deva was troubled by treacherous internal subjects who were opposed to his overthrowing of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. His edicts in the Puri Jagannath temple towards his final days provide a glimpse of his troubled state of mind due to rebels and traitors. He had taken an oath to punish all those who rebelled against him. Before his death in 1467 CE, he chose his youngest son Purushottama Deva, as heir, resulting in a rebellion by the elder prince Hamvira Deva. In 1472, Purushottam was defeated and Hamvira Deva ascended to the throne, but in 1476 CE, Purushottama fought back and recaptured the throne.

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Bibliography

Kapilendra Deva
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Bhanu Deva IV
 Gajapati of Odisha
1434–1467 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kapilendra_Deva&oldid=1217437577"