Gajapati Empire

Suryavamsa Gajapatis
Gajapati Empire
Suryavamsa Gajapatis ; Gajapati Empire
1434–1541
	Flag
	Greatest extent of the Gajapati Empire.
Capital	Kataka
Common languages	Odia (court language, literature); Sanskrit (religious); Other Indian languages;
Religion	Hinduism ; Vaishnavism
Government	Monarchy
Gajapati
• 1434–67	Kapilendra Deva
• 1467–97	Purushottama Deva
• 1472–76	Hamvira Deva
• 1497–1540	Prataprudra Deva
• 1540–1541	Kalua Deva
• 1541	Kakharua Deva
Historical era	Medieval India
• Established	1434
• Battle of Devarakonda	1458
• Gajapati invasion of Bidar	1461
• Disestablished	1541
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Eastern Ganga dynasty
Bhoi dynasty
Bahmani Kingdom
Golconda Sultanate
Bengal Sultanate
Today part of	India

The Gajapati Empire^[5] was a medieval Hindu monarchy in the Indian subcontinent, originally from the region of Odisha that reigned from c.1434 to 1541. 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 Dynasty Bhanu Deva IV. At its peak, it ruled over an empire stretching from the Ganges in the north to the Kaveri in the south, comprising large parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and some parts of western regions of West Bengal.^[6] During the time of Kapilendradeva the empire reached its zenith defeating strong muslim forces such as Bahmanis, Jaunpur sultunate, Bengal Sultunate.^[7] Gajapatis were Great Patron of art, architecture and literature during their time the art, architecture and literature flourished and witnessed tremendous growth, they ruled over a vast stretch of land and had continuous rivalry with Vijayanagara empire.^[5]Their Capital was Kataka.^[8]

20°31′25″N 85°47′17″E / 20.52361°N 85.78806°E / 20.52361; 85.78806

The Gajapati kings patronized Vaishnavite Hinduism and were ardent devotees of the God Vishnu. They also commissioned many temples dedicated to the God Vishnu.^[9] They established the Jagannath cult over kalinga.

^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 148, map XIV.4 (c). ISBN 0226742210.
^ Tripathī, Kunjabihari (1962). The Evolution of Oriya Language and Script. Utkal University. p. 19. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
^ Mansinha, Mayadhar (1962). History of Oriya Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 50. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
^ Srichandan, G. K. (February–March 2011). "Classicism of Odia Language" (PDF). Orissa Review. p. 54. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
^ ^a ^b Mishra, Patit Paban (2016), "Eastern Ganga and Gajapati empires", The Encyclopedia of Empire, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–4, doi:10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe402, ISBN 978-1-118-45507-4, retrieved 21 February 2025
^ R.C.Majumdar, A.D.Pusalker, A.K.Majumdar (1967). The History and Culture of the Indian People, The Delhi Sultanate, Volume:-6. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 366.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Gajapati Kapilendra Deva". Goodreads. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
^ bhuyan, annapurna (1999). "Kapilendra Deva and his times" (PDF). www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Utkal University. p. 31. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
^ B. Hemalatha (1991). Life in Medieval Northern Andhra: Based on the Inscriptions from the Temples of Mukhalingam, Srikurmam, and Simhachalam. Navrang Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 9788170130864. The study of Gajapati temples reveals that they patronized Vaishnavism . Purushottama Gajapati called himself Parama - Vaishnava in an undated inscription found at Draksharama.

[1] Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 148, map XIV.4 (c). ISBN 0226742210.

[2] Tripathī, Kunjabihari (1962). The Evolution of Oriya Language and Script. Utkal University. p. 19. Retrieved 21 March 2021.

[3] Mansinha, Mayadhar (1962). History of Oriya Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 50. Retrieved 21 March 2021.

[4] Srichandan, G. K. (February–March 2011). "Classicism of Odia Language" (PDF). Orissa Review. p. 54. Retrieved 28 June 2019.

[:4-5] Mishra, Patit Paban (2016), "Eastern Ganga and Gajapati empires", The Encyclopedia of Empire, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–4, doi:10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe402, ISBN 978-1-118-45507-4, retrieved 21 February 2025

[:5-6] R.C.Majumdar, A.D.Pusalker, A.K.Majumdar (1967). The History and Culture of the Indian People, The Delhi Sultanate, Volume:-6. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 366.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[:6-7] "Gajapati Kapilendra Deva". Goodreads. Retrieved 30 March 2025.

[:2-8] uyan, annapurna (1999). "Kapilendra Deva and his times" (PDF). www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Utkal University. p. 31. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

[:3-9] B. Hemalatha (1991). Life in Medieval Northern Andhra: Based on the Inscriptions from the Temples of Mukhalingam, Srikurmam, and Simhachalam. Navrang Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 9788170130864. The study of Gajapati temples reveals that they patronized Vaishnavism . Purushottama Gajapati called himself Parama - Vaishnava in an undated inscription found at Draksharama.

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