Prataparudra Deva

Prataparudra Deva
Gajapati
Depiction of Gajapati Prataparudradeba in Sarpeswara temple, built during his rule at Balarampur village near Kakhadi.
3rd Gajapati Emperor
Reign	c. 1497 – c. 1540 CE
Predecessor	Purushottama Deva
Successor	Kalua Deva
Spouse	Padma Padmalaya Ila Mahila Gauri Devi
House	Suryavansha
Father	Purushottama Deva
Religion	Hinduism

Prataparudra Deva (Odia: ଗଜପତି ପ୍ରତାପରୁଦ୍ର ଦେବ) was the third Gajapati emperor of Odisha from the Suryavamsa Gajapati Empire founded by his grandfather Kapilendra Deva Routaraya. He reigned from 1497 to 1540 CE. Besides being a monarch, he was a devout Vaishnava and adherent of the famous saint, Sri Chaitanaya who arrived in Odisha during his reign. His life was extremely occupied with overwhelming military campaigns in defense of his inherited territory from three frontal invasions by the enemy states Vijayanagar, Hussain Shahi dynasty of Bengal and Turko-Persian Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. He lost large portions of his territory to the neighboring enemy states initiating the dissolution of Odisha's military hegemony and imperial status that continued for nearly a period of 600 years before him.