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Gajapati is a regnal title from the region of modern Odisha in the Indian subcontinent. The word ‘Gajapati’ in Odia refers to "Gaja" meaning elephant and "Pati" meaning master or lord. Thus Gajapati etymologically means a lord with an army of elephants. The institution of Gajapati lordship as a title was used by the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was used by succeeding dynasties, as Gajapati dynasties, with the patronisation of Lord Jagannath as the deity of the Odia cultural realm. Four ruling dynasties have been part of Gajapati lordship or dynasties.[1]
The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of the Bhoi dynasty, as the dynasty inherited the legacy of the historical ruling lords of Odisha invested in the title of Gajapati.[2][3] They also exercised administrative control of the Jagannath Temple at Puri.[4]
The ruling lords of Kalinga, Utkala and Dakshina Kosala used various regnal titles upon coronation or conquest of regions, chiefly being the titles of Kalingadhipati and Tri-Kalingadhipati. Anantavarman Vajrahasta V assumed the titles as Trikalingadhipati (lord of the three Kalingas) and Sakalakalingadhipati (lord of complete Kalinga) challenging the authority of the Somavanshis and eventually laying the foundations for the Eastern Ganga dynasty as the unification of the Odia kingdoms eventually culminated under Anantavarman Chodaganga.
Narasingha Deva I was the first ruler from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title of Gajapati among the Odishan rulers in the 1246 CE inscription at the Kapilash Temple.[5][6]
| Ruling Dynasty | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ganga dynasty | 1246–1434 | Gajapati lordship initiated in 1246 |
| Suryavamsa dynasty | 1434–1541 | |
| Bhoi dynasty | 1541–1560 | 1st reign |
| Chalukya dynasty | 1560–1568 | |
| Bhoi dynasty | 1568–present | 2nd reign, titular since 1947 |
The ceremonial regnal title of the Gajapati Maharaja is as follows:[7]
Shree Shree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnatatkala Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra Bahu Kshetriyakula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja (regnal name)
Customary title of Gajapati upon accession
The cyclical order the names of the Gajapati Maharaja:[8]
- Ramchandra Deva
- Birakeshari Deva
- Divyasingha Deva
- Mukunda Deva
Customary title of the ladies of Gajapati upon accession
- Chandramani Patamahadei
- Suryamani Patamahadei
- Leelavati Patamahadei
- Padmabati Patamahadei
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ganga dynasty | ||
| Narasingha Deva I | 1246–1263 | Initiation of Gajapati title in 1246, reign since 1238 |
| Bhanudeva I | 1264–1279 | |
| Narasimhadeva II | 1279–1306 | |
| Bhanudeva II | 1306–1328 | |
| Narasimhadeva III | 1328–1352 | |
| Bhanudeva III | 1352–1378 | |
| Narasimhadeva IV | 1378–1414 | |
| Bhanudeva IV | 1414–1434 | |
| Suryavamsa dynasty | ||
| Kapilendra Deva[9] | 1434–1470 | |
| Purushottama Deva | 1470–1497 | |
| Prataparudra Deva | 1497–1540 | |
| Kalua Deva | 1540–1541 | |
| Kakharua Deva | 1541 | |
| Bhoi dynasty (1st reign) | ||
| Govinda Vidyadhara | 1541–1548 | |
| Chakrapratapa | 1548–1557 | |
| Narasimha Jena | 1557–1558 | |
| Raghuram Chhotaraya | 1558–1560 | |
| Chalukya dynasty | ||
| Mukunda Deva | 1560-1568 | |
| Bhoi dynasty (2nd reign) | ||
| Ramachandra Deva I | 1568-1600 | founder of the Khurda Kingdom |
| Purusottam Deva | 1600–1621 | |
| Narasingha Deva | 1621–1647 | |
| Balabhadra Deva | 1647–1657 | |
| Mukunda Deva I | 1657–1689 | |
| Divyasingha Deva I | 1689–1716 | |
| Harekrushna Deva | 1716–1720 | |
| Gopinath Deva | 1720–1727 | |
| Ramachandra Deva II | 1727–1736 | |
| Birakesari Deva I (Bhagirathi Deva)[10] | 1736–1793 | |
| Divyasingha Deva II | 1793–1798 | |
| Mukundeva Deva II | 1798–1817 | Puri Estate in 1809 |
| Ramchandra Deva III | 1817–1854 | |
| Birakesari Deva II | 1854–1859 | |
| Divyasingha Deva III | 1859–1882 | |
| Mukundeva Deva III | 1882–1926 | |
| Ramchandra Deva IV | 1926–1956 | Pretender since 1947 (Indian independence) |
| Birakisore Deva III | 1956–1970 | Pretender |
| Divyasingha Deva IV | 1970–current | Pretender |
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