Ramachandra Deva I

Not to be confused with Ramachandra Deva.

Gajapati Rāmachandra Deva I (1568–1607; popularly called Abhinava Indradyumna) was the founder of the Bhoi dynasty of Khurda in Odisha, India.^[1][2][3] He established the Khurda kingdom in 1568 and after the death of Mukunda Deva he made an alliance with Akbar and was recognised as Gajapati.^[4][5] Madala Panji associated him with Yaduvamsa of Mahabharata.^[6] Gajapati Ramachandra Deva was also a Sanskrit poet and a scholar, he authored the celebrated drama "Shrikrushnabhaktabachhalya Charitam".^[5] The Odia populace gave him the title of "Thakura Raja" as a mark of respect for renovating the damaged Hindu temples that were destroyed by the invasion of Kalapahad.^[7][8] Ramachandra Deva's regnal title was "Vira Sri Gajapati Viradhi Viravara Pratapi Ramachandra Deva".^[9]

Ramachandra Deva I
Gajapati Abhinava Indradyumna
King of Khurda
Reign	1568 CE – 1607 CE
Coronation	1575 CE
Predecessor	Mukunda Deva
Successor	Purushottama Deva II
Died	Khurda
House	Bhoi
Father	Danai Vidyadhara
Religion	Hinduism

Early life

Ramachandra Deva was the son of Danai Vidyadhara, a lieutenant of Bhoi king Govinda Vidyadhara.^[10][11] According to historian K.C Panigrahi, Ramachandra Deva's family belonged to Karana community however Madala Panji associated him with 'Yaduvamsa" to raise his status in the eyes of the Mughal general Man Singh to legitimise his claim over the kingship of Khurda and Puri.^[12] Ramachandra Deva was the Raja of Khurda kingdom and after the death of Mukunda Deva, Ramachandra Deva became "Gajapati".^[13][14][15] Ferishta mentioned him as "a Prince of great fame and Power".^[16] As Kharavela was the morning star when the forward march of the Odias began, Ramachandra Deva was the midnight star, he came to the throne when complete darkness engulfed the people towards the end of the century.^[17] Ramachandra Deva's eldest son was Padmanav Pattanaik, Padmanav Pattanaik played an instrumental role in retrieving the Brahma Padartha of Lord Jagannath from Bisara Mohanty of Kujang Garh.^[18]

Administration

Due to the sustained invasion of Afghans over Orissa, Ramachandra Deva accepted the suzerainty of Akbar through Man Singh I of Amer and defeated them with Mughal support. The Mughals took control over Orissa and Ramachandra Deva continued as a subordinate king. In the settlement of 1592, Ramachandra Deva was granted the principality of Khurda by the Mughal emperor. His territory was called Qila Khurda, alienated from the Khalisa and its domain extended from the river Mahanadi to Ganjam. The 31 subordinate Zamindars in his control including all the later tributary Mahalas of Cuttack and south of the river Mahanadi and seven principal Zamindars, which were not styled or titled Rajas. These important chiefs were the zamindars of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bishnupur, Fatehbad, Narayangarh, Karrangarh and Nag or Bagbhum.^[19]

Activities

The invasion of Kalapahad brought an immense loss of wealth that was stored in various ancient temples of the region. The reconstruction of these temples was promptly taken up by Ramachandra Deva.^[20] He was able to present himself as the successor to the culture and tradition of the former Gajapati kings. He renovated the Jagannath Temple in Puri and reinstalled the idols of the trinity by droving out the muslim forces from the city in 1575 A.D.^[21] He continued the Gundicha Yatra, eight years after the installation of the deities, which was discontinued after the destruction caused by Kalapahad.

For his remarkable work, the king was popularly known as the Second Indradymna or Abhinava Indradyumna, which is an honorable comparison to the legendary founder of the temple, Maharaja Indradyumna.^[22][23] He established sixteen villages of Brahmins by giving endowments of land and established some forts in the Pipili area - Bhuinmul, Sahajpal, Kharagarh and Kahnan, which are identified with the present Bhuinmulgarh, Sahajpani, Aragarh and Garh Kurki respectively.^[24][25]

Amusement

The rulers like Kapilendra Deva, Purushottama Deva, Prataparudra Deva of Suryavansha dynasty and Ramachandra Deva of Bhoi dynasty patronised art and music in Orissa. During his reign classical music, dance and other forms of art reached an apex.^[26] In his reign, the young boys were dressed as girls and performed under the guide of Odissi, called the Gotipua Nrutya. Devadasis were originally intended for temple service only but during the time of Ramachandra Deva they were engaged in providing entertainment to the royal court.^[27][28]

See also

• Bisara Mohanty
• Indradyumna
• Nabakalebara

References

1. Suryanarayan Das (2010). Lord Jagannath. Sanbun Publishers. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-93-80213-22-4.
2. Harekrushna Mahtab (1959). The History of Orissa. Prajatantra Prachar Samity.
3. Jagannath Mohanty (2009). Encyclopaedia of Education, Culture and Children's Literature: v. 3. Indian culture and education. Deep & Deep Publications. pp. 63–. ISBN 978-81-8450-150-6.
4. Rituals as Popular Culture: Towards Historico-anthropological Understanding of Modern Indian Society. Institute of Oriental Culture. 1999.
5. Atul Chandra Pradhan (2000). History, Culture, and Economy: Prof. Karuna Sagar Behera Felicitation Volume. Post-graduate Department of History (SAP), Utkal University. ISBN 978-81-901303-0-1.
6. The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent, Research and Museum, Orissa. 1982.
7. Nīḷamaṇi Miśra (1985). Sālabega. Rạshtrabhasha Samavaya Prakashan.
8. Subhakanta Behera (2002). Construction of an Identity Discourse: Oriya Literature and the Jagannath Cult (1866-1936). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 978-81-215-1041-7.
9. Pabitra Mohan Nayak. Inscriptions of Orissa: With Special Reference to Subarnapur. Readworthy. pp. 15–. ISBN 978-93-5018-108-9.
10. Dr.Manas Kumar Das. "History of Odisha" (PDF). DDCE Utkal University. p. 41. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
11. The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent, Research and Museum, Orissa. 1982.
12. PANIGRAHI, KRISHNA CHANDRA (5 January 2023). History of Orissa: (HINDU PERIOD). Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-68586-798-0.
13. J P Das (13 October 2018). A Time Elsewhere. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. pp. 299–. ISBN 978-93-5305-340-6.
14. Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Puri. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
15. Francesco Brighenti (2001). Śakti Cult in Orissa. D.K. Printworld. ISBN 978-81-246-0179-2.
16. Crafts and Commerce in Orissa. Mittal Publications. pp. 179–. GGKEY:4EYA3F6QHL9.
17. N. K. Sahu (1964). History of Orissa from the Earliest Time Up to 500 A.D. Utkal University.
18. "Bishar Mohanty, An Ardent Devotee. Odisha Review, ISSN 0970-8669" (PDF). Bishar Mohanty, an Ardent Devotee: 27–30.
19. Chandan Kumar Sadangi; Sanjay Mohapatra (3 April 2017). Change Management for Organizations: Lessons from Political Upheaval in India. Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 13–. ISBN 978-1-78714-119-3.
20. Crafts and Commerce in Orissa. Mittal Publications. pp. 22–. GGKEY:4EYA3F6QHL9.
21. Masaaki Kimura; Akio Tanabe (2006). The State in India: Past and Present. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-567277-0.
22. Trilochan Dash. Story of Lord Sri Jagannatha in Srimandira at Sri Purusottam Kshetra. Trilochan Dash. pp. 263–. GGKEY:Y2TR84PZ0DD.
23. Sitakant Mahapatra (1993). Beyond the Word: The Multiple Gestures of Tradition. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 191–. ISBN 978-81-208-1108-9.
24. Jagannātha Prasāda Dāsa (2005). Puri Paintings: The Chitrakara and His Work. Prafulla. ISBN 978-81-901589-7-8.
25. Amiya Kumar Pattanayak (2007). History with a Difference: Reflections on the Works of Jagannath Patnaik. Indian Publishers' Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7341-451-0.
26. Bhagabana Sahu (1997). Cultural History of Orissa, 1435-1751. Anmol Publications. ISBN 978-81-7488-654-5.
27. Sujata Patnaik (2006). Folk Legend Bhagaban Sahu. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. ISBN 978-81-230-1342-8.
28. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (2005). Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.