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 husband. Thus Gajapati etymologically means a king with an army of elephants. The institution of Gajapati kingship as a title was used by the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was used by succeeding dynasties, as Gajapati dynasties, with the patronisation of Lord Jagannatha as the imperial deity of the Odia cultural realm. Four ruling dynasties have been part of Gajapati kingship or dynasties.
The current titular Gajapati belongs to the head of the Bhoi dynasty, as the dynasty inherited the legacy of the historical ruling chiefs of Odisha invested in the title of Gajapati. They also exercised administrative control of the Jagannath Temple at Puri.[1]
The ruling chiefs of Kalinga, Utkal, 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 Gangas as the unification of the Odia kingdoms eventually culminated under Anantavarman Chodaganga.
Narasingha Deva I was the first king from the Eastern Ganga dynasty to use the title of Gajapati among the Odishan kings in the 1246 CE inscription at the Kapilash Temple.[2]
| Ruling Dynasty | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ganga dynasty | 1246–1434 | Gajapati kingship 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:
Shree Shree Shree Veerashree Gajapati Goudeswar Nabakotikarnatatkala Kalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta Vairaba Sadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula Balaparakrama Sahasra Bahu Kshetriyakula Dhumaketu Maharaja Adhiraja (regnal name)
The cyclical order the names of the Gajapati Maharaja:
| Ruler | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ganga dynasty | |||
| 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 | |||
| 1434–1470 | |||
| 1470–1497 | |||
| 1497–1540 | |||
| Kalua Deva | 1540–1541 | ||
| Kakharua Deva | 1541 | ||
| Bhoi dynasty (1st reign) | |||
| 1541–1548 | |||
| Chakrapratapa | 1548–1557 | ||
| Narasimha Jena | 1557–1558 | ||
| Raghuram Chhotaraya | 1558–1560 | ||
| Chalukya dynasty | |||
| 1560-1568 | |||
| Bhoi dynasty (2nd reign) | |||
| 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) | 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 | Titular since 1947 (Indian independence) | |
| Birakisore Deva III | 1956–1970 | ||
| 1970–current | |||