Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Gajapati Chandra Dev (I) as “Abhinav Indradyumna”

Dr. Bhaskar Mishra

Gajapati Maharaja Rama Chandra Dev (I), who king Anangabhim Dev of Ganga dynasty till the was the founder of , established his reign of Mukunda Dev, the king of Chalukya capital at Khurda and reinstalled the four Principal dynasty for a period 350 years. After his death, deities in the Ratnasinghashana of Shreemandira, the came under possession of the . His effective and smooth administration of Muslim rulers. So king Rama Chandra Dev the Khurda State as well as overall supervision in without wasting his time to restore the Barabati the field of religion, education, military power are fort at , the then Capital of , wisely very much memorable in the . took necessary steps with the help of three Raja Rama Chandra Dev, son of Danei Dalabehera’s or Chiefs of the ‘Garh namely Bidyadhar, ruled for about thirty years in Adhikari Baghu Patra of Kokalagarh, Jadhu Khurdagarh State. It is ascertained from the Parida of ‘Ghoradia’ and Sarani Patra of ‘’ (Temple ) & ‘Mallipada’ under undivided and ‘Chakadapothi’ that Gajapati Rama Chandra Dev established his new fort and palace at Khurda in established his fort & palace in a remote village the dense forest for safety in the year 1571. i.e. Khurda near ‘Kholapala’ at the foot hills of Besides this, the founder of Chauhan dynasty king Barunei. Balaram Das of state had rendered all assistance and help for the above work. According to ‘Akbaranama’ the fort of was the strongest of the fortresses of According to ‘Madalapanji’ & ‘Chakadapothi’, Rama Chandra Dev. Rectangular in shape (4000’ the name of the new capital was ‘Khurda Kataka’ x 3000’), comprising inner walls and outer walls or ‘Jagannathpur Kataka’. with four gates, one in the each side, there was a The new Gajapati king made sincere moat with maximum breath of 75’, encircling the efforts to popularise and glorify his rule. It is said fort from all sides. The drainage system of the that the image of Shree had been burnt fort wall was nicely designed. In the middle, there by the fanatic Kalapahada after the occupation was a tank with store embankment, locally known of Odisha by the Afghans of in 1568. as ‘Rani Puskarini’. Rama Chandra Dev (I) constructed the new The previous Capital of Odisha known images of the deities and installed them in the as Barabati fort, Cuttack came under the rule of bejwelled platform of sanctum sanctorum of Shree

April - 2017 1 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

Jagannath Temple, Puri, for which he was Madala Panji (temple chronicle) and also codified acclamied as the “Second Indradyumna”. the rituals and nitis of Shree Jagannath Temple According to Puri District Gazetter sources, some known as ‘Karmangi’ in palm leaf script by time in 1596 he set the famous Blue-Wheel engaging his Karana Sebaks for the first time (Neelachakra on the crest of the temple of during his reign. Jagannath and this work was done by one Rama Chandra Dev was an able and Damodar Champatiray, the son of Barjena benevolent administrator. Some of his outstanding Mahapatra, a temple accountant. works include maintaining peace and safety for Gajapati Rama Chandra Dev (I) was a general public in the State, reinstallation of patron of Brahmins. He established many Brahmin Principal deities in Shreemandira, introduction of Villages in different parts of Puri district. These Madala Panji (Temple Chronicle), establishment Villages were known as ‘Sasana’. It was during of new fort and palace at Khurda and his rule that the Muktimandap in Puri Temple was strengthening military powers as well as renovated, probably by Rani Gaura Devi, the wife encouraging his Council of Ministers and Sub- of General Mansingh in the year 1592 A.D. ordinates for smooth functioning of the State. Not The other significant work of Gajapati only he was very much popular among the various Maharaja Rama Chandra Dev was reintroduction section of the Society for his dedication to the of Mahaprasada in Shreemandir after a lapse of State, but also he was a great devotee of Lord eight years. As per his initiation and advice of Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu. He was religiously Rajgurus, Santhas, Sanyasi’s etc, Anna- discharging his duties during the period of his entire Mahaprasada was offered to the deities near regin. Ratnasinghashana and the same were distributed According to some historians of the State, among the Brahmins, Santha, Sanyasis and the name of the King Rama Chandra Dev (I) is Sevayats on the said occasion. He also took keen very much memorable during the golden era of interest to celebrate the world famous the Bhoi Dynasty in Odisha and he was otherwise of Lord Shree Jagannath at Puri, for which the known as “Abhinav Indradyumna” or “Duti devotees of Lord Shree Jagannath were very Indradyumna” due to his effective administration much pleased with him. and service rendered for the well being of the Under his active patronage, some people of the State. Sanskrit and Odia Scholarly works were completed by the then Veteran Pandits. These include “Durgostava Chandrika”, “Karmangi” & “Madala Panji” (Temple Chronicle) etc. Rama Dr. Bhaskar Mishra, OSD (JTA), Law Department, Chandra Dev (I) took initiation for recording of .

2 April - 2017