Gajapati : A King without a Kingdom

THE GAJAPATI IS AN INSTITUTION of seminal significance in Odisha. The dual status of the Gajapati, both as a king and a servant (Adyasebak), makes him distinctly unique. Gajapati kings have acted as the vassals or deputies, or the agents of Lord Jagannath, who is held as the Supreme Sovereign. This foundational doctrine was an innovative experiment in statecraft used by the Gajapatis to secure and sustain the support of the people for expansion and consolidation of the kingdom. The Odishan kingdom, at its pinnacle of glory during the reign of Kapilendra Deb (AD 1435-1467), stretched from the river Ganges to the Cauvery River but witnessed decline since the advent of the Afghans (1568), followed by the Marathas (1751) and the British (1803), finally leading to complete dispossession of territory and making the Gajapati or the Raja of Puri, a king without a kingdom. Apart from interesting historical facts, the book contains fascinating stories.