The Rise of Suryavanshi Gajapati Empire of
Odisha under Kapilendra Deva Routray
Kapilendra Deva Routray was the
adopted son and an a minster in the court of the last but weakened Eastern
Ganga Dynasty ruler, Bhanudeva. He usurped the throne of Odisha in absence of
Bhanudeva started the Suryavanshi Dynasty. During his ascent to the throne the
Sultan of Bengal, Ahmed Shah invaded Odisha but was defeated by the help of his
trusted minister Gopinath Mohapatra. Faced with internal rebellions from the
allies of the previous dynasty and feudal lords, he managed to contain the
enemies at the border territories and consolidated his authority over the
throne with brute force in 1443 A.D.
The southern enemies of Odisha,
Reddys of Rajamundry and Devaraya II of Vijayanagara kingdom invaded his
southern borders. Kapilendra Deva attacked and defeated them in numerous
pitched battles. Later he defeated Malikarjuna of Vijayanagara and captured the
Vijayanagara territory of Hampi. Malikarjuna was forced to be a vassal king and
pay annual tributes. Kapilendra Deva camped on the river Godavari with a large
7,00,000 strong Odia army. Sensing threat from the Muslim Bahamani rulers he
attacked them and occupied territories till the 8 miles outskirts of the
capital, Bidar. Before he could march on Bidar, the Muslim Sharqui ruler of
Jaunpur invaded his northern borders with 3,00,000 cavalry and 1400 war
elephants forcing him to abandon the campaign and move against the invading
enemy. The invaders were defeated and chased beyond the river Ganga. His eldest
son and an able military commander, Hamvira Deva continued the campaign in the
southern territories in his absence and finally subdued the Reddys of
Rajamundry securing the southern territories. Kapilendra Deva with the help of
Hamvira Deva managed to spread his empire from the river Ganga in north till
the River Kaveri in south with Rameswaram marking as the southernmost point of
his Empire by 1461 A.D. Despite numerous troubles from the beginning of his
rule, Kapilendra Deva proved his worth as a warrior and an empire builder.
Civil War of Succession between Hamvira Deva
and Purrushottama Deva
Kapilendra Deva passed the throne to his
younger son Purushottama Deva instead of his brilliant military commander and son
Hamvira Deva who had assisted him in building a large empire and proven his
battle hardened worth. According to folklore, Kalpilendra Deva was initially confused
over choosing the next Gajapti as both the sons were worthy. While climbing the
twenty two holy steps at Purl Jagannath Temple, he was consistently seeking the
lord’s divine guidance for the final decision while both the sons were
accompanying behind him. The divine sign came right away as the royal garment
worn by Kapilendra Deva around his shoulders and slipped away. The Gajapati prayed
that the one son out of the two who will display no ego and will be submissive
enough to pick up the cloth from the ground back to his father’s shoulders will
be righteous enough to be the next emperor. Surprisingly, the learned younger
son Purushottama Deva picks up the cloth as the battle hero and proud Hamvira
Deva hesitates to bend down for the same. The choice was made with an exemplary
instance on the very holy steps of the lord’s abode.
While Purushottma Deva was crowned in
1468 A.D, Hamvira Deva declares war on him to claim the throne in 1471 A.D. Hamvira
Deva aligns with the old enemy, the Bahamani Sultans and secures their
assistance in reinstalling himself on the throne. Bahamani Sultan agrees to him
under the terms of the return of Udayagiri and Kondapalli regions from Odisha
to them. Hamvira Deva defeats his younger brother and reclaims the Odisha
throne as a vassal king under the Bahamanis in 1474 A.D. Taking advantage of
the political disturbance, Saluva Narasingh of Vijayanagara re-captures
Udaygiri fort. Ousted Purushottama Deva regroups his strength and attacks
Hamvira Deva in 1476 A.D and reclaims his throne as he was powerless under the
Bahamani Kingdom which was also suffering drought meanwhile.
Re-Capture
of the Southern Territories
Purushottama marched south to reclaim lost territories
with 10,000 Cavalry and 8,000 infantry and drove out Nizam-ul-mulk Hasan Bahrl
from Rajmahendri. Within six years of the death of Bahmani Sultan, Purushottama
had overrun the whole of the Godavari-Krishna doab and driven out the Muslims
from their coveted post of Kondavidu where there was a bloody rebellion already
underway. He captured the Bellamkonda fort driving the Muslims out of there. He
attacked Kanchivarram ruled by Vijayanagara king, Virupaksha Raya II in 1489
A.D. The story of first two failed attempts to do so and then being assured by Lord
Jagannath in his dreams followed by his success on the third attempt is
immortalized in the Kanchi Kaveri Upakhyana of Odisha. According to the texts his
marriage proposal to the Vijayanagara princess was rejected in a dishonorable
manner before the campaign. After his victory over Kanchi, he brings back the
Kanchi Ganesh and goddess Tarini idol as war trophies along with the princess for
marriage.
Prataprudra
Deva Loses a Chance to Wipeout the Rival Vijayanagara and other Hostile Muslim
Domains Due to Crisis in Odisha
Prataprudra Deva succeeds Purushottama Deva as the next
Gajapati in the year 1497 A.D. In the initial years he was in a position to
expand his empire as the Vijayanagara kingdom was falling apart due to its
declining rule of Suluva dynasty. The Rajavolu and Anantvaram inscriptions of
Prataprudra Deva confirm that he marched south willing to capture Rameswaram
and met with success till Penar River after capturing the Vijayanagara capital
for a brief period of time. He had also captured the forts of Khambammettu and
Warangal in Telegana. While Prataprudra was halting over the city with the Odia
army planning for further advance, severe famine struck Odisha in the year
1507-1508 A.D forcing him to abandon his advance for relief operations back
home. King Vira Narashima of Vijayanagara eventually took control of the lost
regions in his absence the following year. Hearing about this Prataprudra Deva prepared
for a second southern campaign and marched again. But he was helpless to
further reoccupy the recently lost territories in south as the Muslim Sultan
Hussain Shah of Bengal invaded the northern borders of Odisha and the Muslim raiders
had come inside the Odia heartland of Puri overrunning the Cuttack fort
gallantly defended by his Gada Nayak (General) Ananta Samantaraya. The
Jagannath idols were secretly moved out of the Puri temple and hidden in an
island of the Chilika Lake. Prataprudra
Deva had to rush back to defend his kingdom while the raiders were defensively held
up by his chosen governor, Bhoi Bidyadhar. The Gajapati chased the Muslims out
of Odisha till Hugli’s Mandaran fort where they were defeated despite the
treachery by some of his side changing generals like Govinda Bidhyadhar. By the
time he emerged victorious over Bengal’s Muslim Sultan, a new and energetic
king, Krishna Deva Raya ascended the throne in Vijayanagara rapidly
revolutionizing the army with modern weapons, war horse purchases and training
from Portuguese as well as the Arabs. To add to the further setbacks of Odisha,
the great devotee Chaitanya arrived in Puri invoking the revolutionary neo-vaishnavism spiritual movement. Prataprudra Deva on his return from the Bengal
campaign also slides into this environment because of his soft devotional heart,
partially halting his much required military endeavors for the survival of the
empire. A few conspiracy theorists doubt that some of Chaitanya’s followers
were former court officials of the hostile Sultan Hussain Shah of Bengal.
IMAGE : Painting of Prataprudra Deva in service of the Devotte Chaitanya.
The
Odia Military Organization and Preparedness before the Start of Hostilities
The Portuguese traveler, Duarte
Barbosa who arrived in India at Vijayanagara in 1504 A.D and stayed till 1514
A.D mentions that the kingdom of Odisha was comprised of very good fighting men
and the king possessed a mighty army of foot soldiers besides mentioning the
ongoing skirmishes between Vijayanagara and Odisha. He also mentions that
northern extent of the Odisha kingdom was till the River Ganga which was often
called as Gouri Gua by the Odias then and was important place for pilgrimage.
Beyond the River was the kingdom of Bengal with which the King of Odisha was
also at war often.
The Odia army was primarily
comprised of the peasant militia called Paikas. The recruits were selected from
different castes and tribes, but for infantry combatants, the ‘Chasas’ or the
peasant class people were mostly selected from an age of 20 for military
service because they were physically and mentally tough. They underwent
rigorous and dangerous training and were ever ready for battles. Paikas were
also the ancient most combatants of Odisha and the term is derived from the
Sanskrit word ‘Padadika’. Paikas used various mantras or chanting during
warfare to keep their morals boosted even in the face of impending
death.
The Annotations
· Phadikaras - Swordsmen
· Dhanuki or Banua – Mask wearing Archers
· Prahari – The policing wing of the
Paikas
· Dhenkiya – Expeditionary or Attack
force
· Itakaras - Dancers and Entertainers.
The presence of the Itakaras
gives a clear picture about the knowledge of experienced war time psychological
and motivational efforts for the soldiers. The Ghumura folk dance is believed
to be the ancient most form of motivational war dance.
The Major Infantry Designations
of the Time
· Senapati or Senadhyaksha – Commander
of the Army units.
· Champati – Commander of Chamu or Army
divisions.
· Vahinipati – Paika Troop Commander.
· Paikaraya – Paika Band Commander.
· Dala Behera – Detachment or Group
commanders.
· Gada Nayak / Nayak – Garrison
Commanders and Fort duty officers.
· Bahubalendra - Officer in charge of
the Non combatants.
· Bhoimmul – Officer in charge of
recruitment.
Infantry Divisions
· Dala – Consisted 27 Paikas.
· Bhuyian – Consisted 70 Paikas.
· Vahini – Consisted many Bhuyians.
· Chamu – Consisted number of Vahinis as
per requirement.
The main strength of the Odia
army depended on infantry, cavalry and Squads of Elephants. The Gajapati title
for the kings of Odisha literally means the lord of war elephants. Elephant
corps and cavalry had subsequent designations. In one battle with Krishna Deva
Prataprudra used 1300 elephants and 20,000 horses and 5,00,000 strong
Paikas.
Disadvantages
in Terms of Strategic Location
The Vijayanagara kingdom had three strategic advantages
over the Gajapati Empire. They only faced two frontal enemies the Gajapatis and
the Bahamani Muslim sultanate while its flank was completely covered by the
ocean without any enemies threatening them. The Gajapati Odisha was facing
hostile warring enemies on three fronts including the Vijayanagara Empire, new
Muslim Sultanate of Golconda and the Muslim ruled Bengal in the north. Besides
this the Bahamani Sultanate towards the west was not reliable of its allegiance
if hostilities broke out. Prataprudra Deva had to scatter his military deployments
in all the three fronts unlike Vijayanagara which was able to concentrate its
complete strength on one opponent while containing the other with defensive
deployments. The second disadvantage for Odisha was the location of its far
outstretched frontier forts away from the capital Cuttack whereas Vijayanagara’s
capital was in the immediate vicinity of the frontier forts controlled by few
Odias giving them capability to rush supplies, forces and aid faster than
Odisha. The third disadvantage for Odisha was seize of Sea trade activity or
very little sea trade which is also mentioned by the Portuguese traveler Duarte
Barbossa. However, Barbossa’s presence in the Vijayanagara kingdom himself at
the time was due to the open sea trade activity on the west coast of India. The
west coast trade routes opened the path for advanced foreign firearms, weaponry
and war horses to be availed by Vijayanagara. Besides the trade, experienced
foreign mercenaries were brought in to train the army with new combat
techniques.
Seize
of Udayagiri and the 3:1 Outmatched Heroic Resistance for 18 Months
Krishna Deva Raya was facing
enemies on two fronts of his kingdom. The Bahamani Sultanate was a prevailing
threat to the Vijayanagara kingdom along with the Gajapati Empire on his
eastern front. Krishna Deva Raya had revolutionized his forces with increased man
power and foreign weapons technology of the time. For instance before his time
horse mounted archery was only known to the armies in north India but as per
the written accounts of the time, at one point of time 60,000 horsemen where
being trained in Vijayanagara to shoot arrows with perfection while riding on
their horse continuously. The Arab tradesmen were selling the finest horses to
the army and the Portuguese were supplying them with the firearms training and
weapons. Southern port of Bhatkal in the western coast of India was a market
from where horses were imported from outside and the dealers coming from the
Vijayanagara kingdom paid the price of 200 to 300 Portuguese gold coins along
with a government tax of 40 such coins for every horse. Krishna Deva also had
created an effective spy network that ultimately proved to be more deadly
during battle. He also had an able strategist like the prime advisor Timma Raju
or Appa Rao on whose advice he first decided to invade the outstretched Odia
army in the eastern front rather than the Muslim Adil-Sahi Sultanate of Bijapur
towards north.
As the first move, Vijayanagara
forces subdued the Velama rulers of Bhuvangiri along with others in the year
1512 that were vassals of the Gajapati Empire and had assisted the Odia army in
building the Udayagiri fort before. Marching up to the Krishna River, Krishna
Deva suddenly attacks Odia stronghold of Udayagiri fort as it was closer to the
Vijayanagara capital and then the Gajapati Capital, Cuttack and relatively also
away from their regional administrative headquarters of Kondapalli. Prataprudra
Deva was not expecting an attack on the Udayagiri Fort as there were good
relations with Krishna Deva Raya since his coronation three years back. The
fort was also impregnable with a difficult terrain around it allowing
access only through a narrow passage which could only afford one man to walk
through straight. Udayagiri was guarded by the able general and his paternal
uncle, Tirumala Routraya. A strong Odia garrison of 10,000 infantry and 400
horsemen guarded the fort with constant vigil and with nearly 8000 men deployed
on the outskirts of the fort.
Krishna Deva launches a sudden
attack with an army consisting of 34,000 infantry and 800 elephants which
clearly portrays 1:3 outmatched figures within the armies facing each other.
The wits of the Odias were pushed to unimaginable limits under the attack and
due the natural strength of the location they put up a stubborn resistance. The
writings of Fernao Nunes mention that there was a tooth and nail fight put up
by the Odia soldiers who were strongly determined to not give up their
positions. Krishna Deva had to take the lead himself when his best techniques
of seize and his most capable generals failed in making much headway for a long
time. His army had to cut through boulders from the surrounding hills to find a
suitable position and path to lay an effective attack on the heroic Odia
garrison which held out for a long 18 months time suffering from starvation.
Odia soldiers were dying of starvation but didn’t surrender despite any help
arriving from Odisha. Prataprudra Deva had deployed his forces on the northern
frontier against the Muslim invaders of Bengal and was unable to send immediate
help to the trapped garrison. Krishna Deva Raya’s forces were able to track
this helplessness of the Gajapati with their spy network of Sthanapatis
(ambassadors) in the Vijayanagara embassy at Odisha. The Odia garrison had to
finally surrender after good deal of resistance and extremely heroic cum
gallant efforts to hold their positions under starvation on 9th June 1514. Along with the capture of
Gajapati’s own paternal uncle, the Vijayanagara forces also carried away the
Bala Gopala idol from the fort as a war trophy.
Odia Resistance on the Way to Kondavidu Fort
The forts of Kondapalli and Kondavidu were situated along
the Krishna River surrounded by a difficult non supportive terrain for an
invading army. Kondapalli was the administrative headquarters of the Gajapati
Empire and the crown prince of Odisha, Virabhadra was himself in charge of Kondavidu
fort. To objectively capture the important forts, Krishna Deva first decided to
bring down the smaller forts on the way where separate Odia garrisons were
organizing the defense preparations after the fall of Udayagiri. Krishna Deva understood that if Kondavidu and
Kondapalli were taken head on then the Odia garrisons in the smaller forts could
attack him on his flanks. The first attack came on Vinukonda followed by
Bellamkonda and later on the other forts like Nagarjunakonda, Addanki,
Ketavaram, etc. The stubborn resistance of the respective Odia garrisons in the
smaller forts halted the progress of the Vijayanagara forces by six months to
Kondavidu. Accounts specifically mention that the Odia fighters were stubborn
and were not willing to stand down even after the fort fell and consistently
tried to regain their control creating troubles for their enemy. Probably the
fierce defensive stand for Kondavidu and Kondapalli was held with high moral as
the defenders understood that if Kondapalli falls then the enemy might be able
to march on to Odisha directly later.
Stubborn Resistance at Kondavidu Fort
Vijayanagara forces attacked
Kondavidu fort after the smaller forts on the way fell. Prataprudra Deva
arrived with a force consisting 50,000 infantry of hard fighting Paikas to
reinforce the stranded Odia garrisons at Kondavidu and Kondapalli. Learning
about this from his spies, Krishna Deva decided to retreat. He understood that
the presence of Gajapati himself would be a huge morale booster for the
stranded Odia garrisons and they will be unbreakable considering their stubborn
resistance which was a difficult for his forces to crack down despite huge
losses. The retreat was a part of Krishna Deva’s strategy of ‘Bheda’
(penetration into the enemy lines through espionage without direct attack). The
momentary retreat convinced the Gajapati about the safety of the fort from any
further incursions by the enemy. Marking sufficient deployments at Kondavidu,
he left for Kondapalli fort situated four miles away from Vijayawada for
reinforcements. After he left from Kondavidu, Krishna Deva under the advice of
his Timma Raju tried to successfully bribe some officers of Gajapati.
Vijayanagara forces marched up
to the foothills of Kondavidu fort enforcing an assault. The gallant crown
prince in charge of the fort resisted the enemy for three months with the Odia
Garrison and frustrated the enemy. The Amuktamalyada accounts written by
Krishna Deva himself says that Odia soldiers assembled in the fort went to
heaven without receiving a wound on their bodies, which signifies that the
soldiers were dying out of thirst due to lack of water but bravely held on. The Ahobalam inscription says that the
Vijayanagara forces erected movable wooden platforms called Nadachapparams to level themselves to the height of
the fort walls and launch attacks from outside on the stubborn garrison. After
a frustrating long battle, Timma Raju discovered a secret entrance to the
eastern gates of the fort and marched in a force of 10,000 men to assault the
starving and thirsty Odia garrison. The gallant Virabhadra and the Gajapati’s
grandson, Narahari Patra were captured with the surrender of the garrison on 23rd June 1515. The strategy of Bheda
worked for Krishna Deva as some of the absconders from the fort later joined
the Vijayanagara forces and were reappointed on behalf of Vijayanagara. It is
also quite possible that some of them disclosed the secret entrance into the
fort before Timma Raju.
Attack on Kondapalli and Capture of the Queen of Gajapati
Kondapalli is situated northeast
of Vijayawada towards the north of Krishna River. Taking desperate measures to
guard the Dandapat headquarters, Prataprudra Deva convinced hostile Qutub Shai
Muslim ruler to support him in containing the Vijayanagara army. Muslim
detachments jointly defended the Kondapalli fort with the Odias. Dreadful fighting
ensued at the Kondapalli fort with the death on both the sides. The fight
turned even dreaded as the Gajapati sent a detachment to reinforce the
overwhelmed Odia and Muslim soldiers at Kondapalli. Sadly one of the three
queens of Gajapati was present at the fort that time. The Odia detachment was
defeated at Vijayawada while the rest of the army retreated back to Simhadri in
north. The Muslim detachment along with few Odia soldiers at Kondapalli where
also run over by the enemy forces after two months of resistance which led to
the capture of the Queen as well. Gajapati General Sirsa Chandra Mohapatra,
commander Prahareswara patra and Muslim detachment general Bijli
khan were also captured along with other nobles.
Though his family members were
held captive, Prataprudra didn’t make any attempts of peace and prepared for a
major confrontation at Kalingapatnam. Krishna Deva decided to halt his progress
further and moved to conquer
Telangana and Vengi that was Gajapati territory routing the remaining and cut
off Odia forces deployed there. Forts like Anantagiri, Nalagonda. Kambhammettu
,Undrakonda, Urlagonda, etc where captured successively. Timma Raju advised
Krishna Deva to stop further advance into the Odia homeland as their fighting
capability was intact and becoming more stubborn after every defeat. Skeptical
Krishna Deva Raya wanted to put his doubts to a test.
Hell Breaks Loose on Vijayanagara Forces at the Eastern Ghats Passes
Krishna Deva Raya orders a large
section of the his forces to march to Simhadri through the Eastern Ghats passes
of Rajmahendri. Simhadri was a major sit of administration of Odia kingdom’s
administrative division of Odadi Dandapat/Mandala. The Gajapati general deployed
on the front line was Sitapati or Sitaph Khan who was formerly the governor in
charge of the major forts of Warangal, Bellam konda and Khambam Mettu in the
Telegana region. He was renounced to be a physically strong man followed by
12,000 infantry of Paikas who were also known to be excellent marksmen.
Sitapati also had retreated from Telegana saving the manpower for an ultimate
clash with the enemy. When the Vijayanagara army marched into the hilly regions
of the Eastern Ghats on their way to Simhadri, Sitapati was waiting with an
army of Paikas constituting 60,000 horse mounted archers in the mountainous
passes. Obstructing the enemy’s progress into Odisha, 60,000 arrows rained down
on the Vijayanagara forces at a time on each command. The deadly attack trapped
the enemy forces in the hilly passes giving them extreme losses. The
Vijayanagara army started retreating in haste facing the well planned attack.
Krishna Deva with the help of his spy network scaled the region more
effectively and launched a sneak attack from the flanks of the defending Odia
forces. The ferocity of the battle and good deal of fight given by the Stubborn
Odias can be guessed from the documents clarifying the death of 23,000 archers
and 4000 horses in the Odia army. Sitapati had to surrender but the increasing
ferocity by Odias into each move towards their territory did confirm the
warning of Timma Raju for Krishna Deva.
Vijayanagara's Strategy of Bheda
The Gajapati tactfully shifted his regional headquarters
of Oddadi Mandala to Kalingapatnam from Simhadri avoiding instant clash with
the enemy. Prataprudra Deva was carefully planning for a head on fight with the
Vijayanagara forces at Kalingapatnam with his sixteen Patras(advisors) assembled
together. The intended plans of the Odia side were leaked through spies to Krishna
Deva. Witnessing the fierce resistance at Rajmahendri, Timma Raju advised him
to implement the strategy of Bheda on the Gajapati instead of risking back
breaking losses in a head on fight. Special dispatches of sixteen boxes filled
with gold and valuables were sent out as bribe to the sixteen Patras with the
intention to be somehow be captured by Gajapati himself. Along with each
dispatch a letter was sent which demanded the surrender of the Gajapati to the
Vijayanagara forces while pretending to be fighting from his side. It also
promised them re appointments and more rewards if the Patras complied. Reading
the contents of the letters, the Gajapati had a very genuine reason to suspect
the loyalty of his generals as he had witnessed a similar treachery on the
northern frontier with Bengal earlier. Under the possible circumstance of his
capture, Odisha would have had to surrender completely despite the availability
of vast resources to continue the war. Prataprudra Deva retreated in a hurry to
avoid any such possibility for the sake of his future fighting capability
against the enemy. After the Gajapati
left, Krishna Deva leaves a detachment of 30,000 soldiers at Rajmahendri to
guard his flanks and marched into Simhadri where the royal Gajapati mansion was
taken over after the bell metal doors were broken with the help of elephants
amidst the continuing resistance by the Odia army. He appoints his own close
followers to guard the mansion and expecting no further moves from the Gajapati,
returns to Vijayanagara to check incursions in his northern frontiers.
Captive Crown Prince of Odisha Commits Suicide for Honor
The accounts of the Portuguese Fernao Nunes say, since
his capture the gallant crown prince of Odisha Virabhadra was noticed to be
very active and a dexterous swordsman. Krishna Deva Raya with the intent to
break his pride and honor, asks him to display his ability as a swordsman in
front of the courtiers. Being a Kshyatriya (warrior class), he complies. Belonging
to a noble family he was expecting to face an opponent from a noble family as
well. But Krishna Deva brought forth a common soldier who also happened to be a
master swordsman and was involved in training his army. Seeing an opponent from
the common class, the noble Virabhadra felt insulted to the core of his heart
as he was living under the guilt of losing to the enemy at Kondavidu and being
taken captive. Virabhadra slit his own throat with the sword before the fight
could begin crying out loud “God forbid, I come from a noble ruling class. I
will never display my martial skills against an opponent from a common
background”. This incident also throws light on the threatening of torture and
death given by Krishna Deva Raya to Virabhadara if he didn’t fight as he could
have simply declined the fight instead of committing suicide. He chose to die
with his own hands rather than be tortured by his captivators.
Spies Report the Intact Fighting Capabilities of Odisha
Hearing about the fate of his son Prataprudra Deva was broken but didn’t give up. The standoff continued on the frontiers of Simhadri, but he never attempted to make peace with Vijayanagara. He was more prepared to defend his kingdom in case there is further invasion from the enemy. Krishna Deva was now facing more organized and aggressive Muslim invaders from the new Golconda Empire. Having wounded the Odia pride in the ongoing war and the personal honor of the Gajapati he was also sensing more possible ferocious retaliation from the Odia army in case he made further moves into the Odia domain from Simhadri. Vijayanagara’s spy network confirmed his doubts through the reports presented before him at Vijayanagara. The words from the spies to him at Vijayanagara confirmed that Odisha was still ready to fight and the Odia army couldn’t be challenged in the battle field if he entered into their domain. Few accounts collected shed light on the spy reports as below.
“The Gajapati king gets up from bed early in the morning two hours before sunrise and salutes two Brahmins before looking at any other person. Then accompanied by the Sixteen Patras [the Brahminical council], he goes on a ride of about twenty or thirty miles before returning to the palace. After taking his bath, he engages himself in the daily worship of Lord Jagannath, after which he takes his midday meal. After food, he recites the Ramayana. Then, putting on official robes bedecked with jewels, he sits in the court and transacts his daily business.
We entered the city of Cuttack and saw the palace of Gajapati, the mansions of the sixteen Patras, the gymnasium and the people who take exercises there in. Even the gods and the demons are not capable of exhibiting such skills in physical exercises as they show. Your majesty might have observed the skill in physical exercises shown by the great wrestlers of the Gajapati is totally different. They alone are capable of lifting up such heavy dumbbell. They lift up and what is more they lift them up cross wise. They raise a sack weighing 10 paddes to the height of the uplifted arm of standing man and throw upon it upon their own bodies. Moreover they catch the sack between their thighs and suspended themselves in the air, taking hold of the crossbeam. The reason for taking this exercise is this; while engaged in battles the troopers are accustomed to carry their opponents bodily, imprisoning them between one of their arms and the body, if however the opponents fight without losing their hold on their steeds they abandon their attempt considering the opponent to be unmanageable. The riders are armored horses are not afraid of any wound which they might receive. They attempt to carry away under their arm such riders. The soldiers practice their exercises in order to remain firm courageously on such occasions. They completely demolish walls of hundred feet with arummi mattakhandam which is heavy enough to be carried by a man on his head. They cut with swords tamarind pillars as early as they cut the pitch of plantation trees planting two crow-bars together on the ground they cut them to pieces with their swords. They bring basketful of cymbal discs and twist four or five of them together. As the blacksmith are not able to separate them, they place on the anvil and detach them with the aid of a hammer and bring them again in good condition for the next day’s use. More over they break iron clubs at any given points. The wrestlers of the country who go there return with a feeling that it is not possible for them to cope with their methods of taking exercise. The wealth and strength of that place cannot be seen anywhere.”
The
Peace Offer and the Moderate Gesture of Vijayanagara
By the time the hostilities were still on, the former
Bahamani Sultanate had broken into four new hostile Muslim states on
Vijayanagara’s borders. Another new empire of Golconda was making preparations
for war on the lines of modernization of military during the initial years of
Krishna Deva. Learning about the intact fighting potential of Odisha, Krishna Deva
understood that his victory march will be turned into regrettable losses if the
war continued with Odisha. Being a Hindu king Krishna Deva had violated the
ethics of war by keeping the Odisha queen in captivity along with other family
members of the Gajapati. This proved to be his ultimate bargaining chip to compel
Prataprudra Deva to settle upon peace process. But the return of family members
would not have guaranteed his withdrawal from war while Krishna Deva took on
the Muslim kingdoms at Raichur. He would not have been able to make war on two fronts
simultaneously like the mighty Odisha which was warring with three hostile
neighbors at the same time and still holding on strong. As advised by Timma
Raju the only way to keep the Gajapati behind his lines was to offer him
certain portions of the occupied territories and enter into marriage relation
with his family. Moderate messages
offering peace were sent to the Gajapati which contained all the terms that
Vijayanagara was prepared to comply with if Odisha promised peace. Assuming
that Odisha lost to Vijayanagara would be an inappropriate conclusion as peace
offers with return of controlled territories should always be made by the losing
side and not the victors. Some terms of the peace offer were as mentioned
below.
·
Return of the royal
family members, captured nobles and generals to the Gajapati.
·
Return of territories
north of Krishna River to Odisha.
·
Marriage with the
Gajapati’s daughter Jaganmohini.
· No collaboration with
the hostile Muslim States while Vijayanagara indulged with them and abstention from
war.
At the cost of aggressor offering all the captured territories
and family members, Gajapati also decided to secure his southern frontiers as
he was also facing direct invasion from the Muslim ruler of Bengal. The
daughter of Prataprudra Deva was married off with Krishna Deva. The marriage
which is mentioned in Rayavachakamu , Krishna-faya-vijayam and lamil-Navalar-Charifai
was based on a political decision and not human bonding. The Odisha princess
was abandoned by Krishna Deva and led a life of seclusion at Khambam in Cuddapa
district for the rest of her days.
Conclusion
Vijayanagara gained territories up until Krishna River
and the northern portions were handed back to the Gajapati. Odisha never lost
the war and Prataprudra Deva proved to be able defender of Odisha under the
circumstances of all out war at all his frontiers. Krishna Deva’s fear of loss
and Odisha’s intact fighting capabilities were proven by the further battles
with the Muslim state of Golconda in the southern frontiers and the invasion
into Vijayanagara territory after his death in 1529 A.D. The below image is of the copper plate grants made by
Prataprudra Deva in the southern territories of today’s Andhra after the death
of Krishna Deva Raya proves that Odias were ferocious fighters, continuously fought on and never
accepted defeat.
Detailed Article Submitted by Manjit Keshari Nayak
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