Eastern Ganga Empire | ||||||||
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Capital |
Mukhalingam/Kalinganagar Cuttack |
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Languages | Odia | |||||||
Religion | Hinduism Jainism | |||||||
Government | Monarchy | |||||||
Tri-Kalingadhipati | ||||||||
• | 1078–1147 | Anantavarman Chodagangadeva | ||||||
• | 1178–1198 | Ananga Bhima Deva II | ||||||
• | 1238–1264 | Narasimha Deva I | ||||||
• | 1414–1434 | Bhanu Deva IV | ||||||
Historical era | Classical India | |||||||
• | Established | 1078 | ||||||
• | Disestablished | 1434 | ||||||
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The Eastern Ganga dynasty (Odia: ଗଙ୍ଗ ବଂଶ ଶାସନ) or Chodaganga dynasty was a Hindu power on the Indian Subcontinent. The Eastern Gangas reigned from Kalinga and their rule consisted of the whole of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha as well as parts of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh from the 11th century to the early 15th century. Their capital was known by the name Kalinganagara, which is the modern Srimukhalingam in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh bordering Odisha which was earlier part of Ganjam District of Odisha. Today, they are most remembered as the builders of the Konark Sun Temple an UNESCO World Heritage site at Konark, Odisha.
The dynasty was founded by King Anantavarman Chodaganga, descendents of the Western Ganga Dynasty and the Chola dynasty that ruled southern parts of modern Karnataka. The Eastern Ganga rulers were matrimonially related to the Chola empire and Eastern Chalukyas, Their currency was called Ganga fanams and was greatly influenced by the Chola empire and Eastern Chalukyas of southern India. Anantavarman was a religious person as well as a patron of art and literature. He is credited for having built the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri in Odisha. King Anantavarman Chodagangadeva was succeeded by a long line of illustrious rulers such as Narasimha Deva I (1238–1264).