Hamvira Dev

A small window into Odisha history, a forgotten hero.

History and God connive only with the winner. That’s the irony of history.

In the 1450s, when the whole Europe was desperate to find a road to the Golden India One of the greatest king in the history of World was ruling one of the strongest and wealthiest state of world in the eastern part of India.

By the time Vasco Da Gama ( 1498) found his way to Goa on the western coast, the then emperor on the eastern coast of India has conquered half of Eastern coast of India to earn the title of Vira Shree Gajapathi, Gaudesvara, Naba Koti, Karnata, Kalbargesvara Kapilendra Dev with his capital at Puri.

The wealth of the Gajapati can be ascertained from the fact that the Royal Deity Shri Jagannath ji during his Sunabesha would be decked with 15 elephants load of Gold. The Sunabesh of the lord Jagannath ji of Puri is celebrated even till today on special occasions of the temple. Thousands of Muslim and British would raid the temple since then in search of the proverbial 15 elephants load of Gold of the lord.

This title literally means:

• Master of elephants ( Gajapati ) ( India’ s one time Aviation minister from Vizag, Gajapati Raju is distantly related.).
• The lord of Bengal (Gauda),
• The Lord of Karnataka (Vijayanagara kingdom)
• The lord of Gulberga kingdom
• The lord of nine crore subjects.

The Story of Hamvira Dev

Kapilendra Dev had fought the battles of north only ( Bengal ).
Who on behalf of the Gajapati fought in the south to conquer half of South India and wash his war-burnt bloody sword in the south sea ?

Exactly 500 years ago, that’s in 1460 Kumar Hamvira Mohapatra, the eldest son of Kapilendra Dev had fought valiantly and extended the border of Odisha up to the Sethu of Rameswaram on the south sea. Hamvira Deva assumed the title of Dakshina Kapileswara in the year 1464. and stayed in the Kondaveedu fort.

History records an account of his acquisitions in brief:

• Conquest of Kondaveedu by Hamvira Deva – The Odia forces returned in the year 1446 A.D. led by Hamvira Kumara Mahapatra, the eldest son of Kapilendra Deva. The Reddy kingdom was conquered and the Odia forces occupied Kondaveedu by the year 1454 A.D. – 8 years.
• Hamvira Deva successfully captured the Vijaynagar capital, Hampi and forced the weak ruler Malikarjuna Raya to pay yearly taxes.
• Hamvira Deva’s commander Tamavupala conquered the southern states of Udayagiri (Nellore district) and Chandragiri in the year 1460 A.D.
• The rock edicts of Srirangam Temple near Trichinapalli says that Hamvira Deva captured as far as Trichinapalli, Tanjore and Arcot in south before stopping his advance.
• In 1458 A.D. a battle ensued at Devara-Konda between Odia forces led by Hamvira Deva and Bahmani forces. In this battle also Odia forces came out as victorious and Telegana region became a feudal state of the Gajapati empire .

What was Purushottam Dev and his younger 17 brothers doing all these time?

All along the youngest son Purushottama ( some say from a concubine ) of the 18 sons of Kapilendra Dev was comfortably staying in Puri and getting nearer to the king and paving his path for the Crown.

And so the Madala Panji sayeth-

“When under divine guidance, Kapilendra Deva announced that he was naming Purushottama as heir apparent, the eighteen older sons in anger threw spears at Purushottama, all of which missed.”

Concocted no wonder. Coincidentally Madala Panji was written in Puri and the facts are arranged to suite the prince wonder.

I still wonder why did Kapilendra dev choose his youngest son Purushottama Deva, as heir before his death in 1466 A.D when the eldest Hamvira Kumar had conquered half of South India on his own.

Madala Panji is silent on this.

The distance of Kondaveedu must be a factor.

Rebellion of Hamvira dev (1472)
History faintly records a rebellion by Hamvira Deva in 1472. Purushottam was defeated and Hamvira Deva became king.
But “Madala” comes back strongly that in 1476 A.D., Purushottam fought back and recaptured the throne by the help of lord Jagannath.

Manipulation of the lord in the Madalapanji.

Madala spins stories about how the lord of Puri was extremely helpful to the youngest son in all his small, small actions like Kanchi abhiyan, Padmavati marriage, Chhera Panhara etc.

Why ?

History is the story of the winner. So is Madala. It has tried it’s level best to justify Purushottam Dev’s kingship who actually has usurped the rightful share of his elder and more capable and more illustrious elder brother, the Dakshina Kapilendra Dev.

History and God connive only with the winner.

Ref:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamvira_Deva