Mukunda Deva

Mukunda Deva or Mukunda Harichandana (1559-1568 A.D) was the founder of "Chalukya dynasty" in ancient Orissa (now Odisha).^[1][2][3] He traced his descent from the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi. He was the sole monarch of his dynasty and the last independent ruler of Odisha before it lost its unitary realm and independence in 1568 CE.^[4] He came to the throne at Kataka in 1559 after killing Raghuram Raya Chotaraya, the last Bhoi ruler. During his reign he tried to revive the power of Orissa.^[5][6][7]

Mukunda Deva Harichandana
Gajapati Maharaja Mukunda Deva
Reign	1559 A.D - 1568 A.D
Coronation	Cuttack
Predecessor	Raghuram Raya Chotaraya (Bhoi dynasty)
Successor	Ramachandra Deva I (Bhoi dynasty)
Died	Gohiratikiri, near Jajpur (present day Bhadrak district)
House	Eastern Chalukya
Religion	Hinduism

Early Life

The Bahubalendra Chalukya dynasty, to which Mukunda Deva Bahubalendra belonged, traces its ancestry to the Eastern Chalukyas of Rajahmundry, a powerful dynasty that ruled parts of South India between the 7th and 12th centuries. The dynasty’s spiritual and dynastic lineage is linked to divine origins—stemming from the sage Atri and Pururavas, leading to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata, particularly Arjuna, and continuing through his son Abhimanyu and descendant Vishnuvardhana, the progenitor of the Eastern Chalukyas. From this illustrious line, Vijayaditya, son of Kulottunga I and Chandambika Devi, founded the independent Chalukya kingdom of Elamanchili around 1175 CE. Over time, his descendants, known as the Chalukyas of Elamanchili, ruled parts of modern-day Andhra and Odisha, particularly in the Vizagapatam and Godavari districts. Despite recognizing the suzerainty of the Eastern Gangas, they remained mostly independent and were known for military resilience and cultural patronage. As time passed, a northern branch of the Elamanchili Chalukyas migrated and established themselves in Machamara village (now in Odisha), giving rise to the Bahubalendra Chalukyas of Machamara. Their royal insignia—a wild boar holding a sword, flanked by the sun and half-moon—symbolized their divine protection, strength, and enduring sovereignty.

Activities

He set up two streets from Lion's gateway to the Gundicha Temple and laid a smooth road by covering up the pits and holes on the way. He erected a cradle arch (Dola Mandap) on the outer part of the southern walls for the Lords to swing on the Dola Festival during the last five days of falguna. Bada Jagamohan (the great front hall) of the shrine.^[8]

Mukunda Deva built a chain of forts at Raibania (in the present Balasore district) of Odisha. The fort was stormed by Kalapahad in 1558 A.D.^[9]

Battles

Main article: Karrani conquest of Orissa

Mukunda Deva came into close contact with the Sultan of Bengal as a foe, and Mughal emperor Akbar as an ally. He had to face the Sultan twice in the battle. In 1560, Sultan Ghiyasuddin Jalal Shah of Bengal invaded Orissa and marched up to Jajpur. Mukunda Deva defeated him and drove him out of Orissa. In 1567, while Akbar was busy in the invasion of Chittorgarh, Sultan Karrani invaded Orissa. He was defeated by the Sultan and took shelter in the fort of Kotsima. The army of Bengal attacked Cuttack, the capital of ancient Orissa. Kalapahada, the general of the Sultan, made a devastating attack on Cuttack. In the absence of Mukunda Deva, Ramachandra Bhanja (a feudatory of Sarangagarh) declared himself king of Orissa. On receiving the news, Mukunda Deva hurried to Cuttack and faced Ramachandra Deva on the battlefield of Gohiratikiri, near Jajpur, where he was killed. Ramachandra Bhanja was also later killed by the Sultan.^[4][10] After the defeat of Mukunda Deva, Ramachandra Deva of Bhoi dynasty made an alliance with Akbar for avoiding an Afghan invasion and continued as a subordinate king of Odisha.^[6][11]

Descendants

The Bahubalendra Chalukya family of Machamara, located in today’s Gajapati district, Odisha, represents the eldest surviving branch of Gajapati Mukunda Deva, widely regarded as the last independent Hindu king of Odisha. This noble family preserves the royal title "Bahubalendra", a hereditary designation bestowed only upon the eldest male heir of the dynasty. The title is not carried by any other junior branches, distinguishing the Machamara family as the true custodians of the original Chalukya-Ganga legacy.

Origins and Royal Division After the fall of Gajapati Mukunda Deva in 1568 CE, Odisha came under Muslim domination, leading to the fragmentation of the royal household into three primary branches: 1. Machamara – The main and eldest line, settled with the Ganga rulers of Parlakhemundi. 2. Aul – A northern branch that maintained royal status but lacked direct ties to the elder Machamara traditions. 3. Gunupur – A junior line, the younger son settled in gunupur due to relation with nandapur family, later functioning as a local Zamindari. Among these, the Machamara family was entrusted with the preservation of: The "Bahubalendra" title Ancestral rituals and religious customs Genealogical traditions of the Chalukya dynasty Management of select estates of the Parlakhemundi kingdom during the British Raj Their close political and marital alliances with the Eastern Ganga dynasty of Parlakhemundi were instrumental in legitimizing their settlement and recognition as the senior-most royal line after the fall of the Odisha Gajapati throne.

The Machamara Role as Elder Lineage The family of Bahubalendra Mukunda Deva’s eldest son established permanent residence in Machamara, with formal blessings from the Parlakhemundi kings. While the Gunupur held regional significance, they operated without the core religious. >"Of all the descendants of Mukunda Deva, only the Machamara line continued the uninterrupted tradition of the Bahubalendra title — a name deeply rooted in Chalukyan royal authority and Eastern Ganga ritual hierarchy." The Machamara house continues to serve as the living symbol of dynastic continuity, performing centuries-old rituals, overseeing temple patronage, and acting as oral historians of the lost Gajapati kingdom. The Bahubalendra title, often misunderstood as a surname, is in fact a sacred title linked to sovereignty, inherited strictly by primogeniture (eldest son rule).

Zamindari and Colonial Period During the British East India Company and Crown rule, the Bahubalendra family of Machamara was granted zamindari rights over villages. Their administrative role included: Land revenue collection Local governance and justice Estate management on behalf of the Gangas Unlike the Gunupur branch, the Machamara family retained both religious prestige and political favor due to their historical status and proximity to Parlakhemundi. They were known for: Upholding Hindu Dharmic responsibilities Feeding the poor, maintaining cattle shelters, and building temples Hosting seasonal royal rituals tied to ancient Chalukya and Ganga rites Even under colonial supervision, they remained culturally autonomous and were respected by British officials for their discipline, loyalty, and historical importance.

Legacy and Continuity Despite political upheavals, the Machamara Bahubalendras continue to hold ritual leadership, recognized as the eldest custodians of Mukunda Deva’s legacy. The current head of the family, Bahubalendra Biranchi Narayana Deo (as of 2024), continues to observe dynastic customs and maintain oral genealogies passed down over centuries. Their royal emblem—a wild boar wielding a sword, flanked by the sun and half-moon—remains a powerful symbol of their divine and martial heritage, linking them to Chalukyan valor and Ganga sovereignty.