Ramananda Ray

Ramananda Ray Patnaik (IAST: Rāmānanda Rāya; Odia : ରାମାନନ୍ଦ ରାୟ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ) lived in the Indian state of Odisha (Oḍiśā) during the latter part of the 15th century to around the middle part of the 16th century CE and was the author of the celebrated drama Jagannatha Vallabha Natakam.^[1][2]

He was the son of Bhābānanda Ray Patnaik, a resident of the village of Bentapur adjacent to Alalaranatha (Brahmagiri) about 12 miles west of Puri, Odisha. Bhabananda Ray Patnaik was the Samanta (chief) of Bentapur village near Chilika Lake, Odisha.^[3] Their family came from an aristocratic background and belonged to Karan community.^[4] Ramananda had four brothers named Gopinatha Badajena Patnaik (Governor of Midnapore), Kalanidhi Patnaik , Sudhanidhi Patnaik, and Baninatha Nayaka.^[5] Ramananda and his brother Gopinatha were governors in Gajapati Empire from the year 1497 to 1540 CE, Ramananda Patnaik was the governor of the southern territories in Gajapati Empire with his capital in Rajahmundry on the bank of the Godavari river.^[6][7][8] Governors in Gajapati Empire were designated as "Rajas" also known as "Parikshas" of their territory, Prataparudra Deva had appointed Ramananda Raya as the Raja of Rajahmundry in Gajapati Empire during his reign.^[9] Rajahmundry was the capital of southern Odisha in Gajapati Empire.^[10]

Ramananda Patnaik was also a temple administrator of Jagannath Temple, Puri during Prataparudra Deva's regime.^[11] Ramananda Patnaik after retiring from his position as the governor of the southern territories in Gajapati Empire took along with him his large retinue of elephants, horses and soldiers positioned in Rajahmundry to Puri where he retired as the chief temple administrator of Jagannath Temple, Puri.^[12][13][14]