Mukunda Deva
Chalukya king (r. 1559-1568 CE) from Odisha, India
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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.
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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.
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.
Battles
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. 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.
Descendants
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. Aul – Ramchandra Deva son of Mukunda Deva, that maintained royal status but lacked direct ties to the elder Machamara traditions. 2. Second son settled In Khurda.
And The Descendants Of The Main Branch Of Chalukya's/Bahubalendra Chalukya's, who migrated from Rajahmundry after losing their state, and settled in Machamara (Present Gajapati) because close relations with Parlakhemundi Gangas, and junior Lineage in Gunupur (Rayagada).