List of rulers of Odisha


The land of Odisha or former Kalinga has undergone several changes in terms of its boundaries since ancient ages. It was also known by different names like Odra Desha, Kalinga, Hirakhanda, Mahakantara or Utkala in different eras. Unlike other ancient kingdoms in India, Odisha for most part of the History remained a stable and major power till medieval era due to widespread martial culture and prosperity brought by successive native ruling dynasties.
The year 1568 is considered a turning point in the history of Odisha. In 1568, Kalapahad invaded the state. This, aided by internal conflicts, led to a steady downfall of the state from which it did not recover.

Ancient period

Kalinga kingdom (c. 1100–261 BCE)

According to political scientist Sudama Misra, the Kalinga janapada originally comprised the area covered by the Puri and Ganjam districts.

Kalinga dynasty (I) (c. 1100–700 BCE)

According to Mahabharata and some Puranas, the prince 'Kalinga' founded the Kalinga kingdom, in the current day region of coastal Odisha, including the North Sircars.
The Mahabharata also mentions one 'Srutayudha' as the king of the Kalinga kingdom, who joined the Kaurava camp. In the Buddhist text, Mahagovinda Suttanta, Kalinga and its ruler, 'Sattabhu', have been mentioned.
;Known rulers are-
  • King Kalinga,
  • King Odra,
  • Srutayudha
  • Srutayush
  • Manimat
  • Chitrangada
  • Subahu
  • Virasena
  • Sudatta
  • Nalikira
  • Yavanaraj
  • Dantavakkha or Dantavakhra
  • Avakinnayo Karakandu
  • Vasupala

    Kalinga dynasty (II) (c. 700–350 BCE)

This dynasty is mentioned in Chullakalinga Jataka and Kalingabodhi Jataka. The last ruler of the first Kalinga dynasty is said to have broken away from the Danda kingdom along with the kings of Asmaka and Vidarbha as its feudal states, and established rule of second Kalinga dynasty.
;Known rulers are:
;Other or late Kalinga rulers according to Dāṭhavaṃsa are:
This was probably another dynasty or late rulers of Second Kalinga dynasty, which is mentioned in Dāṭhavaṃsa.
;Known rulers are:
  • Brahmadatta
  • Sattabhu
  • Kasiraja
  • Sunanda
  • Guhasiva

    Suryavamsha of Kalinga (c. 350–261 BCE)

;Known rulers are-
  • Brahmaadittiya
His son, prince 'Soorudasaruna-Adeettiya' was exiled and as per Maldivian history, established the first kingdom the Kingdom of Dheeva Maari and laid the foundation of the Adeetta dynasty.
After Kalinga War, Kalinga kingdom became a part of Mauryan Empire, after which Kalinga kingdom was succeeded by Mahameghavahana Empire between 230–190 BCE which ruled till 350 CE.

Kalinga under Magadha Empire (c. 345–225 BCE)

Under Nanda Empire (c. 345–322 BCE)

Kalinga was believed to be briefly annexed by Mahapadma Nanda.
  • Mahapadma Nanda
  • Pandhuka
  • Panghupati
  • Bhutapala
  • Rashtrapala
  • Govishanaka
  • Dashasidkhaka
  • Kaivarta
  • Mahendra
  • Dhana Nanda
When Chandragupta Maurya rebelled against the Nandas, Kalingas broke away from the empire of Magadha.

Under Maurya Empire (c. 261–225 BCE)

Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 261 BCE. Kalinga broke away from the Mauryan empire during the rule of Dasharatha.
Mahamegha Vahana was the founder of the Kalingan Chedi or Cheti dynasty. The names of Sobhanaraja, Chandraja, Ksemaraja also appear in context. But, Kharavela is the most well known among them. The exact relation between Mahamegha Vahana and Kharavela is not known.
  • Vasu
  • Mahamegha Vahana
  • Sobhanaraja
  • Chandraja
  • Ksemaraja
  • Vakradeva Virdhharaja
  • Kharavela
  • Kudepasiri Vakradeva ll
  • Vaduka
  • Galaveya
It is not known that, if Vakadeva was a successor or predecessor of Kharavela. From the inscriptions and coins discovered at Guntupalli and Velpuru, Andhra Pradesh, we know of a series of rulers with the suffix Sada who were possibly distant successors of Kharavela.
Source:
Gautamiputra Satakarni is known to have invaded Kalinga during his reign. The Nashik prashasti inscription of Gautamiputra's mother during the reign of Vasisthiputra Pulumavi, located in the Nasik Caves, states that his orders were obeyed by the circle of all kings and calls him the lord of mount Mahendra among a list of other mountains.

Naga dynasty of Vindhyatabi (225–360)

An inscription dating from 3rd to 4th century found in Asanpat village in Keonjhar revealed the existence of this dynasty.
  • Manabhanja
  • Satrubhanja
  • Disabhanja

    Parvatadvarka dynasty (360–400)

During the same period as the Nalas, the region around modern-day Kalahandi was ruled by them. Not much is known about them.
invaded Kalinga during his reign in c.350. By c.571, most of Kalinga had broken away from the Gupta empire.
For some time in 4th century, the southern Odisha region around modern-day Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and undivided Bastar, was ruled by the Nalas.
  • Vrishadhvaja
  • Varaharaja
  • Bhavadattavarman or Bhavadattaraja
  • Arthapatiraja
  • Skandavarman
  • Stambha
  • Sri-Nandanaraja
  • Prithviraja
  • Viruparaja
  • Vilasatunga
  • Prthivivyaghra

    Rajarsitulyakula (4th–6th century CE)

The later half of the 4th century, this dynasty was established in the South Kosala region.
  • Maharaja Sura
  • Maharaja Dayita I
  • Maharaja Bhimasena I
  • Maharaja Dayitavarman II
  • Maharaja Bhimasena II

    Sharabhapuriya dynasty (475–590)

Not much is known about this dynasty. Everything known about them, comes from the inscriptions on copper plates and coins. They may or may not have also been known as the Amararyakula dynasty. This dynasty is supposed to have started by one Sarabha, who may have been a feudal chief under the Guptas. They ruled over the modern-day region of Raipur, Bilaspur and Kalahandi.
  • Sharabha, c. 475–500 CE
  • Narendra, c. 500–525 CE
  • Prasanna, c. 525–550 CE
  • Jayarāja, c. 550–560 CE
  • Sudevarāja, c 560–570 CE
  • Manamatra alias Durgarāja, c. 570–580 CE
  • Sudevarāja, c. 570–580 CE
  • Pravarāja, c. 580–590 CE

    Mathara dynasty (4th–5th century CE)

The Mathara dynasty ruled during the 4th and the 5th centuries. The Mathara rulers include:
Anantasaktivarman lost southern part of his kingdom to Madhava Varma II and the Matharas never recovered it.
  • Madhava Varma I
  • Indra Varma
  • Madhava Verma II
  • Vikramendra Varma I
  • Indra Bhattaraka Varma
Indra Bhattaraka Varma possibly lost his Kalinga holdings to one Adiraja Indra, who possibly was Indravarma I of East Ganga Dynasty.

Vigraha dynasty (575–630)

They ruled the region called South Toshali or Kalinga-rashtra, around modern-day Puri and Ganjam, during second half of 6th century.
  • Prithivi Vigraha
  • Loka Vigraha

    Mudgalas dynasty (580 CE–?)

They ruled the region of North Toshali, the river Mahanadi served as the border between North and South Toshali. Around 599-600 CE, they invaded South Toshali and by 604 CE the Vigrahas claim to suzerainty over Toshali ended.
  • Sambhuyasa
Copper plate grants have been found of a feudatory of Sambhuyasa named Bhanudatta in Olasingh Village, Khordha and Balasore. The absence of the name of his overlord in his grants during his 5th regnal year may indicate that Sambhuyasa died without an heir and his kingdom maybe in a state of chaos. Bhanudatta might have enjoyed a short independent rule in the region around Soro, Balasore. Somadatta, presumably of the same family as Bhanudatta from the Balasore region, issued a grant from the visaya of Sarephahara which was included in the Odra-visaya or Ordra-desa. Odra-visaya is taken to be another name for the entire Toshali kingdom under Sambhuyasa.

Durjaya dynasty (620–680)

In mid-6th century CE, a chief, Ranadurjaya, established himself in South Kalinga. Prithivimaharaja probably consolidated his kingdom by conquering parts of the Toshali kingdom.
  • Ranadurjaya
  • Prithivimaharaja

    Post-classical period

[Gauda Kingdom]

Shashanka invaded and possibly occupied North Toshali and South Toshali from the Mudgalas. A copper plate grant from Somadatta's 19th regnal year calls him the ruler of Utkala and Dandabhukti and he assumes the subordinate royal title of samanta-maharaja under Shashanka.
Shashanka seemed to have established another fief called Kongoda under a new ruling family called Shailodbhava. The Ganjam grant of Madhavaraja II was issued on the occasion of solar eclipse. Lorenz Franz Kielhorn worked out the two nearest possible dates which could have corroborated with the Gupta year mentioned in this record, the two solar eclipses that could have been visible from Ganjam district being on 4 November 617 CE and 2 September 620 CE. Evidently the possible date of the grant is the latter one. Immediately after 620 CE, Madhavaraja II might have assumed independence from Shashanka. After this Shashanka was no more in the political arena of Odisha when Madhavaraja II issued his Khordha grant which describes him as "lord of the whole of Kalinga".
  • Shashanka