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{{Short description|King of Tripuri from 1015 to 1041}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Gangeyadeva
| title = Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara
| image = Kalachuris of Tripuri. Gangeya. Circa 1015-1040. Lakshmi seated facing - “Śrimad Gangeya Devah” in three lines.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Coinage of king Gangeyadeva ({{circa}} 1015–1041) of the Kalachuris of Tripuri. ''Obverse'': [[Lakshmi]] seated. ''Reverse'': "Śrimad Gangeya Devah" in three lines.
| succession = King of Dahala
| reign = c. 1015 – 22 January 1041
| predecessor = [[Kokalla II]]
| successor = [[Lakshmikarna]]
| death_date = 22 January 1041
| dynasty = [[Kalachuris of Tripuri]]
| father = [[Kokalla II]]
| issue = Lakshmikarna
}}

'''Gangeyadeva''' ({{IAST3|Gaṅgeyadeva}}; died 22 January 1041) was a ruler of the [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|Kalachuri dynasty]] of Tripuri in central India. His kingdom was centered around the Chedi or Dahala region in present-day [[Madhya Pradesh]].

During the early part of his reign, Gangeyadeva seems to have ruled as a vassal, possibly that of the [[Paramara dynasty|Paramara]] king [[Bhoja]]. He fought against the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani]] in an alliance with Bhoja, but was forced to retreat after some initial successes. In the 1030s, he raided several neighbouring kingdoms and established himself as a sovereign ruler. He appears to have annexed [[Varanasi]] to Kalachuri dominions.

== As a feudatory ==
Gangeyadeva succeeded his father [[Kokalla II]] on the throne of Tripuri around 1015.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=489}} In his 1019 Mukundpur inscription, Gangeyadeva assumes the modest titles ''Maharha-Maha-Mahattaka'' and ''Maharaja''.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=489}} This title is not as high as the imperial title ''[[Maharajadhiraja]]'', which suggests that Gangeyadeva was a feudatory to another king, possibly the [[Paramara dynasty|Paramara]] king [[Bhoja]].{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|p=170}}

=== Chalukyas of Kalyani ===
Gangeyadeva fought a war against the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani]], possibly as a vassal of Bhoja. The triple alliance of Bhoja, Gangeyadeva and [[Rajendra Chola]] engaged the Chalukya king [[Jayasimha II (Western Chalukya dynasty)|Jayasimha II]] at multiple frontiers.{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|pp=144-145}}

The Kalachuri inscriptions boast that the king of [[Kuntala country|Kuntala]] (that is, Jayasimha) abandoned his spear while wanting to run away from Gangeyadeva. The Chalukya inscriptions also claim success against their enemies. Thus, it appears that Gangeyadeva and his allies achieved some military successes in the beginning, but were ultimately forced to retreat.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=489}}

== Paramaras ==
The [[Kalwan|Kalvan]] inscription, the ''[[Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh|Udaipur]] [[Prashasti]]'' inscription and Merutunga's ''[[Prabandha-Chintamani]]'' state that Bhoja defeated the ruler of Chedi.{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|pp=168-169}} ''Parijata-Manjari'' (c. 1213 CE) by Bala Saraswati Madana, specifically identifies the defeated ruler as Gangeya. A verse engraved on a stone slab in [[Bhoj Shala]] also suggests that Bhoja defeated Gangeyadeva of Tripuri.{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|pp=168-169}} The 1223 CE Dhar inscription of the Bhoja's descendant [[Arjunavarman]] also mentions Bhoja's victory over Gangeya.{{sfn|Mahesh Singh|1984|p=64}}

It is not certain whether Bhoja defeated Gangeyadeva before or after their joint war against the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani]]. According to one theory, Bhoja defeated Gangeyadeva before his Chalukya campaign, in which Gangeyadeva must have fought as a Paramara vassal. [[V. V. Mirashi]] believed that Bhoja may have subjugated Gangeyadeva before 1019 CE, when Gangeyadeva issued his Mukundpur inscription.{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|p=170}}

A contradictory theory is that the two turned enemies after their campaign against the Chalukyas.{{sfn|Mahesh Singh|1984|p=65}} Based on an inscription found at [[Mahoba]], [[K. M. Munshi]] theorized that the two remained allies at least until 1025 CE. Based on the 1028 [[Kulenur]] inscription, K. N. Seth and Mahesh Singh believe that the Chalukyas and the Paramaras did not fight between 1028 CE and 1042 CE (after which Someshvara attacked Malwa). They believe that Bhoja may have used this time to launch an expedition against Gangeya.{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|p=171}}{{sfn|Mahesh Singh|1984|p=66}}

== As a sovereign ==
In the later part of his reign, Gangeya achieved military successes at his eastern and northern frontiers. In his 1037-38 CE Piawan rock inscription, Gangeyadeva assumes the imperial titles ''Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara''. He also assumed the famous historical title ''Vikramaditya''. The Persian writer [[Al-Biruni]] mentions him as the ruler of the Dahala country, and names his capital as "Tiauri" (Tripuri).{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=490}}

=== Eastern campaign ===
Gangeyadeva invaded the [[Utkala Kingdom|Utkala]] region in the east, where he is said to have "raised his own arm as a pillar of victory" on the eastern coast. In this campaign, he was probably assisted by the dynasty's [[Kalachuris of Ratnapura|Ratnapura branch]], whose ruler Kamalaraja is said to have vanquished the ruler of Utkala. The defeated ruler was probably the [[Bhauma-Kara dynasty|Bhaumakara]] king Shubhakara II.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=489}}

The Kalachuri records claim that Gangeyadeva also defeated the ruler of the [[Dakshina Kosala]] region. The defeated king was probably Yayati II of the [[Somavaṃśī dynasty|Somavamshi]] dynasty. However, Yayati also claims to have defeated the king of Chedi and to have devastated his Dahala country. Thus, it appears that neither side gained a decisive victory in this war.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=489}}

Gangeyadeva's son Karna assumed the title ''Tri-Kalingadhipati'' ("Lord of three [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]]s") in an inscription issued a year after the death of Gangeyadeva. It is possible that Karna inherited this title from his father, who might have assumed it after his successful campaign in the east (that is, the Kalinga region).{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=490}}

=== Northern conquests ===
According to a fragmentary [[Chandela]] inscription discovered at [[Mahoba]], Bhoja and "Kalachuri-Chandra" worshipped the Chandela king [[Vidyadhara (Chandela ruler)|Vidyadhara]] like scared pupils. Historians identify "Kalachuri-Chandra" (literally "Moon of the Kalachuris") with Gangeyadeva. According to one theory, Bhoja, aided by Gangeyadeva, invaded the Chandela kingdom, but Vidyadhara forced them to retreat. However, some scholars such as [[K. M. Munshi]] believe that the Mahoba inscription is merely a boastful exaggeration.{{sfn|Mahesh Singh|1984|p=69}}

Later, Gangeyadeva expanded his kingdom in the north, as the Chandelas were weakened by [[Ghaznavid]] invasions.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=98}} He seems to have achieved significant success against the Chandelas, as even the Chandela records describe him as ''jita-vishva'' ("world-conqueror").{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=98}} A fragmentary [[Mahoba]] inscription of the Chandelas claims that their king [[Vijayapala]] broke the pride of Gangeyadeva in a battle.{{sfn|Sisirkumar Mitra|1977|p=88}}

Gangeyadeva seems to have extended his control over the sacred cities of [[Prayaga]] and [[Varanasi]], in the [[Ganga]]-[[Yamuna]] valley. According to the Kalachuri records, he died in Prayaga.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=490}} The writings of the Muslim chronicler Baihqui indicate that Varanasi was under Gangeyadeva's control in 1033-1034 CE.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=99}} Varanasi had earlier been under the Pala rule, at least until 1016 CE (the Sarnath stone inscription from [[Mahipala]] is dated to this year). According to the Muslim chronicle, when [[Ahmad Niyaltigin]] (the Ghaznavid governor of [[Punjab]]) invaded Varanasi in 1033 CE, the city was under the rule of Ganga (that is, Gangeya-deva). The Ghaznavids plundered the city until noon, when they retreated, probably on the approach of the Kalachuri army.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=100}}

Kalachuri inscriptions also credit Gangeyadeva with successful campaigns in [[Anga]] and Kira.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=98}} Anga was ruled by the [[Pala Empire|Palas]]. Kira (or Kara) is identified with the [[Kangra Valley]].{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=490}} The Kangra Valley was held by the Ghaznavids, and Kalachuri claim of success in Kira appears to be a reference to Gangeyadeva's repulsion of the Ghaznavid attack.{{sfn|Gurcharn Singh Sandhu|2003|p=203}}

The colophon of a ''[[Ramayana]]'' manuscript states that it was copied in [[Tirhut]] (in present-day [[Bihar]]), during the reign of Gangeyadeva. The manuscript describes the king as ''garuda-dhvaja'', an epithet that seems to suggest that the king was a devotee of the god [[Vishnu]], whose [[vahana]] is the mythical bird [[Garuda]]. English scholar [[Cecil Bendall]] wrongly read the term as ''gauda-dhvaja'', based on which some scholars such as [[R. C. Majumdar]] wrongly theorized that the epithet indicated the Kalachuri king's conquest of the [[Gauḍa (region)|Gauda region]] in present-day [[West Bengal|Bengal]]. Historian [[V. V. Mirashi]] theorizes that the Gangeyadeva mentioned in the colophon was not a Kalachuri king at all: he belonged to a [[Branches of Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakuta branch]]. {{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1961|p=83}}

== Last days ==
Gangeyadeva installed a [[shivalinga]] at Piawan, which suggests that he was a [[Shaivite]].{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=491}}

Kalachuri records state that Gangeyadeva attained salvation under the [[Akshayavata]] (sacred banyan tree) at [[Prayaga]].{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=98}} His hundred wives are said to have committed [[sati (practice)|suicide by immolation]] on his funeral pyre.{{sfn|R. K. Sharma|1980|p=24}} He was succeeded by his son [[Lakshmikarna]] (alias Karna).{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=490}} Karna's 1042 CE Varanasi inscription, issued on the occasion of his father's first annual ''[[Śrāddha|shraddha]]'' (death anniversary ritual) suggests that Gangeyadeva died on 22 January 1041.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=491}}<ref name="n378">{{cite web | title=PREHISTORIC ANCIENT AND HINDU INDIA | last=Banerji | first=R. D. | url=https://ia802900.us.archive.org/15/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.282613/2015.282613.Prehistoric-Ancient_text.pdf | access-date=3 November 2025 | page=255}}</ref>

== Coinage ==
[[File:I39 KalachurisTripuri GangeyaDeva 1 (8097362351).jpg|thumb|A statue of Gangeyadeva (circa 1015–1041) and his successors until 1211 of the Kalachuri (Haihaya or Chedi) empire (capital: Tripuri) in central India (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh).

'''Dimension:''' 19 mm '''Weight:''' 3.84 g '''Material:''' Gold '''Rev:'''The inscription gives the name of the sovereign. '''Obv:''' Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, in a sitting position. She has four arms.]]
Gangeyadeva issued coins featuring his name on one side, and a figure of goddess [[Lakshmi]] on the other side. This design was imitated by several north Indian dynasties.{{sfn|V. V. Mirashi|1957|p=491}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Gurcharn Singh Sandhu |title=A military history of medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xi3cAAAAMAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Vision |isbn=9788170945253 |oclc=52107183 }}
* {{cite book |author=Krishna Narain Seth |title=The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Q4dAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Progress |year=1978 |oclc=8931757 }}
* {{cite book |author=Mahesh Singh |title=Bhoja Paramāra and His Times |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan |year=1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPsgAAAAMAAJ |oclc=566111008 }}
* {{cite book |author=R. K. Dikshit |title=The Candellas of Jejākabhukti |publisher=Abhinav |year=1976 |isbn=9788170170464 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9j9ZJGJOV0C&pg=PA98 }}
* {{cite book |author=R. K. Sharma |title=The Kalachuris and their times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eee1AAAAIAAJ |year=1980 |publisher=Sundeep |oclc=7816720 }}
* {{cite book |author=Saikat K. Bose |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywfsCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT281 |title=Boot, Hooves and Wheels: And the Social Dynamics behind South Asian Warfare |publisher=Vij |year=2015 | isbn=978-9-38446-454-7 }}
* {{cite book |author=Sisirkumar Mitra |title=The Early Rulers of Khajurāho |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1977 |isbn=9788120819979 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=irHN2UA_Z7gC&pg=PA88 }}
* {{cite book |author=V. V. Mirashi |author-link=Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi |chapter=The Kalacuris |editor=R. S. Sharma |title=A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206 |volume=4 (Part 1) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahFuAAAAMAAJ |year=1957 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House | isbn=978-81-7007-121-1 }}
* {{cite book |author=V. V. Mirashi |author-link=Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi |title=Studies in Indology |volume=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtItAQAAIAAJ |year=1961 |publisher=Vidarbha Samshodhana Mandal |oclc=977431956 }}
{{ref end}}

{{Kalachuris of Tripuri}}

[[Category:Kalachuris of Tripuri]]
[[Category:1041 deaths]]
[[Category:11th-century Indian monarchs]]

Gangeyadeva - Revision history

Kristie5701 at 05:04, 3 November 2025