ଗଜପତି ମହାରାଜ ମୁସଲମାନ କେମିତି ? Puri Gajapati Maharaj | Puri Jagannath | Ratha Yatra 2026 | Odia News

ଗଜପତି ମହାରାଜ ମୁସଲମାନ କେମିତି ? Puri Gajapati Maharaj | Puri Jagannath | Ratha Yatra 2026 | Odia News #purijagannath #gajapatimaharaja #puri #odishahistory #gajapatimaharaj #patitapabandarshan #takikhan #raziasultana #odisha #srijagannathtemple #puridham #rajaramsatapathy #srimandira #newsroom #odianewstoday #odianews The 'Muslim' Gajapati who sacrificed everything for Lord Jagannath The story of Gajapati Ramachandra Deva II remains one of the most debated and emotionally powerful traditions associated with Odisha's history and the Jagannath cult. Remembered by many as the 'Muslim Gajapati', he is portrayed in local legends as a king who sacrificed his throne, social standing, and personal life to safeguard Lord Jagannath and the revered Srimandir during a period of Mughal aggression. Ramachandra Deva II ascended the throne of Khurda in 1727, succeeding his elder brother Gopinath Deva. Before his coronation, he was known as Kesab Ray. His reign unfolded during one of the most turbulent chapters in Odisha's history, when Mughal authority dominated the region and repeated invasions threatened both the kingdom and the Jagannath Temple at Puri. At the time, Takki Khan, the Mughal Subedar of Cuttack, launched several military campaigns against Khurda. His administration is traditionally remembered for its hostility towards Hindu institutions, and the Jagannath Temple became a major target. Despite putting up a determined resistance, Ramachandra Deva II was eventually defeated, captured, and imprisoned inside Barabati Fort in Cuttack. Gajapati Ramachandra Deva II was the ruler who converted to Islam. He ruled the Khurda kingdom and the Puri Estate in Odisha during the 18th century