Eastern Ganga dynasty

Eastern Ganga Empire Purba Gangas, Rudhi Gangas or Prachya Gangas
493–1077 CE (Kalinga) 1077–1436 CE (Trikalinga) 1436–1947 CE (Khemundi)
Eastern Ganga Fanam of king Anantavarman Chodaganga (Anka year 63–1128 CE)
South-Asia 1400 CE DELHI SULTANATE (TUGHLAQS) KAMATAS TIMURID EMPIRE SHAH MIR SULTANATE PHAGMODRUPAS SAMMAS AHOM KACHARIS CHUTIAS BENGAL SULTANATE GUJARAT GOVERNORATE BAHMANI SULTANATE KHANDESH SULTANATE BENGAL SULTANATE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE ◁ ▷ Map of the Eastern Gangas, circa 1400 CE.[1]
Capital	Kalinganagara Dantapuram Kataka Paralakhemundi
Common languages	Odia (court language, literature, early and later medieval period)[2][3] Telugu (early medieval period)[4][5] Sanskrit (religious)[6] Other Indian languages
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchy
Tri-Kalingadhipati Gajapati
• 493–532	Indravarman I
• 532–535	Anantavarman I
• 804–854	Kamarnava Deva II
• 859–864	Vajrahasta Anantavarman
• 1070–1077	Rajaraja Devendravarman
• 1077–1150	Anantavarman Chodagangadeva
• 1178–1198	Ananga Bhima Deva II
• 1211–1238	Anangabhima Deva III
• 1238–1264	Gajapati Narasingha Deva I
• 1414–1434	Gajapati Bhanu Deva IV
• 1736–1771	Jagannatha Gajapati Narayana Deo II
• 1913–1947	Krushna Chandra Gajapati
Historical era	Classical India
• Established	493 CE
• Disestablished	1947 CE
Currency	Eastern Ganga Fanam, Ganga Madha
Preceded by Succeeded by Pitrbhakta dynasty Somavamshi dynasty Mathara dynasty Gajapati Empire Bhoi dynasty

The Eastern Ganga dynasty (also known as Purba Gangas, Rudhi Gangas or Prachya Gangas) were a large medieval era Indian royal Hindu dynasty that reigned from Kalinga from as early as the 5th century to the mid 20th century.^[7][8] Eastern Gangas ruled much of the modern region of Odisha in three different phases by the passage of time, known as Early Eastern Gangas (493–1077), Imperial Eastern Gangas (1077–1436) and Khemundi Gangas (1436–1947).^[9][10][7] They are known as "Eastern Gangas" to distinguish them from the Western Gangas who ruled over Karnataka. The territory ruled by the dynasty consisted of the whole of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha, as well as major parts of north Andhra Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh^[11] and some southern districts of West Bengal.^[12] Odia language got official status in their regime following the evolution of the language from Odra Prakrit.^[13][14] The early rulers of the dynasty ruled from Dantapuram; the capital was later moved to Kalinganagara (modern Mukhalingam), and ultimately to Kataka (modern Cuttack) and then to Paralakhemundi.^[15][7]

Today, they are most remembered as the builders of the world renowned Jagannath Temple of Puri and Konark Sun Temple situated in Odisha, as well as the Madhukeshwara temple of Mukhalingam, Nrusinghanath Temple at Simhachalam in erstwhile Kalinga and present-day Andhra Pradesh and Ananta Vasudeva Temple at Bhubaneswar. The Gangas have constructed several temples besides the ones stated above.

The rulers of Eastern Ganga dynasty defended their kingdom from the constant attacks of the Muslim invaders. This kingdom prospered through trade and commerce and the wealth was mostly used in the construction of temples. The rule of the dynasty came to an end under the reign of King Bhanudeva IV (c. 1414–34), in the early 15th century and then Khemundi Ganga started ruling up to abolition of zamindari in modern India. The Eastern Ganga dynasty is said to be the longest reigning dynasty in Odisha.^[16] Their currency was called Ganga Fanams and was similar to that of the Cholas and Eastern Chalukyas of southern India.^[17]