The current day temple at Puri

From the mythical story of how the Puri temple was first established by King Indradyumna, history is silent about the subsequent kings who made reforms to the temple.

The Madala Panji credits Yajati Keshari, the founder of the Somavanshi dynasty in Odisha with building the temple at the present-day site. That temple was 38 cubits in height. The Somavanshi dynasty ruled over Odisha during the 9th and 12th century AD.

However, many inscriptions and other sources put it in the name of Eastern Ganga dynasty ruler, Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva to have built the temple towards the end of the 11th century AD. A copper plate inscription at the north entrance of Tirumala Tirupati temple credits the building of Jagannath Temple to Anantavarman.

One of his successor, King Ananga Bhima Deva II (1170–1198) continued much of his work in building the temple, establishing regulations around the service of the deity, much of which is followed to date. Hence, he’s also credited as one of the builders of the temple.

After the Eastern Ganga Empire, came the Gajapati dynasty founded by Kapilendra Deva in 1434 AD. Some might think that the same dynasty rules today, but that’s not correct. Other prominent rulers of the Gajapati dynasty were Purushottam Deva, Prataparudra Deva, and the final ruler Kakharua Deva who was killed in 1541 AD by Govinda Vidyadhara, who founded the Bhoi dynasty.

It is the Bhoi dynasty that lives on and holds administrative rights on the Jagannath Temple at Puri.

The title used till today during the Ratha Yatra by the ruler in Puri, “Sri Sri … (108 times) Gajapati Gaudesvara Nava Koti Karnata Kulvargesvara” was assumed by Kapilendra Deva of the Gajapati dynasty.

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