945th Coronation Day of Ganga Emperor Chodaganga Dev Celebrated
Puri, 17/02/2023 – The 945th Coronation Day of the great Ganga dynasty emperor Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev, the illustrious builder of the Shree Jagannath Temple, was celebrated with reverence at Chudanga Sahi Badu Mahapatra Jaga in Puri city.
The event was organized by Rediscover Lost Heritage Group in collaboration with the members of Badu Mahapatra Jaga. On this occasion, the ancient idol of Emperor Chodaganga Dev, which has been traditionally worshipped at the Jaga since time immemorial, was ritually anointed (abhisheka) as part of the celebration.
Chodaganga Dev ascended the Ganga throne on 17th February, 1078 CE. His early reign was challenging, as he was still a young ruler. However, under the guidance of his maternal uncle, Chola prince Veerachoda, Chodaganga overcame all hurdles and established a vast Ganga Empire, stretching from the Ganges River in the north to the Godavari River in the south. By unifying the regions of Kalinga and Utkala, he laid the strong foundation of an empire that would flourish for the next four centuries, excelling in valor, art, and architecture.
He famously restored the decaying temple of Lord Jagannath and built the grand present-day Shree Jagannath Temple, a legacy that has immortalized his name in Odisha’s history.
Chodaganga Dev shared a close connection with Chudanga Sahi’s Badu Mahapatra Jaga. He was also known to be a skilled wrestler, and to protect Puri and the Jagannath Temple from external enemies, he established multiple wrestling arenas (jaga gharas) across the city. These places trained local youths in combat and wrestling, and in times of need, they served as soldiers. According to legend, the emperor himself used to visit Badu Mahapatra Jaga regularly to train in wrestling.
As a tribute to these memories, members of the Jaga continue to offer worship and respect to Chodaganga Dev’s image even today.
Deepak Kumar Nayak, heritage researcher and founding member of Rediscover Lost Heritage Group, stated that Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev is one of the greatest emperors in Odisha’s history. Besides being a symbol of courage, he is remembered for promoting social harmony by respecting diverse religious beliefs. Though he began his reign as a follower of Shaivism, he later established the grand Vaishnava temple in Puri, winning the devotion of the region’s people.
According to the Dashagoba copper plate inscription of his grandson Rajaraja Dev II, Chodaganga Dev is confirmed to be the builder of the towering Jagannath Temple.
Rakesh Kumar Patra, editor of Badu Mahapatra Jaga, expressed pride in hosting such a meaningful event, stating it would inspire the younger generation to learn more about history and heritage. He added that this coronation festival will be celebrated annually on February 17.
Anil Dhir, INTACH Odisha’s project coordinator and a noted historian, attended as the chief guest and proposed to the government to install a grand statue of Chodaganga Dev in Puri city. He also recommended that the birth and coronation anniversaries of other great Odia emperors like Kharavela, Narasingha Dev, and Kapilendra Dev be observed at the district level across Odisha.
INTACH senior member Biswajit Mohanty emphasized the need to revise school curriculums to include more comprehensive information about historical figures like Chodaganga Dev, stating that current textbooks lack sufficient detail.
On this occasion, Rediscover Lost Heritage Group also gifted a photo-frame of a painting of Chodaganga Dev (painted by artist Bibhu Pattnaik) to Badu Mahapatra Jaga, while reiterating their demand for a permanent statue of the emperor in Puri.
