History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.361

v2.c41.361

We must defer the narrative of the British conquest of Orissa till the beginning of the next chapter and turn our attention to the faineant Gajapatis of Khurda. Vīrakisora I died in 1779-80 during the period of office of Rājārām Mukund Pandit. He ruled at least thirty-five years, as a copy of a sale-deed preserved by Toynbee proves.¹ Stirling states that Rājārām Mukund Pandit was the first Maratha Ṣūbahdār of Orissa who succeeded in exacting a tribute from the faineant Gajapatis of Khurda. After a long reign Vīrakisora I became a raving lunatic and murdered four of his own children. There was a general outcry against him throughout the country. Rājārām Mukund seized this opportunity, captured Vīrakisora and threw him into prison in Bārabāṭi fort. His grandson, Divya Siṃha Deva, was acknowledged as his successor on agreeing to pay an annual tribute of Rs. 10000.² This Divya Siṃha II ruled at least for eighteen years, as Stirling has translated a deed of sale of the 17th Aṅka of this king,³ Divya Siṃha II was succeeded by his son Mukund Deva II, who was the last faineant Gajapati of Orissa at the time of the British conquest of the province.