History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c35.8

v3.c35.8

In the long detailed copperplate inscription published in Bengal J. R. A. S. LXV part I p. 240, it is stated that Chodaganga eventually conquered and annexed Utkala or Orissa and thereby got land, treasures, 1000 elephants, 10,000 horses etc. as from the churning of the ocean of Utkala.* This seems to show that at this time the Kesari dynasty ended in Orissa. It is further stated that Chodaganga built the present great temple of the god Jagannātha "who created and is coextensive with the whole world, a temple where even Lakshmī was glad to reside leaving her father's home" (V. 28). Chodaganga in his inscription calls himself Parama Vaishṇava. This change of worship shows that the Vishnu cult was now becoming supreme not only in Kalinga but also in Orissa and a little later in Bengal where Lakshmaṇasena also became a Parama Vaishṇava. Of this rise and spread of Vaishṇavism we will speak in detail in our religious survey chapter.