Gajapatis of Kalinga

Next to the later Pandyas the Adavalleswarar temple received the patronage in the hands of Kapileswara (Gajapathi) Gajapati of Kalinga.^[1] The North eastern portions of Tamil Country came under the rule of the Gajapatis of Orissa from the time of Kapileswara Gajapathi (Gajapathi).^[2] Kapileswara Kumaran was a noted ruler who rendered meritorious services to the Adavalleswarar temple as gleaned from his record.

For instance the Dakshina Kapileswara Kumaran son of Ambhi Viran the Gajapati ruler issued an epigraph^[3] in the Saka year 1388 (A.D. 1466) is found on the eastern side wall of the cella of the Adavalleswarar temple. His Prasisti begins with Swasti Sri Mallinatha Kuttukandukaram is identified with Kapileswara Kumaran of Gajapati. It is learnt that during his initial stage of his reign he invaded and annexed Kondaveedu, Kondapalli, Padaiveedu, Thiruvarur, Thiruchirappalli, Chandiragiri and Thondaimandalam including Oima Nadu and Munnjur. Therefore it is clear that Munnjur under Oima Nadu and some portions of Thondaimandalam was under his control. Further the record refers to a gift of certain amount of land in Munnjur village except the Devadana, Thiruvilayattam Kaniatchi and Karanmai the a special Sasana the land donation divided into four shares. Among the four shares, two shares were donated to Adavalleswarar temple for the celebration of the annual festival occasion of Agham Vira Pogam^[4] and the remaining two shares were used for the maintenance of the Adavalleswarar temple complex.