The History of Odisha and the Bhaumakara Dynasty

When we examine the history of Odisha through inscriptions and archaeological evidence, one rare phenomenon in Indian history becomes clear: successive women rulers from the same dynasty holding sovereign power and administering the kingdom. This remarkable example is found in the Bhaumakara dynasty, which ruled from the 8th to the 10th century CE, centered in present-day Odisha. At that time, the region was known as Toshala or Tosali, with Jajpur as the main seat of governance.

In the Bhaumakara dynasty, women were not merely consorts of kings. They themselves ascended the throne and ruled as sovereign monarchs. Copper-plate inscriptions bearing their names provide evidence of their reigns. These inscriptions record land grants, village donations, and administrative orders, serving as the primary historical basis for their rule.

Let us look at the succession of these women rulers:

1. Tribhuvana Mahadevi I She was the first and most powerful woman ruler of the Bhaumakara dynasty. After her husband’s death, she independently assumed royal authority. Copper-plate inscriptions record her donations of land and villages. Her reign ensured stability in governance.

2. Tribhuvana Mahadevi II Another woman ruler with the same name succeeded the first. This shows that female rulership was not a one-time exception but a continuing tradition.

3. Tribhuvana Mahadevi III A third woman ruler with the same name ascended the throne. In Indian history, it is extremely rare for successive women rulers of the same dynasty to reign under the same royal title.

4. Dandi Mahadevi She too ruled independently. Inscriptions reveal that she donated land and resources to Buddhist monasteries. Her reign is remembered as a period when Buddhist institutions enjoyed royal patronage.

5. Vakula Mahadevi She succeeded Dandi Mahadevi. Copper-plate records show her donation of a village, proving that she exercised full sovereign authority.

6. Dharma Mahadevi Recognized as the last woman ruler of the Bhaumakara dynasty. After her reign, the dynasty’s power gradually declined. Yet her rule is also confirmed by inscriptions.

During the reigns of these six queens, the Bhaumakara kingdom encompassed much of present-day Odisha, with Jajpur, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal as major administrative centers. Their political influence extended to parts of eastern India as well.

A striking feature of their rule was the state patronage of Buddhist monasteries. The sites of Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, and Udayagiri became prominent centers of Buddhist activity. Although monasteries existed earlier, they expanded significantly under the Bhaumakara queens. Monasteries multiplied, stupas were renovated, and new structures were built. Archaeological evidence clearly shows that these Buddhist centers flourished under their protection.

Another important social aspect emerges from history: sculptures, inscriptions, and artworks from their period show no evidence of the sari as a compulsory garment. Women’s attire was simply cloth draped to cover the body. The sari, as we know it today, became a socially established tradition only in later centuries. Thus, archaeological evidence confirms that the sari was not customary during the Bhaumakara queens’ era.

All these details are not mythical stories but historical truths, supported by inscriptions, archaeological excavations, and scholarly research.

Academic & Historical References

• Satya Narayana Acharjaya, “Patronage and Power: Women and Royal Queens as Temple Builders in Odisha” Explores how queens of Odisha, including those of the Bhaumakara dynasty, acted as patrons of temples and Buddhist institutions, supported by copper-plate inscriptions and land grants.

• Durba Chakraborty, “The Bhaumakaras: A Dynasty With Six Women Rulers” (Feminism in India, 2023) Highlights the uniqueness of the dynasty, noting that out of seventeen rulers, six were women. Provides a feminist historiographical perspective.

• Wikipedia – Tribhuvana Mahadevi I Details her reign (843–850 CE), succession, and inscriptional evidence of her land grants. Recognized as the first sovereign queen in the Indian subcontinent.

• History of Odisha – “The Bhaumakaras” (Brajabandhu Mahanta, 2022) Lists primary sources such as the Neulpur copper plates, Ganeshgumpha inscription, and other grants from Dhenkanal, Talcher, and Angul. These inscriptions confirm the political and religious role of the queens.

• Vakula Mahadevi – Wikipedia Notes her reign (936–940 CE), succession after Dandi Mahadevi, and her donation of a village in Uttara Tosali. Confirms her independent authority.

• Odisha Historical Journal – “Religious Epithets in Orissan Inscriptions” (Bharati Pal) Discusses the broader epigraphical tradition of Odisha, including copper-plate grants that document the Bhaumakara queens’ patronage of Buddhist monasteries.

🗝️ Key Evidence Types

• Copper-plate inscriptions: Neulpur plates, Talcher plates, Dhenkanal plates, etc. record land grants by queens like Tribhuvana Mahadevi, Dandi Mahadevi, Vakula Mahadevi, and Dharma Mahadevi.

• Archaeological sites: Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri monasteries expanded under their patronage.

• Literary references: Vishnu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Harivamsa Purana, and Hudud-al-Alam mention the dynasty’s influence.

✨ Why This Dynasty Is Unique

• Six successive women rulers in one dynasty (Tribhuvana Mahadevi I, II, III, Dandi Mahadevi, Vakula Mahadevi, Dharma Mahadevi).

• Direct inscriptional evidence of their independent rule, not just as consorts.

• Religious patronage: Strong support for Buddhist institutions, making Odisha a major Buddhist center in the 8th–10th centuries.

• Social insight: Sculptures and inscriptions show no sari tradition in their era, reflecting evolving clothing customs.