Toshali Sands

TEMPLE OF PURI VESTED WITH GAJAPATI (KING) OF PURI

However towards 1817 A.D. the Paika Rebellion broke out to oust the British government in which the Rajas with Bakshi Jagabandhu played key roles. But Mukunda Deva was again made prisoner. He died in captivity in November 1817. He was the last king of Khurda and after him, his successors came to be known as the Gajapati Kings of Puri. The management of the Jagannath Temple was solely vested with the Raja only.

Ramachandra Deva II (1817-55), the son of Mukunda Deva built a new palace on the Grand Road near the Jagannath Temple, at Puri. He was succeeded by Birakishore Deva II (1855-59 A.D.) and then Divyasingha Deva II who was the next successor followed by Rama Chandra Deva IV who was the Superintendent of the Temple till 1957. With the formation of a separate state in 1936, Government of Orissa with and Act known as Sri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, took over the management of Shri Jagannath temple. As per the Act the managing committee would consist of twelve members with the Gajapati Raja of Puri as its Chairman.

Thus the History of Puri continued with the History of Jagannath temple.