Anantavarman Chodaganga

Gangesvara Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva (reigned 17 February 1078 – 1150) was an Eastern Ganga monarch who reigned between 1078 and 1150. He was a great patron of arts and architecture who built many temples, one of them being the magnificent Jagannath Temple in Puri. He was the ruler of the Kalinga region from river Ganga to Godavari and later the early medieval Odisha region with the incorporation of the constituent regions with the decline of the Somavamshis. He is often considered as the founder and significant ruler of Eastern ganga dynasty. He is related to the Chola dynasty through his mother's side and the Eastern Gangas through his father's side. His mother, Rajasundari, was a Chola princess and the daughter of emperor Virarajendra Chola and granddaughter of Chola king Rajendra Chola I.His father was king Rajaraja I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. He possessed a vast number of elephants which made him used the title navanavati sahasta kunjaradhisvara or the lord of ninety-nine thousand elephants, though this is an exaggeration but it is likely that he possessed a vast number of elephants.

According to vallala-charitam Anantavarman had diplomatic relations with Vijayasena of bengal.

Anantavarman ruled for a very long reign of 72 years according to his own inscription. This makes him one of the longest ruling monarchs in the Middle ages. He was succeeded by his son Kamarnava Deva from the queen Kasturikamodini.