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The famous Pancaratra cult of India entered into Odisha from a very ancient period and was received well from all habitats of this state." This has been discussed in the first chapter that the worship of Vasudeva was converted serially into Jagannatha worship. It is considered that the worship of Jagannatha was established from the first cent. B.C. From that time Vaisnavism entered Odisha and affected the art, sculpture, literature even the day to day life of the people of Odisha. The influence of Vaisnavism glorified all the arena where it has entered. 28 The fourth/fifth cent.was the period of rebirth for Vaisnavism. The glorious Gupta kings have made the wide circulation of the prevalent Vaisnavism throughout the country by their zealous efforts and royal patronage. They were the devotees of Visnu. The bright Gupta king Samudragupta had conquered Kalinga (ancient name of the Southern Odisha) and converted the king of Kalinga into Vaisnavism. After that the Mathara dynasty who were rulers of Odisha at that time declared themselves as the Bhagavata and the worshippers of Narayana. This is proved by an inscription of that period. During 8th/9 th cent. the Bhaumakara rulers of Odisha were somehow interested towards Buddhism. But within the 9th cent. the image Vasudeva with four hands was named as Madhava and the tradition of the worship of 27. Patnaik, Asutosh, Vaisnava sahityatattva, p.44 28. Ibid, p.46 96

Madhava was widely spread and established. From 9th to 13th cent. the Madhava worship of Odisha has got a commendable position." 29 The famous poet Jayadeva has used the name Madhava and Radhamadhava frequently. After the 13th ce. Madhava was converted into Gopinatha having two hands and regarded as the combined figure of Visnu and Krsna. The Mathas and the temples of Odisha present the illustration of Gopinatha worship. 30