Thread by @meenakshisharan

@_ugra_ #Narasimhadeva of Ganga dynasty, Kalinga/ Orissa, 1238–1264, was the 1st Hindu raja to use subterfuge to trap Tugan Khan in a counter attack.
Khan asked him to surrender with weapons, his entire population accept islam & convert #JaggannathMandir into a Mosque.
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@_ugra_ #Narasimhadeva accepted
Tugan happily marched into completely evacuated city of its pilgrims,aged & children,soldiers posted in every nook-corner
Inside city,jihadis had to dismount their horses to reach #JaggannathMandir square for surrender ceremony,through unfamiliar lanes
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@_ugra_ At a prefixed signal, temple bells started ringing #Narasimhadeva ‘s army pounced on invaders
After a day long battle entire Muslim army was completely annihilated
Orissa remained #Hindu bastion for centuries which accounts for low percentage of Muslims in Orrisa even today!
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@_ugra_ #Narasimhadeva ‘s father Anangabhima Deva III was the 1st to take offensive against Turko-Afghan invaders to defended his kingdom, he crossed into Rarh,Gauda & Varendra in Bengal to chase the invaders on backfoot!
Narasimha’s queen, Sita Devi was #Paramara Princess of Malwa.
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@_ugra_ #Narasimhadeva erected victory pillar designed as a war chariot,built Konark Surya Mandir
Ganga dynasty was at pinnacle of power,glory & splendour
Narasimha exhibited vast possession of elephants & bore the title ‘Gajapati’, it was borne by later Ganga rulers & Suryavanshis
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