Tribhuvana Mahadevi I

Paramavaishnavi Goswamini Devi or Tribhuvana Mahadevi I (Odia: ପ୍ରଥମ ତ୍ରିଭୁବନ ମହାଦେବୀ) was the first female ruler of the Bhaumakara Dynasty in ancient Odisha and the widow of King Santikara Deva I. She ascended the throne of Toshali (Utkala) between 843–845 A.D. and reigned until 850 A.D., becoming the first sovereign queen in the Indian subcontinent, following the premature death of her ruling son Subhakara III. Some historians believe that she may have ruled until 863 A.D., abdicating the throne in favor of her grandson Santikara II after he became old enough to administer the kingdom.

She was a very powerful female ruler and found appreciating mentions as a beholder of lavish power and prestige by the Arab and Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh and explorer Ahmad Ibn Rustah. She rose to power despite feudal kings of coastal-central parts of erstwhile Tri-Kalinga region rebellions and with the help her powerful father. She compared herself with the Goddess Katyayani (a form of Goddess Shakti) when she ascended the throne at Guheswarapataka mentioned in her Dhenkanal charter. She is also credited for the construction of the Baitala Deula which is one of the oldest surviving temple structures standing erect to this day in old Bhubaneswar and one of the few in Odisha built in Khakara style temple architecture.