Gajpati was the son of the Ujjainiya chief, Badal Singh and the nephew of Dalpat Sah. Following a war of succession, Gajpati, his mother and his brother, Bairi Sal were banished and Shivram Singh became the chief of the Ujjainiyas. In 1532, his mother requested Sher Shah Suri to help her sons get back their chieftaincy. With the support of Sher Shah Suri, Gajpati defeated and killed Shivram Singh and came into power in 1534.
