Shilahara
Encyclopedia
The Shilahara Dynasty was a feudal clan that established itself in northern and southern Konkan
and southern Maharashtra during the Rashtrakuta
period. Their descendants are seen even today in Maharashtra
, Goa
and Karwar
(Karnataka
) as the Sawant/Savant clan of the Kshatriya
Maratha
s of the Konkan
.
All the branches of this family traced their descent from the mythical Vidyadhara prince Jimutavahana
, who sacrificed himself to rescue a dragon (naga) from the clutches of Garuda
. The family-name Shilahara (meaning "mountain-peak food" in Hindi) is supposed to have been derived from this incident. Even single inscriptions have more than one form of the name, one has the three forms Silara, Shilara and Shrillara.
Lassen suggests that the Shilaharas were of Afghan origin as Silar Kafirs are still found in Afghanistan, but the "Ayya" used in the names of almost all their ministers and the non-Sanskrit names of some of the chiefs support the view that they were of southern Indian or Dravidian
origin. The Shilaharas of South Konkan
were the vassals of Rashtrakuta
s and ruled from 765 to 1020.
power became weak the last known ruler of this family, Rattaraja, declared his independence. But Chalukya Jayasimha, the younger brother of Vikramaditya, overthrew him and appropriated his possessions. North Konkan
was conquered by the Rashtrakuta
king Dantidurga sometime in the second quarter of the eighth century.
emperor Krisna I who had established his power over Konkan
by 765 and probably handed it to Sanaphulla. The Kharepatan plates declare that Sanaphulla obtained lordship over the territory between Sahya mountain and the sea through the favour of Krisnaraja.
Sana-phulla's son Dhammayira is known to have built a fort at Vallipattana on the Western Coast. Aiyaparaja secured victory at Chandrapuri (Chandor
) in Goa. The reign of Avasara I proved to be uneventful. His son Adityavarman, described as brilliant as the Sun in valour, offered help to the kings of Chandrapuri and Chemulya (modern Chaul), 30 miles to the south of Bombay, so the influence of the Shilaharas had spread over the whole of Konkan
. At this time Laghu Kapardi, the ruler of the Thane
branch, was just a boy and the help given to the ruler of Chaul must have been at his expense. Avasara II continued the policy of his father. Indraraja's son Bhima is styled as 'rahuvadgrasta chandramandala' because he overthrew the petty ruler of Chandor. At this time the Kadamba ruler Sasthadeva and his son Chaturbhuja were trying to overthrow the Rastrakuta rule. This explains Bhima's opposition to Chandrapuri or Chandor. Avasara III, no doubt, ruled in troubled times, but had no contribution of his to make. Finally, Rattaraja, loyal to the Rastrakutas, was compelled to transfer his allegiance to Taila II .
Soon after the issue of the plates in 1008, the rule of Konkan
passed over to the later Chalukyas. (Dept. Gazetteer: Kolaba,1964, Dept. Gazetteer: 2002 )
Empire. They ruled over southern Maharashtra
; the modern districts of Satara, Kolhapur and Belgaon. Their family deity was the goddess Mahalakshmi, whose blessing they claimed to have secured in their copperplate grants (Mahalakshmi-labdha-vara-prasada). Like their relatives of the northern branch of Konkan
, the Shilaharas of Kolhapur claimed to be of the lineage of the Vidyadhara Jimutavahana. They carried the banner of golden Garuda. One of the many titles used by the Shilaharas was Tagarapuravaradhisvara, supreme sovereign ruler of Tagara.
The first capital of the Shilaharas was probably at Karad during the reign of Jatiga-II as known from their copper plate grant of Miraj and 'Vikramankadevacharita' of Bilhana. Hence sometimes they are referred as 'Shilaharas of Karad'. Later on although the capital was shifted to Kolhapur, some of their grants mention Valavada, and the hill fort of Pranalaka or Padmanala, (Panhala) as the places of royal residence. Even though the capital was shifted to Kolhapur, Karhad retained its significance during the Shilahara period. This branch rose to power the latter part of the Rashtrakuta
rule and so, unlike the kings of the other two branches, those of this branch do not mention the genealogy of the Rashtrakuta
s even in their early grants. Later on they acknowledged the suzerainty of the later Chalukya for some time. They had used Kannada as the official language as can seen from their inscriptions. This branch continued to hold the Southern Maharashtra
from circa 940 to 1220.
It seems that Bhoja II
, the last ruler of this family, was overthrown and dispossessed by Singhana
in or soon after 1219-20 (Saka 1131) as is borne out by one of Singhana
’s inscriptions dated Saka 1160.
Rulers
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
and southern Maharashtra during the Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
period. Their descendants are seen even today in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
and Karwar
Karwar
Karwar is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. It is a seaside town situated on the banks of the Kali river which is on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. The town lies about 15 kilometres south of the Karnataka–Goa border and 519 km north-west...
(Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
) as the Sawant/Savant clan of the Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s of the Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
.
All the branches of this family traced their descent from the mythical Vidyadhara prince Jimutavahana
Jimutavahana
Jīmūtavāhana was an Indian Sanskrit scholar and writer of legal and religious treatises of early medieval period. He was the earliest writer on smriti from Bengal whose texts are extant. He was a Brahmin of from ....
, who sacrificed himself to rescue a dragon (naga) from the clutches of Garuda
Garuda
The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...
. The family-name Shilahara (meaning "mountain-peak food" in Hindi) is supposed to have been derived from this incident. Even single inscriptions have more than one form of the name, one has the three forms Silara, Shilara and Shrillara.
Lassen suggests that the Shilaharas were of Afghan origin as Silar Kafirs are still found in Afghanistan, but the "Ayya" used in the names of almost all their ministers and the non-Sanskrit names of some of the chiefs support the view that they were of southern Indian or Dravidian
Dravidian peoples
Dravidian peoples is a term used to refer to the diverse groups of people who natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. Populations of speakers of around 220 million are found mostly in Southern India. Other Dravidian people are found in parts of central India, Sri Lanka,...
origin. The Shilaharas of South Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
were the vassals of Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
s and ruled from 765 to 1020.
North Konkan (Thane Branch)
After RashtrakutaRashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
power became weak the last known ruler of this family, Rattaraja, declared his independence. But Chalukya Jayasimha, the younger brother of Vikramaditya, overthrew him and appropriated his possessions. North Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
was conquered by the Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
king Dantidurga sometime in the second quarter of the eighth century.
- Rulers
- Kapardin IKapardin IKapardin I was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 800 CE – 825 CE.He was the first known Shilahara king of North Konkan , was placed in charge of the country by the Rashtrakuta king Govinda III. Since then North Konkan came to be known as Kapardi-dvipa or Kavadi-dvipa. The capital of...
(800 – 825) - PullashaktiPullashaktiPullashakti was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 825 CE – 850 CE.Kapardin I was succeeded by his son Pullashakti who has left a much-abraded inscription in Kanheri cave No. 73. In the Kanheri cave inscription Pullashakti is called Mahasamanta and is described as the lord of Puri-Konkan...
(825 – 850) - Kapardin II (850 – 880)
- VappuvannaVappuvannaVappuvanna was a Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch, or modern-day western India, from 880 CE – 910 CE.Kapardin I was followed by his son Vappuvanna, about whom his successors' records give only conventional praise.-References:...
(880 – 910) - JhanjhaJhanjhaJhanjha was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 910 CE – 930 CE.Vappuvanna was followed by Jhanjha . He is mentioned by Al-Masudi as ruling over Samur in 916 CE. He was a very devout Shaiva. He is said to have built twelve temples of Shiva and named them after himself...
(910 – 930) - GoggirajaGoggirajaGoggiraja was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 930 CE – 945 CE.Jhanjha was succeeded by his younger brother Goggiraja , but about him and his successor Vajjada I, Vajjada was followed by his brother Chhadvaideva, who is omitted in all later records, probably because he was an usurper....
(930 – 945) - Vajjada I (945 – 965)
- Chhadvaideva (965 – 975)
- AparajitaAparajitaAparajita was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 975 CE – 1010 CE.Chhadvaideva was followed by his nephew Aparajita, the son of Vajjada. Aparajita was an ambitious king. He sought to extend his sphere of influence by alliance with the mighty kings of other countries...
(975 – 1010) - Vajjada IIVajjada IIVajjada II was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1010 CE – 1015 CE.Aparajita was succeeded by his son Vajjada II, about whom only conventional praise is given in the records of his successors...
(1010 – 1015) - ArikesarinArikesarinArikesarin was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1015 CE – 1022 CE.Vajjada was succeeded by his younger brother Arikesarin alias Keshideva I...
(1015 – 1022) - ChhittarajaChhittarajaChhittaraja was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1022 CE – 1035 CE.Chhittaraja succeeded his uncle Arikesarin some time before 1026 CE, when he issued his Bhandup plates. Chhittaraja was a patron of art and literature. He built the magnificent temple of Shiva at Ambarnath near Kalyan....
(1022 – 1035) - Nagarjuna (1035 – 1045)
- Mummuniraja (1045 – 1070)
- Ananta Deva I (1070 – 1127)
- Aparaditya IAparaditya IAparaditya I was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1170 CE – 1197 CE.Aparaditya I was a versatile man. He took keen interest in music and was also proficient in Dharmtarhastra. His commentary Apararka on the Yajnyavalkya-smriti is still regarded as the standard work on Dharmashastra in...
(1127 – 1148) - HaripaladevaHaripaladevaHaripaladeva was the Shilahara ruler of the north Konkan branch from 1148 CE – 1155 CE.Aparaditya was followed by Haripaladeva , several of whose inscriptions ranging in dates from Shaka 1070 to Shaka 1076 have been discovered in Thane district. -References:* Bhandarkar R.G. : Early History of...
(1148 – 1155) - MallikarjunaMallikarjunaMallikarjuna was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1155–1170 CE.Mallikarjuna, who succeeded Haripaladeva, was followed by Aparaditya I, but his relation to his predecessor is not known. Three inscriptions of his reign, dated in Shaka 1106, 1107, and 1108 have been discovered at Lonad,...
(1155 – 1170) - Aparaditya II ( 1170 – 1197)
- Ananta Deva II (1198 – 1200)
- Keshideva IIKeshideva IIKeshideva II was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1200 CE – 1245 CE.Aparaditya's successor Keshideva II is known from two stone inscriptions. The earlier of them is dated in Shaka 1125 and was found at Mandavi in the Vasai taluka. -References & Bibliography:* Bhandarkar R.G...
(1200 – 1245) - Ananta Deva III (1245 – 1255)
- SomeshvaraSomeshvaraSomeshvara was Shilahara ruler of north Konkan branch from 1255 CE – 1265 CE.The successor of Keshideva II was Someshvara, who, like Aparaditya, assumed the imperial titles Maharajadhiraja and KonkanaChakravarti....
(1255 – 1265)
South Konkan
This house's history is known through one record, the Kharepatan plates of Rattaraja issued in 1008. Rattaraja was the last ruler of this dynasty. The document is extremely important as it not only gives the genealogy of the ten ancestors of Rattaraja but also mentions their exploits. The founder, Sanaphulla, was vassal of the RastrakutaRashtrakuta Dynasty
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
emperor Krisna I who had established his power over Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
by 765 and probably handed it to Sanaphulla. The Kharepatan plates declare that Sanaphulla obtained lordship over the territory between Sahya mountain and the sea through the favour of Krisnaraja.
Sana-phulla's son Dhammayira is known to have built a fort at Vallipattana on the Western Coast. Aiyaparaja secured victory at Chandrapuri (Chandor
Chandor
Chandor is a village in South Goa district, Goa, India, on the banks of the river Kushavati, 10 km east from Margao.-History:...
) in Goa. The reign of Avasara I proved to be uneventful. His son Adityavarman, described as brilliant as the Sun in valour, offered help to the kings of Chandrapuri and Chemulya (modern Chaul), 30 miles to the south of Bombay, so the influence of the Shilaharas had spread over the whole of Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
. At this time Laghu Kapardi, the ruler of the Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
branch, was just a boy and the help given to the ruler of Chaul must have been at his expense. Avasara II continued the policy of his father. Indraraja's son Bhima is styled as 'rahuvadgrasta chandramandala' because he overthrew the petty ruler of Chandor. At this time the Kadamba ruler Sasthadeva and his son Chaturbhuja were trying to overthrow the Rastrakuta rule. This explains Bhima's opposition to Chandrapuri or Chandor. Avasara III, no doubt, ruled in troubled times, but had no contribution of his to make. Finally, Rattaraja, loyal to the Rastrakutas, was compelled to transfer his allegiance to Taila II .
Soon after the issue of the plates in 1008, the rule of Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
passed over to the later Chalukyas. (Dept. Gazetteer: Kolaba,1964, Dept. Gazetteer: 2002 )
- Rulers
- Sanaphulla (765 to 795)
- Dhammayira (795 to 820)
- Aiyaparaja (820 to 845)
- Avasara I (845 to 870)
- Adityavarman (870 to 895)
- Avasara II (895 to 920)
- Indraraja (920 to 945)
- Bhima (945 to 970)
- Avasara III (970 to 995)
- Rattaraja (995 to 1020)
Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur Branch)
The Shilahara family at Kolhapur was the latest of the three and was founded about the time of the downfall of the RashtrakutaRashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
Empire. They ruled over southern Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
; the modern districts of Satara, Kolhapur and Belgaon. Their family deity was the goddess Mahalakshmi, whose blessing they claimed to have secured in their copperplate grants (Mahalakshmi-labdha-vara-prasada). Like their relatives of the northern branch of Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
, the Shilaharas of Kolhapur claimed to be of the lineage of the Vidyadhara Jimutavahana. They carried the banner of golden Garuda. One of the many titles used by the Shilaharas was Tagarapuravaradhisvara, supreme sovereign ruler of Tagara.
The first capital of the Shilaharas was probably at Karad during the reign of Jatiga-II as known from their copper plate grant of Miraj and 'Vikramankadevacharita' of Bilhana. Hence sometimes they are referred as 'Shilaharas of Karad'. Later on although the capital was shifted to Kolhapur, some of their grants mention Valavada, and the hill fort of Pranalaka or Padmanala, (Panhala) as the places of royal residence. Even though the capital was shifted to Kolhapur, Karhad retained its significance during the Shilahara period. This branch rose to power the latter part of the Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
rule and so, unlike the kings of the other two branches, those of this branch do not mention the genealogy of the Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
s even in their early grants. Later on they acknowledged the suzerainty of the later Chalukya for some time. They had used Kannada as the official language as can seen from their inscriptions. This branch continued to hold the Southern Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
from circa 940 to 1220.
It seems that Bhoja II
Bhoja II
Bhoja II was a ruler in medieval India, the last of the Shilahara dynasty of Kolhapur in Maharashtra. He suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Singhana, king of the Yadava Dynasty, in 1212 CE at Umalvad...
, the last ruler of this family, was overthrown and dispossessed by Singhana
Singhana
Singhana is a small town located in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is located near Khetri Copper Limited, a government-owned company in copper production. Singhana is hometown of Singhania Family. Singhana is situated near a beautiful hill, it has good transport facilities buses are...
in or soon after 1219-20 (Saka 1131) as is borne out by one of Singhana
Singhana
Singhana is a small town located in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is located near Khetri Copper Limited, a government-owned company in copper production. Singhana is hometown of Singhania Family. Singhana is situated near a beautiful hill, it has good transport facilities buses are...
’s inscriptions dated Saka 1160.
Rulers
- Jatiga I (940 - 960)
- Naivarman (960 - 980)
- Chandra (980 - 1000)
- Jatiga IIJatiga IIJatiga II was the first ruling king of the Shilahara dynasty. His reign can be placed between 1000 to 1020 CE as his grandson King Marasimha is known to be ruling in 1058 CE The records of King Marasimha mention him as Tagranagara Bhopalaka and Pamaladurgadrisinha which indicate that he had...
(1000 - 1020) - GonkaGonkaDuring the reign of Gonka I , the Chalukyas conquered Kolhapur, under their king Jayasinha The Shilaharas had to submit to the Chalukyas in order to retain their kingdom. In the records, Gonka is described as conqueror of Kahada , Mairiage and Konkan...
(1020 - 1050) - Guhala I
- Kirtiraja
- Chandraditya
- MarsimhaMarsimhaMarasimha succeeded Gonka. He was not very ambitious. In a copper plate grant describes the fort of Kilagila as his capital. Guvala II succeeded his father in 1057 CE. However, till 1110 CE the history of the Shilahara family becomes complicated as all princes are mentioned as...
(1050 - 1075) - Guhala II (1075 - 1085)
- Bhoja IBhoja IBhoja I was a medieval Shilahara king of Southern Maharashtra on the west coast of India.On the death of Guhala 11 in 1055 CE, Bhallala and Bhoja I must have ruled the kingdom. Achugi II, the Sinda ruler of Yelburga, is said to have repulsed a certain Bhoja I who can be only the Shilahara Bhoja...
(1085 - 1100) - Ballala (1100 - 1108)
- Gonka II
- Gandaraditya IGandaraditya IGandaraditya : Bhoja I was succeeded by Gandaraditya. who claimed to be the undisputed king of Konkan. During the later period of his regime, his son Vijayaditya defeated Jayakesin II of Goa who had ousted the Shilahara ruler of Thane. Gandarditya executed various public works...
(1108 - 1138) - Vijayaditya IVijayaditya IGandaraditya I was succeeded by his son Vijayaditya I. He joined in a conspiracy which was being formed by Bijjala, a minister of his feudal Lord Taila III, and in the revolution that ensued the Chalukya supremacy came to an end. The Satara plates of his son claim that son Vijayaditya I reinstated...
(1138 - 1175) - Bhoja IIBhoja IIBhoja II was a ruler in medieval India, the last of the Shilahara dynasty of Kolhapur in Maharashtra. He suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Singhana, king of the Yadava Dynasty, in 1212 CE at Umalvad...
(1175 - 1212)
Sources
- Bhandarkar R.G. (1957): Early History of Deccan, Sushil Gupta (I) Pvt Ltd, Calcutta.
- Fleet, J.F. (1896): "The Dynasties of the Kanarese District of The Bombay Presidency", written for The Bombay Gazetteer.
- Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (2002): Itihaas : Prachin Kal, Khand -1 (Marathi)
- Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (1960): Kolhapur District Gazetteer
- Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (1964): Kolaba District Gazetteer
- Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (1982): Thane District Gazetteer
- A.S. Altekar (1936): The Silaharas of Western India.