Sailodbhava Rulers of Kongada
By Vinayak Misra
Summary
This article reconstructs the genealogy and chronology of the Śailodbhava dynasty, which ruled parts of Kongoda (in coastal Odisha) in the seventh and eighth centuries. Using copperplate grants numbered 3 through 7, the author lists kings such as Śailodbhava, Aranabhita, Śrī Sainyabhita (also called Mādhavavarman), Ayāśobhita and Dharmarāja. He notes that Grant no. 7 is missing but that the eulogistic text of Madhyamarāja in that grant matches that of Grant no. 6, suggesting they refer to the same donor. By analysing the content of each charter—dates, land grants and genealogical verses—the author establishes a chronological sequence and suggests that Dharmarāja’s younger brother Madhyamarāja attempted to usurp power with the help of Tivara deva of Ratnapura but was defeated. The article situates the Śailodbhavas within the wider political landscape of early medieval Odisha, highlighting their struggles against neighbouring powers and their patronage of Brahmanical institutions.
Conclusion
Through careful study of multiple grant plates, the article clarifies the succession of Śailodbhava kings and the dynamics of their rule. It underscores how epigraphic records illuminate regional histories otherwise absent from literary sources.