By the middle of the sixth century CE, and especially at the beginning of the seventh century CE, the obscure political scene in Odisha had become somewhat clear. The Sailodbhavas emerged as a mighty power in Odisha’s political landscape, extending their influence from the Mahanadi in the north to Mahendragiri in the south. They ruled over Kongoda Mandala, which roughly encompassed the undivided districts of Ganjam and Puri. Kongodavasaka, possibly on the bank of the river Salia in the Ganjam district, was the focal point of their political activities.
The Ekamra Purana Kapila Samhita, the Svarnadri Mahodaya, and Hiuen Tsang’s Si-yu-ki all contribute significantly to the construction of the Sailodbhavas’ history. The Sumandala plate, the Kanasa copper plate grant, the Soro charter, the Chicacole plates, the Khurda grant, the Tekkali charter, and the Ganjam plates are among the dynasty’s inscriptional sources.
Table of Contents
Origin of The Saildbhavas
The Sailodbhavas’ origins are shrouded in mystery. According to the Sailodbhava inscriptions, during a period of anarchy in Kalinga, an aboriginal chief named Pulindasena prayed to Lord Brahma (Svayambhu) to save the country by providing it with a strong ruler. The Lord was pleased and created an able-bodied being named Sailodbhava as the dynasty’s founder. Sailodbhava is a Sanskrit term that translates as ‘born of rocks’. When it comes to the origins of the Sailodbhavas, scholars believe they were either a branch of the Ganga family or a branch of the Madhya Pradesh’s Saila dynasty. Both of these positions appear implausible. Pulindasena may be regarded as the Pulindas’ chief. The Pulindas may be identified with the Kulindas of Asoka’s Rock Edict XIII, a tribe of the Atavika Rajya that was not conquered by Asoka. Varahamihira’s Brihat Samhita points in this direction by associating the Pulindas with the Sailajas who inhabit the Kalinga rocky region. Perhaps Pulindasena aided Sailodbhava of the Sailaja tribe in establishing the dynasty bearing his name, and the territory ruled by its rulers was known as Kongoda mandala. Abhaya of the Sumandala plate, whose descendant was Dharmaraja, could be Sailodbhava, the dynasty’s founder. The Saliodbhavas are descended as the following.
Genealogical Table of the Sailodbhavas
- Ranabhita
- Madhavaraja I Sainyabhita I
- Chharamparaja Ayasobhita I
- Madhavaraja II Sainyabhita II (Madhavavarman)
- Madhyamaraja I Ayasobhita I
- Dharmaraja II Sri Manabhita
- Madhyamaraja II
- Ailaparaja Yuvaraja Tailapa
- Madhyamaraja III
Dynastic History of The Sailodbhavas
Dharmaraja I Ranabhita(553-575 CE)
Dharmaraja I, also known as Ranabhita, was the first known historical ruler of the Sailodbhaba dynasty, according to the Sumandala charter dated Gupta era 250 (570 CE). He was not an independent ruler, but rather a feudatory of Prithivivigraha of Kalinga, the Vigraha ruler. It is clear that by the sixth century CE, the Vigrahas had grown in strength and the Sailodbhavas recognised their suzerainty. Dharmaraja I was possibly a devotee of the Sun God, as it is stated in the Sumandala Charter that he devoted himself at the feet of the thousand-rayed sun (Sahasrarasmi padabhakta).
Madhavaraja I Sainyabhlta( 575- 600 CE)
Madhavaraja succeeded Dharmaraja I on Kongoda’s throne. He was a Vigraha feudatory, as revealed by the Kanasa copper plate grant of Gupta era 280 (600 CE), in which he is described as a Mahasamanta under Lokavigraha. This fact is confirmed in his grandson Madhavaraja II’s Ganjam grant. Thus, the two early rulers of this dynasty were not self-governing; rather, they acknowledged the Vigrahas of Kalinga’s suzerainty.
Chharamparaja Ayasobhita I (600-615 CE)
With Chharamparaja Ayasobhita I, a new era in the Sailodbhavas’ history began. Ayasobhita I fished in that troubled water and gained independence from Vigraha rule during the struggle between the Vigrahas and Mudgalas for supremacy over Tosali. According to the Eradanga Charter (555 CE) and the Soro Charter (580 CE ), Mudgala King Sambhuyasa gained power over Tosali and desired to subjugate Kalinga. When he was defeated by Lokavigraha, his dream was shattered. Sambhuyasa avenged the defeat in 603 A. D. by driving Lokavigraha from South Tosali. He was defeated immediately after asserting his power over South Tosali by Prithvimaharaja, the King of Pistapura, effectively ending the Mudgala rule over Tosali.
At the beginning of the seventh century A. D., Prithvimaharaja faced an attack from the north by Sasanka of Gauda, who occupied the Northen Tosali. Simultaneously, Pulakesin II established his hegemony over Pistapura. Ayasobhita I declared his independence from Kongoda at this point. He renamed his capital Vijaya Kangodavasaka for the first time. According to the Khandipada Nuapali grant, he was an independent ruler who received assistance from a number of officers, including Sri Samanta, Maha Samanta, Maharaja Rajanaka, Rajaputra, Dandanayaka, Kumaramatya, Uparika, and Ayuktaka. The establishment of a new capital and the appointment of various officers, including feudatories, demonstrate that he was an independent and sovereign ruler. As revealed by his Nuapali grant, he was a devotee of Lord Siva (Hara) and a patron of Saivism. Perhaps near the end of his reign or following Madhavaraja II’s victory, Kongoda fell under the sway of Sasanka of Gauda.
Madhavaraja II Sainyabhita II ( 615 – 665 CE)
The Sailodbhava dynasty’s lost glory was restored and firmly established by Madhavaraja II Sainyabhita II, Charamparaja’s son and successor. He ruled over Kongoda Mandala for at least fifty years under various circumstances as a feudatory and independent ruler, demonstrating his diplomatic genius. He is referred to as the Mahasamanta of Sasanka in his 620 AD. Ganjarn grant. He is described as the Lord of the entire Kalinga in Madhavaraja’s Khurda Charter. This demonstrates that around 626 CE, following Sasanka’s demise, Madhvaraja II declared his independence and seized the entire Kalinga region, assuming the title Sakala-Kalingadhipati. The Gangas, who had been driven out of Kalinga by Sasanka, gained momentum and, with the assistance of the Western Chalukyas, reclaimed control of Kalinga. This fact has been established through the use of the Ganga ruler Indravarman III’s Chicacole plates. At this point, Madhavaraja II deemed it prudent to recognise the Gangas’ suzerainty, which has been confirmed by subsequent Charters. He never refers to himself as the ‘Lord of Kalinga’ following the publication of the Khurda Charter.
Madhavaraja “became conspicuously famous as Madhavavarman” as early as 628 CE, as revealed in the Buguda and Purusottampur Charters. Additionally, his kingdom was dubbed Kongoda mandala. Madhavavarman remained silent during the struggle for supremacy over South India between Harsavardhan and Pulakeshin II, retaining his independent status as a buffer state. Harsavardhan conquered Kongoda following Pulakesin II’s death in 642 AD, and Madhavavarman was forced to accept Harsa’s suzerainty. Again, following Harsavardhan’s demise in 647 CE, Madhavavarman became the autonomous sovereign of Kongoda mandala. Nothing is known about him after his fiftieth regnal year, i.e. C-665 AD. The manner in which Madhavaraja II dealt with the tumultuous situation surrounding Kongoda demonstrates his brilliance as an astute diplomat. He not only averted the wrath of great rulers such as Sasanka, Pulakesin II, and Harsa, but also succeeded in retaining the empire’s sovereignty and strength.
Madhyamaraja I Ayasobhita II (665-695 CE)
Madhavaraja was succeeded by Madhyamaraja I Ayasobhita II. According to his Parikuda Charter, he was a mystic with the ability to communicate with departed souls. He was so strong that he could easily run while standing on the shoulders of his soldiers. He was a patron of Brahmanism, as evidenced by the grant of a village in Katakabhukti Visaya to twelve Brahmanas in the aforementioned charter. Additionally, he performed Vedic sacrifices such as Asvamedha and Vajapeya. He died in C – 695CE after a thirty-year reign of glory.
Dharmaraja II Srimanabhita (C-695 – 725 CE)
With Ayasovita II’s demise, a succession war erupted between his two sons, Dharmaraja II and Madhavaraja. Madhavaraja, Ayasobhita II’s younger son, usurped the throne of Kongoda in violation of the law of primogeniture and attempted to expel Dharmaraja from the Kingdom. However, in retrospect, Dharmaraja was able to defeat his younger brother, Madhavaraja, with the assistance of several powerful officers and feudatories. The latter abandoned Kongoda and formed an alliance with Tivaradeva, the ruler of South Kosala, who desired to assist Madhava in extending his sway to Kongoda. However, contrary to his expectations, Dharmaraja defeated Tivaradeva and Madhavaraja’s combined army. Following that, Dharmaraja II solidified his authority over Kongoda. It is well known that he was a great town builder, as evidenced by his charters for Banapur, Puri, Rampur, Nivina, Chandesvara, and Kondeddle. The Kama Nalinakshapura grant of Ganga King Samantavarman makes reference to a high road known as Dharmaraja Kalingamarga that was possibly built by Dharmaraja II. Dharmaraja II was a devout monarch. He was a devout follower of religion and philosophy. He conducted Vedic sacrifices and was a patron of Brahmin scholars. He became well-known for his religious tolerance. According to his Banpur grant, his queen Kalyanadevi bestowed lands on a Jaina monk named Prabodha Chandra. This demonstrates her religiosity.
Decline of the Sailodbhavas
As is known from the Tekkali Charter of Madhyamaraja III, the dynasty’s last known ruler, Dharmaraja II was succeeded by his son Madhyamaraja II. Madhyamaraja II was a valiant warrior and a young ruler. Perhaps, following his demise, the Bhaumakaras of Tosali drove Sailodbhavas from Kongoda around 736 CE Allaparaja, the successor to Madhyamaraja, was protected by the Kalinga Gangas. As a feudatory of the Gangas, he ruled over the Tekkali region.
He was succeeded by his grandson Madhyamaraja III, due to the premature death of his own Tailapa. After Madhyamaraja II, no information about the Sailodbhavas is gathered. Whichever is true, the Sailodbhavas ruled Kongoda for nearly 200 years. Brahmanism flourished as a great religion over Kongoda during their time. The dynasty endured great upheavals at the hands of external enemies and prevailed. Finally, the Bhauma-Karas brought the Sailodbhava dynasty to an end.
Sources and References
1. History of Odisha Vol-I by Dr Manas Kumar Das
2. History of Odisha Vol-II by Dr Manas Kumar Das
3. History of Odisha Vol-III by Dr Manas Kumar Das
4. History of Odisha Sahu, Sahu, Mishra
5. History of Odisha Vol-I by Y.K. Sahu
6. History of Odisha Vol-II by Y.K. Sahu
7. History of Odisha by RD Banerjee
8. Odishara Itihasa by Satyanarayan Rajguru
