The Shilahara (IAST: Śilāhāra; also Shelara, Selara, Shilara, Silara) was a royal dynasty that established itself in northern and southern Konkan in 8th century CE, present-day Mumbai and Southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur) during the Rashtrakuta period. Shilahara Kingdom were split into three branches:

[Shilahara coin, c. 1210–1302.

Obv: Head of a king. Rev: A horseman fighting two foot-soldiers with a third behind him and a fourth dead at his horse's feet. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Shilahar.jpg]

North Konkan (Thane) branch (c. 800–1265 CE)

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"Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Bhandup" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.9306, 19.15001] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Diveagar (Dīvē Āgar)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.9902, 18.16823] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Chinchani near Dahanu" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.6890, 19.88626] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Thane" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.9781, 19.21833] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Ambarnath Temple" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.1775, 19.19870] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Kharepatan" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.6257, 16.55691] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Vadavali" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8320, 19.34174] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[Jogeshwari Caves](https://bliptext.com/articles/jogeshwari-caves)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8568, 19.13910] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Chanje" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.9505, 18.86351] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Panhale" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.5653, 16.82354] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Nala Sopara" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8109, 19.41782] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Agashi" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.7747, 19.46039] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Mahul" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8961, 19.01439] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Chiplun" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.5178, 17.53231] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Vasai" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8397, 19.39193] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Lonad" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.1364, 19.29802] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Parel (Māhavalī near Kurlā)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8416, 19.00216] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[Vasai fort](https://bliptext.com/articles/fort-bassein): Trivikrama temple" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8156, 19.33054] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Mandvi (Mānḍavī)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8973, 19.47660] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Akshi" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.8885, 18.62797] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Agarwada (Āgar)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.0848, 18.14813] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Ranwad (Rānvaḍ near Uraṇ)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.9180, 18.88057] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Bhoighar" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.9283, 18.46378] } } ] } After [Rashtrakuta](https://bliptext.com/articles/rashtrakuta) power became weak, the last known ruler of this family, Rattaraja, declared his independence. But [Chalukya](https://bliptext.com/articles/chalukya) Jayasimha, the younger brother of Vikramaditya, overthrew him and appropriated his possessions. North [Konkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/konkan) was conquered by the [Rashtrakuta](https://bliptext.com/articles/rashtrakuta) king [Dantidurga](https://bliptext.com/articles/dantidurga) sometime in the second quarter of the eighth century.

Rulers

South Konkan branch (c. 765–1020 CE)

<mapframe text="[Find spots](https://bliptext.com/articles/find-spot) of inscriptions issued during the reign of the Shilaharas of South Konkan" width="400" height="400" zoom="7" longitude="74.03" latitude="16.48"> { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Kharepatan" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.6257387, 16.5569086] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Pattankudi (Paṭṭaṇakudi)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.4320448, 16.4026444] } } ] } 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 [Rastrakuta](https://bliptext.com/articles/rashtrakuta-dynasty) emperor Krisna I who had established his power over [Konkan](https://bliptext.com/articles/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](https://bliptext.com/articles/chandor)) in Goa. The reign of Avasara I proved to be uneventful. His son Adityavarman, who is 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](https://bliptext.com/articles/konkan). At this time Laghu Kapardi, the ruler of the [Thane](https://bliptext.com/articles/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](https://bliptext.com/articles/konkan) passed over to the later Chalukyas. (Dept. Gazetteer: Kolaba, 1964, Dept. Gazetteer: 2002)

Rulers

Kolhapur branch (c. 940–1212 CE)

<mapframe text="[Find spots](https://bliptext.com/articles/find-spot) of inscriptions issued during the reign of the Shilaharas of Kolhapur" width="400" height="400" zoom="7" longitude="74.28" latitude="16.66"> { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Kolhapur - Mahalakshmi temple and Khāsbāg" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.2229299, 16.6948253] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Kasheli - Kanakaditya temple (Kaśēḷī)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [73.3190665, 16.7286767] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Jugul (Jugal)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.6898085, 16.6225433] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Shedbal" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.7583657, 16.6909255] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Miraj fort" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.6532178, 16.819132] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Vhannur - Jain temple (Honnur)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.2654079, 16.5850789] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Herle" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.3264869, 16.7496199] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Tarale Khurd / Tarle Kasaba (Tāḷale)" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.0153231, 16.4736359] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Bamani" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [74.2384748, 16.5366732] } } ] } The Shilahara family at [Kolhapur](https://bliptext.com/articles/kolhapur) was the latest of the three and was founded about the time of the downfall of the [Rashtrakuta](https://bliptext.com/articles/rashtrakuta) Empire. They ruled over southern [Maharashtra](https://bliptext.com/articles/maharashtra) and Northern [Karnataka](https://bliptext.com/articles/karnataka), the modern districts of Satara, Kolhapur and Belagavi. 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](https://bliptext.com/articles/konkan), the Shilaharas of [Kolhapur](https://bliptext.com/articles/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, or 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](https://bliptext.com/articles/kolhapur), some of their grants mention Valavada, and the hill fort of Pranalaka or Padmanala ([Panhala](https://bliptext.com/articles/panhala)) as the places of royal residence. Even though the capital was shifted to [Kolhapur](https://bliptext.com/articles/kolhapur), Karhad retained its significance during the Shilahara period. This branch rose to power during the latter part of the [Rashtrakuta](https://bliptext.com/articles/rashtrakuta) rule and so, unlike the kings of the other two branches, those of this branch do not mention the genealogy of the [Rashtrakuta](https://bliptext.com/articles/rashtrakuta)s even in their early grants. Later on they acknowledged the suzerainty of the [later Chalukya](https://bliptext.com/articles/kalyani-chalukya) for some time. This branch continued to hold the Southern [Maharashtra](https://bliptext.com/articles/maharashtra) from circa 940 to 1220. It seems that [Bhoja II](https://bliptext.com/articles/bhoja-ii-shilahara-dynasty), 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

Monuments

A number of ancient monuments in Mumbai and Kolhapur district pay tribute to this dynasty's prowess: