Shilahara Kingdom and Coins

 

The Shilahara / Shelara Kingdom (also Shelara, Selara, Shilara, Silara) was a royal dynasty that established itself in northern and southern Konkan in the 8th century AD, present day Mumbai and southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur) during the Rashtrakuta period. 

Shilahara of Kolhapur, gold 1/4 Fanam

Shilahara Kingdom was split into three branches. The first branch ruled Northern Konkan. The second branch ruled South Konkan (between 765 and 1029 AD). The third branch ruled in modern day districts of Kolhapur, Satara and Belagavi (between 940 and 1215 AD).  All the branches trace their descent from the legendary Vidyadhara prince Jimutavahana, who sacrificed himself to rescue a Naga prince from the clutches of Garuda. The family name Shilahara (meaning ''mountain peak food'') in Sanskrit is supposed to have been derived from this incident. They were thereafter overwhelmed by the Yadavas. 

The dynasty began as vassals of the Rashtrakuta dynasty which ruled the Deccan plateau between the 8th and 10th centuries. Govinda II, a Rashtrakuta king conferred the kingdom of North Konkan (modern day districts of Thane, Mumbai and Raigad) on Kapardin, founder of the Northern Sihara family, around 800 AD. Since then, the North Konkan came to be known as Kapardi-dvipa or Kavadidvipa. The capital was Puri, now Rajapur in Raigad District.

North Konkan (Thane) branch, 800-1265 AD. After Rashtrakuta 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 in the second quarter of the eighth century.                       

Inscriptions found at areas marked during the reign of the Shilaharas of North Konkan

South Konkan branch, 765-1020 AD. The history is known through the Kharepatan plates of Rattaraja issued in 1008 AD. Rattaraja was the last ruler of the dynasty. The document gives details of all the kings and their exploits. Soon after the issue of the plates the rule of Konkan passed over to the later Chalukyas.                        

Inscriptions found at areas marked during the reign of the Shilaharas of South Konkan
    

Kolhapur branch, 940-1212 AD. They ruled over southern Maharashtra and northern Karnataka of today, the districts of Satara, Kolhapur and Belagavi. The family deity was goddess Mahalakshmi. Their first capital was Karad, later shifted to Kolhapur. They rose to power during the later 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 Rashtrakutas even in their early grants. Bhoja II was the last ruler of this family.                       

Inscriptions found at areas marked during the reign of the Shilaharas of Kolhapur

                     

Banganga Tank and Walkshwar Temple, as in 1865. Constructed in 1127 AD by Lakshman Prabhu, minister in the court of Silhara dynasty Kings who ruled Thane 

Coins of Shilahara Kingdom

                     

Shilaharas of South Maharashtra, silver, 1/2 Dramma coin of Bhojadeva, 1100-1200 AD, weight 0.3 gm, Obverse: Garuda holding snake, facing right in a ''Veera'' pose, Reverse: Nagari legend in two lines Shri Bhoja / Deva

                         

Shilaharas of Kolhapur, 10-11th century AD, gold Fanam, weight 0.7 gm, Obverse: Garuda seated holding a snake, Reverse: Trident with Sun-Moon and sword inside.

                       

Shilaharas of Kohlapur, gold U shaped Fanam, 1100-1200 AD, weight 0.4 gm, Obverse: Three punches, that are, Garud running right, Kannada legend Ude and Kannada legend Kara

                       

Shilaharas of Kolhapur, gold, 1/4 Fanam, 13th century AD, weight 0.1 gm, Obverse: Garuda running right, Reverse: Kannada legend ''Bha/Bho'', 

                        

Shilaharas of Kolhapur, gold, 1/4 Fanam, weight 0.2 gm, Obverse: Garuda running right, Reverse: Kannada legend ''Ba''

                      

Shilahara Kingdom

Shilahara Coins