This one-page sheet covers the dynasties that ruled Dakshin Kosala and Bastar between the Guptas and the Kalachuris. For explanations, read [Rajarshitulya and Nala](/chhattisgarh/regional-dynasties/rajarshitulya-and-nala-dynasties/), [Sharabhpuriya](/chhattisgarh/regional-dynasties/sharabhpuriya-dynasty/), [Panduvanshi of Sirpur](/chhattisgarh/regional-dynasties/panduvanshi-dynasty-of-sirpur/) and [Art and Temples](/chhattisgarh/regional-dynasties/art-and-temples/).

{{< callout type="tip" title="How to use this sheet" >}}
Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.
{{< /callout >}}

## Timeline / Key Facts

### Rajarshitulya Kula

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| **Founder** | **Shura (Sura)**; also called the Shura dynasty |
| Region / capital | Dakshin Kosala; generally placed at **Arang** |
| Genealogy | Shura, Dayita I, Vibhishana, Bhimasena I, Dayitavarman, **Bhimasena II** |
| **Arang copper plate** | **Bhimasena II**; grant of village Vatapallika; **Gupta era** |
| Date of the plate | Read as **G.S. 182 (about 501 CE)** or **G.S. 282 (about 601 CE)** |

### Nala Dynasty

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| Region | **Bastar–Koraput** |
| **Capital** | **Pushkari** (identified variously: Bhopalpatnam, Garhdhanora, Podagadh) |
| **Coin emblem** | **Bull and crescent** |
| Coin-only kings | Varaharaja (earliest known), Nandanaraja, Stambha |
| **Bhavadatta** | **Rithpur plates** (Amravati, Maharashtra); invaded Vakataka Vidarbha |
| **Arthapati** | **Kesaribeda plates**, issued from Pushkari |
| **Skandavarman** | **Podagadh inscription**: restored and re-peopled Pushkari; Vishnu temple |
| **Vilasatunga** | **Rajim inscription**: Vishnu temple (Rajiv Lochan) |
| Rival | Vakataka **Prithvishena II** |

### Sharabhpuriya (Amararya) Dynasty

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| Other name | **Amararya kula** (D. C. Sircar, from Vyaghraraja's inscription) |
| **Founder** | **Sharabha** = Sharabharaja of the **Eran inscription (510 CE)** |
| Period | About 475–590 CE (A. M. Shastri) |
| **Capitals** | **Sharabhapura** (unidentified) → **Shripura (Sirpur)** under Sudevaraja / **Pravararaja** |
| Kings in order | Sharabha, Narendra, Prasanna, Jayaraja, Sudevaraja, Manamatra (Durgaraja), Pravararaja |
| **Seal** | **Gaja-Lakshmi** |
| **Coins** | **Prasannamatra** only; **Garuda** with conch and chakra |
| Arang plates | Jayaraja |
| Records | About 17 copper plates; Sanskrit; box-headed script |
| Religion | Vaishnava (paramabhagavata) |

### Panduvanshi (Somvanshi) Dynasty of Sirpur

| Fact | Detail |
|------|--------|
| Why "Somvanshi" | Claimed **lunar lineage** and descent from the Pandavas |
| **Capital** | **Shripura (Sirpur)**, on the Mahanadi |
| Founder | **Udayana** |
| Succession | Udayana, Indraraja, Nannaraja I, **Tivaradeva**, Nannaraja II, Chandragupta, **Harshagupta**, **Balarjuna** |
| **Tivaradeva** | "Lord of all Kosala"; **Rajim** and **Baloda** plates; Vaishnava |
| **Vasata** | Daughter of **Suryavarman of Magadha**; queen of Harshagupta; built the **Lakshman temple** |
| **Balarjuna** | **Shaiva**, **Nandi seal**, patron of Buddhists; **Lodhiya plates, year 57** |
| Xuanzang | Kosala: about 100 monasteries, about 10,000 Mahayana monks; visit placed c. 639 CE in exam material |
| Dating | 7th century (conventional); 7th–8th century (several modern scholars) |

### Art and Temples

| Site | Key facts |
|------|-----------|
| **Sirpur** | **Lakshman temple**: **brick**, **Vishnu**, built by Vasata; Anand Prabhu Kuti Vihar, Swastik Vihar; Gandheshwar (Shiva) |
| **Tala** | **Devrani-Jethani** temples, **Maniyari** river, Bilaspur; **stone**; **Rudra Shiva** image |
| **Rajim** | **Rajiv Lochan** (Vishnu); Vilasatunga's inscription; **Mahanadi-Pairi-Sondur** confluence |
| Malhar | Early-historic site near Bilaspur; proposed Sharabhapura |

## Don't Confuse

| This | vs | That |
|------|----|------|
| Arang plate of **Bhimasena II** (Rajarshitulya) | | Arang plates of **Jayaraja** (Sharabhpuriya) |
| Rajim **stone** inscription: **Vilasatunga** (Nala) | | Rajim **copper** plates: **Tivaradeva** (Panduvanshi) |
| Nala coins: **bull and crescent** | | Prasannamatra's coins: **Garuda** |
| Sharabhpuriya seal: **Gaja-Lakshmi** | | Balarjuna's seal: **Nandi** |
| **Sharabhapura**: first capital, unidentified | | **Shripura**: Sirpur |
| **Lakshman temple, Sirpur**: brick, Vishnu | | **Lakshmaneshwar, Kharod**: Shiva |
| **Harshagupta** (Sirpur) | | **Harshavardhana** (Kannauj) |
| Tala, Sirpur, Rajim (this period) | | Bhoramdeo (Phani-Nagavanshi), Bhand Deval (later) |

{{< callout type="warning" title="Favourite MCQ trap" >}}
Three swaps to watch: the **Lakshman temple** offered as a **stone** or **Shiva** temple (it is **brick** and **Vishnu**), its builder given as **Balarjuna** (it was **Queen Vasata**), and Balarjuna called a **Buddhist** (he was a **Shaiva** who patronised Buddhists).
{{< /callout >}}

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Source: https://cgpscnotes.in/chhattisgarh/regional-dynasties/quick-revision/

Chhattisgarh Regional Dynasties: Rajarshitulya, Nala, Sharabhpuriya, Pandu and Somvanshi

Regional Dynasties: Rajarshitulya, Nala, Sharabhpuriya, Pandu and Somvanshi — Quick Revision

One-page CGPSC quick revision for Chhattisgarh's early regional dynasties — every king, inscription, capital and temple in tables for last-minute revision.

3 min read Updated Oct 2026 #quick revision#cgpsc

This one-page sheet covers the dynasties that ruled Dakshin Kosala and Bastar between the Guptas and the Kalachuris. For explanations, read Rajarshitulya and Nala, Sharabhpuriya, Panduvanshi of Sirpur and Art and Temples.

How to use this sheet

Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.

Timeline / Key Facts

Rajarshitulya Kula

Fact	Detail
Founder	Shura (Sura); also called the Shura dynasty
Region / capital	Dakshin Kosala; generally placed at Arang
Genealogy	Shura, Dayita I, Vibhishana, Bhimasena I, Dayitavarman, Bhimasena II
Arang copper plate	Bhimasena II; grant of village Vatapallika; Gupta era
Date of the plate	Read as G.S. 182 (about 501 CE) or G.S. 282 (about 601 CE)

Nala Dynasty

Fact	Detail
Region	Bastar–Koraput
Capital	Pushkari (identified variously: Bhopalpatnam, Garhdhanora, Podagadh)
Coin emblem	Bull and crescent
Coin-only kings	Varaharaja (earliest known), Nandanaraja, Stambha
Bhavadatta	Rithpur plates (Amravati, Maharashtra); invaded Vakataka Vidarbha
Arthapati	Kesaribeda plates, issued from Pushkari
Skandavarman	Podagadh inscription: restored and re-peopled Pushkari; Vishnu temple
Vilasatunga	Rajim inscription: Vishnu temple (Rajiv Lochan)
Rival	Vakataka Prithvishena II

Sharabhpuriya (Amararya) Dynasty

Fact	Detail
Other name	Amararya kula (D. C. Sircar, from Vyaghraraja’s inscription)
Founder	Sharabha = Sharabharaja of the Eran inscription (510 CE)
Period	About 475–590 CE (A. M. Shastri)
Capitals	Sharabhapura (unidentified) → Shripura (Sirpur) under Sudevaraja / Pravararaja
Kings in order	Sharabha, Narendra, Prasanna, Jayaraja, Sudevaraja, Manamatra (Durgaraja), Pravararaja
Seal	Gaja-Lakshmi
Coins	Prasannamatra only; Garuda with conch and chakra
Arang plates	Jayaraja
Records	About 17 copper plates; Sanskrit; box-headed script
Religion	Vaishnava (paramabhagavata)

Panduvanshi (Somvanshi) Dynasty of Sirpur

Fact	Detail
Why “Somvanshi”	Claimed lunar lineage and descent from the Pandavas
Capital	Shripura (Sirpur), on the Mahanadi
Founder	Udayana
Succession	Udayana, Indraraja, Nannaraja I, Tivaradeva, Nannaraja II, Chandragupta, Harshagupta, Balarjuna
Tivaradeva	“Lord of all Kosala”; Rajim and Baloda plates; Vaishnava
Vasata	Daughter of Suryavarman of Magadha; queen of Harshagupta; built the Lakshman temple
Balarjuna	Shaiva, Nandi seal, patron of Buddhists; Lodhiya plates, year 57
Xuanzang	Kosala: about 100 monasteries, about 10,000 Mahayana monks; visit placed c. 639 CE in exam material
Dating	7th century (conventional); 7th–8th century (several modern scholars)

Art and Temples

Site	Key facts
Sirpur	Lakshman temple: brick, Vishnu, built by Vasata; Anand Prabhu Kuti Vihar, Swastik Vihar; Gandheshwar (Shiva)
Tala	Devrani-Jethani temples, Maniyari river, Bilaspur; stone; Rudra Shiva image
Rajim	Rajiv Lochan (Vishnu); Vilasatunga’s inscription; Mahanadi-Pairi-Sondur confluence
Malhar	Early-historic site near Bilaspur; proposed Sharabhapura

Don’t Confuse

This	vs	That
Arang plate of Bhimasena II (Rajarshitulya)		Arang plates of Jayaraja (Sharabhpuriya)
Rajim stone inscription: Vilasatunga (Nala)		Rajim copper plates: Tivaradeva (Panduvanshi)
Nala coins: bull and crescent		Prasannamatra’s coins: Garuda
Sharabhpuriya seal: Gaja-Lakshmi		Balarjuna’s seal: Nandi
Sharabhapura: first capital, unidentified		Shripura: Sirpur
Lakshman temple, Sirpur: brick, Vishnu		Lakshmaneshwar, Kharod: Shiva
Harshagupta (Sirpur)		Harshavardhana (Kannauj)
Tala, Sirpur, Rajim (this period)		Bhoramdeo (Phani-Nagavanshi), Bhand Deval (later)

Favourite MCQ trap

Three swaps to watch: the Lakshman temple offered as a stone or Shiva temple (it is brick and Vishnu), its builder given as Balarjuna (it was Queen Vasata), and Balarjuna called a Buddhist (he was a Shaiva who patronised Buddhists).

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