Bhillama ( 1175-1191 CE) was the first sovereign ruler of India's Yadava (Seuna) dynasty in the Deccan region. He was the grandson of Mallugi. He took Chalukyas capital Kalyana, as well as Kisukadnad, Tardavadinad, Belvola, and the surrounding territories. His competent generals included Jaitrasimha, Peyiya Sahani, Mayideva, and Lakh-khana. He organised a heavily armoured army and expanded his empire with their assistance. Bhillama conquered the Dorasamudra Hoysala kingdom. He also conquered the Hoysala kingdom and arrived in the Mysore District at Seringapatam. In this article, we will discuss the Important Ruler of the Yadavas Dynasty Bhillama (1173 - 1191 AD) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Bhillama (1173 - 1191 AD) - Background

• Bhillama’s father was Karna and grandfather was the Yadava ruler Mallugi.
• Around 1175 CE, he seized the Yadava throne, deposing his uncle's descendants and an usurper.
• He ruled as a nominal vassal of the Chalukyas of Kalyani for the next decade, raiding Gujarat's Chalukya and Paramara territories.
• After the Chalukya power fell, he declared sovereignty around 1187 CE and fought with the Hoysala king Ballala II for control of the former Chalukya territory in present-day Karnataka.
• He defeated Ballala in a battle at Soratur around 1189 CE, but Ballala defeated him two years later.
• In 1190, he took over the Chalukya capital of Kalyani and established Devagiri (now Daulatabad) as the Yadava dynasty's capital.
• The citadel was built on a 183-metre high hill which was surrounded by three lines of walls, each defended by moats and turrets. The circumference of the outermost wall was 4.4 kilometres.
• He patronised the scholar Bhaskara, who was Nagarjuna's teacher.
• Bhillama was referred to as "Chakravartin Yadava" in Mutugi inscription from 1189-90 CE (1111 Shaka) records. He also made a donation to the Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur.
• He also made contributions to the Trikuteshvara Shiva temple in Gadag.

Expansion of Empire in Northern Region

• Several conflicts were raging in southern Deccan at the time of Bhillama's ascension.
• His nominal overlords, the Chalukyas, were busy fighting former feudators like the Hoysalas and the Kalachuris.
• Bhillama concentrated his efforts in the northern regions of Lata (southern Gujarat) and Malwa.
• Vindhyavarman, the Paramara king of Malwa, had ousted the Chalukyas from Malwa, restoring Paramara power.
• Bhillama boasts in the Mutugi inscription of 1189 CE that he caused severe trouble for the Malavas (the Paramaras) and the Gurjaras (the Chaulukyas).
• This appears to be a reference to his raids in the regions of Lata and Malwa.
• Jahla, his general, is said to have won a battle against the Chaulukyas by introducing a mad elephant into the midst of the enemy army.
• Bhillama's raids in Gujarat and Malwa were unsuccessful, and he was forced to retreat by the Naddula Chahamana ruler Kelhana.
• According to the Mutugi inscription, Bhillama defeated the kings of Anga, Vanga, Nepala, and Panchala. This claim, however, is not supported by historical evidence and thus appears to be a hollow poetic boast.

Conflict with Ballala

• Immediately after Bhillama's northern raids, his Chalukya overlord Someshvara IV was confronted with a southern invasion by Hoysala ruler Ballala.
• Because of Ballala's attack, Someshvara was forced to seek refuge in Banavasi with his Kadamba feudatory Kamadeva.
• When Ballala's army became exhausted in this campaign, Bhillama forced Ballala to retreat and conquered Kalyani, the former Chalukya capital.
• This conquest most likely occurred around 1187 CE, when Bhillama first asserted his claim to imperial status.
• According to Hemadri, after this successful campaign, Bhillama founded the city of Devagiri, which became the new Yadava capital.
• After returning to his capital Dvarasamudra, Ballala reorganised his forces and resumed his march to the north.
• In response, Bhillama marched against him with 200,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry troops. At Soratur, the two armies clashed. The Hoysalas easily defeated Bhillama's forces in this battle.
• The Yadava general Jaitrapala (alias Jaitrasimha) fled to Lokkigundi (modern Lakkundi), but Ballala captured and killed him.
• Ballala went on to conquer Erambara (modern Yellur), Kurrugod, Gutti (modern Gooty), and Hangal. For the next two decades, the Yadavas were driven north of the Malaprabha and Krishna rivers, which formed the Yadava-Hoysala border.

Conclusion

The Bhillama kingdom stretched from the Narmada river in the north to the Malaprabha river in the south, encompassing nearly all of modern-day Maharashtra (except the Shilahara-ruled Konkan) and northern Karnataka. The Yadavas were surrounded by hostile neighbours on all sides: Malwa's Paramara Rajputs in the north, the Kakatiya dynasty in the east, the Hoysalas in the south, and Gujarat's Solanki Rajputs in the west. They built their citadel at Devagiri as a precaution. Bhillama most likely died of natural causes after being defeated by Ballala. After Bhillama, his son Jaitugi ascended to the Yadava throne.