Somavaṃśī dynasty

The Somavanshi (IAST: Somavaṃśī) or Keshari (Keśarī) dynasty ruled parts of present-day Odisha in eastern India between the 9th and the 12th centuries. Their capitals included Yayatinagara (modern Binka) and Abhinava-Yayatinagara (modern Jajpur).

The Somavaṃśīs originally ruled the Dakshina Kosala region in central India, from where they were driven out by the Kalachuris. Subsequently, they conquered the Kalinga and the Utkala regions, supplanting the Bhauma-Karas.

The dynasty introduced a new style of art and architecture in Odisha, and their rule saw a remarkable shift from Buddhism to Brahmanism in the region. The Somavaṃśī rule ended in the early 12th century, when the Eastern Ganga ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga captured their territories.

The Somavaṃśīs originated in the Mahakoshala (ancient Dakshina Kosala) region, which covers the area spanning from eastern Madhya Pradesh to north-western Odisha. During the 8th century, the Somavaṃśīs ruled this region, from their capital at Shripura (modern Sirpur in Chhattisgarh). After being driven out of Mahakoshala by the Kalachuris, they migrated eastward, and established their capital at Vinitapura (modern Binka) on the banks of the Mahanadi River. The rulers whose territory was limited to the area around Vinitapura are termed as Pāṇḍuvaṃśīs or "early" Somavaṃśīs, as opposed to the "later" Somavaṃśīs who ruled a bigger part of Odisha. The last of the early Somavaṃśīs was Mahashivagupta Balarjuna, who was most probably the father of the first later Somavaṃśī ruler Janmejaya I (Mahabhavagupta I).

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