The Kingdom of Sarabhapura; Its extent and the identification of Sarabhapura

• The Sarabhapura dynasty was closely connected with the history of Kösala (or Dakṣiṇa Kösala) during the 5th and 6th centuries.

• Kösala is located to the south of Andhradesa, and its history is intertwined with that of Sarabhapura.

• The kingdom of Sarabhapura seems to have included the ancient Kösala (modern Chhattisgarh), parts of the Wardha and Chanda districts to the west, a portion of Orissa, and some parts of the Bastar feudatory state.

• The kings of Sarabhapura derived their name from the capital Sarabhapura, which is believed to be the center of their reign over Kösala.

• Rai Bahadur Hira Lal placed the Sarabhapura kings after the Somavamsi or Panduvamsi dynasty and identified Sarabhapura with Śrīpura (modern Sirpur).

• Hira Lal suggested that Sarabhapura might have been a new name imposed on the conquered city of Śrīpura. However, this conjecture is not supported by the discovery of a copper-plate grant issued from Śrīpura itself by the last king of the dynasty.

• The Somavamsis, who ruled from Śrīpura, did not use the title Kesari.

• Sarabhapura has been suggested to be represented by Sarabhagarh, the chief town in the modern zamindari of Gangāpūr state in Orissa, but this identification is not conclusive.

• Inscriptions from Sarabhapura mention villages in Pūrvarāstra (Eastern Province), which seems to refer to territory east of the capital.

• Sirpur cannot be identified as Sarabhapura, as it was a different town altogether.

• Dr. Sten Konow suggested that Sarabhapura might be Sarabhavaram, a village near Rajahmundry in the East Godavari district, but this identification is incorrect due to the vast distance from Kösala.

• Cunningham suggested Sarabhapura might be represented by Arwi or Sambalpur, but these identifications are not upheld.

• It is likely that Sarabhapura was destroyed and no longer exists.

• Sarabhapura is probably located somewhere in the Raipur district, near Sirpur.