There were two Ganga dynasties one in south Mysore and the other in Orissa, the former known as the Western Gangas and the latter Eastern Gangas. The Western Ganga kingdom was founded by Konganivarma known also as Madhava I. The Gangas ruled during the second half of the 4th century A.D. from their capital-city Talakkad, in southeastern Mysore.

It is believed from the inscriptions of the Gangas that they descent from the Ikshavaku family. The founder of the line ruled from Kolar. His brother`s son Madhava II succeeded him. It is said he was a scholar, learned in the Upanishads and that he also wrote a commentary on the Kamasutra of one Dattaka a forerunner of Vatsyayana. Harivarma, the third king of the dynasty changed the capital to Talakkad near Sivasamudram. He was a subordinate of the Pallavas and was succeeded by Vishnugopa who renounced Jainism and embraced Vaishnavism. His grandson Madhava III succeeded him, married a Kadamba princess and was a Shaivite. He was succeeded by Avinita who ruled in the first half of the 6th century.

Avinita was a Jain but respected other religions. He came to the throne even while he was a baby. Avinita`s successor was Durvinita. He is famous for his scholarship. He is said to have learnt at the feet of Pujyapada, a Jain grammarian, who wrote the Sabdavatara. The later Ganga rulers from Harivarman to Madhava III accepted Pallava overlordship to some extent.