A grandson of the Yadava king Mullagi, he carved out a principality in present-day Maharashtra by capturing forts in and around the Konkan region.

Over the next decade, he ruled as a nominal vassal of the Chalukyas of Kalyani, raiding the Gujarat Chaulukya and Paramara territories.

[2] During the chaotic period following Mallugi's death, Bhillama created a principality for himself by capturing several forts in the Konkan and surrounding regions.

[3] The 1189 CE Mutugi inscription of Bhillama boasts that he caused severe troubles to the Malavas (the Paramaras) and the Gurjaras (the Chaulukyas).

His general Jahla is said to have won a battle against the Chaulukyas by introducing a mad elephant in midst of the enemy army.

Bhillama's raids in Gujarat and Malwa did not result in any territorial annexations, and he was forced to retreat by the Naddula Chahamana ruler Kelhana.

[4][5] Shortly after Bhillama's northern raids, his Chalukya overlord Someshvara IV faced a southern invasion from the Hoysala ruler Ballala.

[8] Their 1192 Anekere inscription states that Ballala manured the region from Soratur to Belvola with dead bodies of the Seuna soldiers.

[9] The Yadava general Jaitrapala (alias Jaitrasimha) fled to Lokkigundi (modern Lakkundi), but Ballala captured the fort and killed him.

An 1198 CE Hoysala inscription states that Ballala "moistened his sword with the blood of the Pandya king, whetted it on the grindstone of Bhillama's head, and sheathed it in the lotus mouth of Jaitugi".

The claim of Ballala "whetting his sword on the grindstone of Bhima's head" appears to a poetic description by the later Hoysala poets.