A dvaravati shila (Sanskrit: द्वारवती शिला, romanized: dvāravatī śilā) is a type of coral stone (shaligrama) obtained from the Gomti river in Dwarka in Gujarat, India.
In ancient Sanskrit literature, Dvaraka was called Dvaravati and was listed as one of the seven prehistoric cities in the country.
Dvaravati shilas are coral with chakra (wheel) markings and the chakra-mark is the most distinguishing feature of these stones, and hence they are also called ‘chakrankita-sila’.
Dwarka or Dvaraka is derived from 'Dwar', a door, and in ancient times its flourishing port was considered to be the gateway to the main land.
The Hindu scriptures prescribe that stones obtained from Dvaraka only for worship even though geologically it may be found in other places too.
According to Garuda Purana, there are twelve varieties of this stone, owing to the number of chakras (wheels), colours and forms (Sanskrit sloka in this regard states:‘dasadha cha prabhinnas ta varnakrti-vibhedatah’).