[1] Ravivarma was born in a royal Kadamba dynasty known as Domba Heggade[2] who ruled the Vitla principality which roughly comprised the southern talukas of the present Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
He succeeded his maternal uncle Achyuta Domba Heggade to the throne according to the matrilineal inheritance laws of the Kadamba to which the dynasty belonged.
Ravivarma succeeded the throne in turbulent times as Achuyta Heggade was beheaded by Hyder Ali, the Muslim Ruler of Mysore after being captured in a conquest campaign.
The royal family had fled to Tellicherry in present-day Kerala during Hyder Ali's campaign and hence survived.
Ravivarma was hanged along with 9 members of the Domba Heggade dynasty by the British after they gained complete control of the south Canara region on 22 August 1800.