Kadamba Dynasty | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Kadamba Dynasty (345–540 CE)

• The Kadamba dynasty was an ancient Indian dynasty that ruled over parts of South India, particularly the present-day Karnataka region, from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE.
• The decline of the Satavahana power in the Deccan was followed by the rule of many lesser dynasties like the Chutus, the Abhiras, and the Ikshvakus during the third century A.D. The Karnataka area, however, emerged out of this political confusion in the following century when the Kadambas of Banavasi rose to prominence.
• The Kadambas (345–540 CE) ruled northern Karnataka and the Konkan from Vaijayanti or Banavasi in present-day Uttara Kannada district. The kingdom was founded by Mayurasharma around 345 CE. Their ancestors were said to have migrated from the foothills of the Himalayas. The Talagunda inscription also establishes Mayurasharma as the kingdom’s founder. The Kadamba dynasty was the first indigenous dynasty to use Kannada at an administrative level.
• The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Western Ganga Dynasty, and together they formed the earliest native kingdoms to rule the land with autonomy.

Origin of Kadambas:

• There are two theories regarding the origin of the Kadamba dynasty: a Kannadiga origin and a north Indian origin. The north Indian origin of the Kadambas was found only in the later records of their offshoot descendant dynasty and is considered legendary. The family name is derived from the Kadamba tree, which is commonly associated with this dynasty in the South Indian region. Historians claim that this kingdom belonged to the Brahmin caste through the Talagunda inscription or was of tribal origin called Kadambu. It is also claimed that the Kadambas were of Kanarese descent. The Naga descent of the Kadambas has been stated in early inscriptions of King Krishna Varma I, which also confirms that the family was from Karnataka.
• The Kadambas showed the potential of developing into an imperial power, as indicated by the titles and epithets assumed by its rulers and the marital relations they maintained with other kingdoms and empires, such as the Vakatakas and Guptas of northern India. These marital relationships demonstrate the sovereign nature of the Kadamba kingdom.
• Mayurasharma, the founder of the dynasty, defeated the armies of the Pallavas of Kanchi, possibly with the help of some native tribes, and claimed sovereignty.

Mayurasharma:

• He is considered the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, establishing the kingdom around 345 CE.
• According to inscriptions, he is believed to have come from the foothills of the Himalayas.
• Mayurasharma is known for defeating the armies of the Pallavas of Kanchi, possibly with the assistance of native tribes, to claim sovereignty over the region.
• The Talagunda inscription confirms his role as the founder of the kingdom.

Kangavarma:

• Kangavarma succeeded Mayurasharma as the ruler of the Kadamba dynasty.
• He faced defeat at the hands of Vakataka Prithvisena but managed to maintain his kingdom's autonomy.
• After his reign, his son Raghu succeeded him but died fighting against the Pallavas.
• Raghu's brother, Kakusthavarma, then became the ruler and was the most powerful king of the Kadamba dynasty.

Kakusthavarma:

• Kakusthavarma was a prominent ruler of the Kadamba dynasty, succeeding his brother Raghu.
• Under his reign, the Kadamba power reached its zenith.
• Kakusthavarma is known for establishing marital alliances with powerful families, including the imperial Guptas of northern India.
• One of his daughters was married to Kumara Gupta’s son, Skanda Gupta, and another daughter was married to Vakataka king Narendrasena.
• His court was visited by the renowned poet Kalidasa.

Ravivarma:

• Ravivarma, who came to the throne in 485 CE, was the successor of Kakusthavarma.
• He was able to build upon the kingdom's strength after Kakusthavarma's reign.
• Ravivarma's rule was marked by internal family conflicts, as well as conflicts against external powers like the Pallavas and the Gangas.
• He is credited with a significant victory against the Vakatakas, which expanded his kingdom northward to the river Narmada.
• The kingdom under Ravivarma included most of present-day Karnataka, Goa, and southern parts of Maharashtra.
• After his death, the kingdom began to decline due to ongoing family feuds.

Decline and Vassalage:

• From the mid-6th century onward, the Kadamba dynasty continued to rule but as a vassal under larger Kannada empires.
• They became subordinates to the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta empires.
• Despite this decline, the dynasty branched into minor dynasties like the Kadambas of Goa, Halasi, Chandavar, and Hangal.

Administration

• The Vakataka, Pallava, Kadamba, and Western Ganga kings adopted the title dharma-maharaja.
• Various cabinet and other positions in the kingdom were identified by Dr. Mores from inscriptions. These included:
• Prime Minister (Pradhana)
• Steward (Manevergade)
• Secretary of Council (Tantrapala or Sabhakarya Sachiva)
• Scholarly Elders (Vidyavriddhas)
• Physician (Deshamatya)
• Private Secretary (Rahasyadhikritha)
• Chief Secretary (Sarvakaryakarta)
• Chief Justice (Dharmadhyaksha)
• Other Officials (Bhojaka and Ayukta)

Army

• The army included officers such as Jagadala,Dandanayaka, and Senapathi.
• The kingdom was divided into Mandalas(provinces) or Desha. Each Mandala was further divided into Vishayas(districts).
• A total of nine Vishayas have been identified. Under a Vishaya were Mahagramas(Taluk) and Dashagramas(Hobli), with Mahagramas having more villages than Dashagramas.

Economy

• The primary sources of knowledge about the economy are inscriptions and literature.
• Mixed farming, involving both grazing and agriculture, was prevalent, especially among the affluent Gavunda peasantry (now known as Gowdas).
• Prosperity was defined by the amount of grain produced and the number of cattle owned.
• Accounts indicate the granting of both grazing and cultivable land in kolagas or khandugas to individuals who fought against livestock thieves or their relatives.
• A total of nine Vishayas have been discovered, with each Vishaya containing Mahagramas(Taluk) and Dashagramas(Hobli).
• Mahagramas had a greater number of villages compared to Dashagramas.
• A tax of one-sixth of land output was required.
• Various levies were imposed, including:
• Perjunka(load tax)
• Vaddaravula(royal family social security tax)
• Bilkoda(sales tax)
• Kirukula(land tax)
• Pannaya(betel tax)
• Other professional charges on traders were also collected.

Coins

• Important inscriptions from Talagunda,Gundanur,Chandravalli,Halasi, and Halmidi provide insight into the Kadamba dynasty.
• The Kadamba dynasty minted a large number of coins with Nagari,Kannada, and Grantha legends, primarily in gold and some in copper.
• Most coins were produced by the punching method, with the main design punched at the center, often creating a concave shape.
• Kadamba coins, known as padmatankas(lotus coins), typically feature a lotus symbol on the obverse.
• Some coins display a lion symbol instead of the lotus.

Language and Inscriptions

• Prakrit was the official language during the early Kadamba period. However, by the time of Kakusthavarma, there was a noticeable shift towards the use of Sanskrit. At the same time, Kannada was gaining prominence, as evidenced by the Halmidi inscription from the 5th century A.D.
• Talagunda inscription: The inscription recounts the journey of Mayurasarma to Kanchi, accompanied by his teacher Virasarma, to receive Vedic education. However, they were expelled by the Pallavas. In retaliation for this affront, Mayurasarma set up camp in a forest and defeated the Pallavas, possibly with the assistance of local tribes. Although the Pallavas later avenged this defeat, they recognized Kadamba authority by formally investing Mayurasharman with royal insignia.
• The inscription also reveals that Mayurasharma was originally from Talagunda(present-day Shimoga district) and that his family name was derived from a Kadamba tree near their home.
• Halmidi inscription(circa 450 A.D.) serves as evidence that the Kadambas were the first rulers to adopt Kannada as an additional official administrative language.
• Three early Kannada inscriptions from Kadamba rule, discovered in Banavasi, along with early Kadamba coins bearing Kannada inscriptions such as Vira and Skandha, further attest to the use of Kannada.
• A gold coin of King Bhagiratha(390-415 CE) with the old Kannada legend Sri and Bhagi has been found.
• The recent discovery of a 5th-century Kadamba copper coin in Banavasi with the Kannada inscription Srimanaragi further confirms the administrative use of Kannada.
• The Gudnapur inscription indicates that Virasarma, Mayurasharma's grandfather and teacher, played a significant role in his lineage.

Religion and Society

• The Kadamba dynasty adhered to Vedic Hinduism. While the founder,Mayurasharma, was initially a Brahmin, his successors adopted the surname Varma to signify their Kshatriya status.
• Mayurasharman is believed to have performed eighteen ashvamedhas and granted numerous villages to Brahmanas. Other Kadamba kings, like Krishna Varma, also performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
• The ashvamedha sacrifices served to legitimize their positions, enhance their prestige, and significantly increase the income of the priestly class.
• The Brahmanas emerged as a crucial class, often at the expense of the peasantry. They collected dues directly from the peasantry and received a substantial portion of the taxes collected by the king.
• A 6th-century inscription from the Kadambas, who ruled over the Goa region, grants a Brahmana the right to engage laborers to clear forested land for cultivation. It also mentions the reclamation of coastal land and its conversion into rice fields by damming seawater.
• A Kadamba queen,Divabbarasi, is known to have ruled until her minor son came of age. She also made land grants.
• The inscription of Talagunda begins with an invocation to Lord Shiva, while the Halmidi and Banavasi inscriptions start with an invocation to Lord Vishnu.
• The Kadambas considered the Madhukesvara temple, built by them, as their family deity.
• Records such as the Kudalur and Sirsi records document grants made by the Kadambas to scholarly Brahmins and Buddhist viharas.
• The Kadambas also patronized Jainism, with references to various Jaina sects such as the Nirgranthas,Shvetapatas,Yapaniyas, and Kurchakas. Several later Kadamba kings adopted Jainism and constructed numerous Jain Basadis (temples) across Banavasi,Belgaum,Mangalore, and Goa.
• The grant of king Kakutsthavarman in Halsi, which begins with an invocation to Jinendra(lord of the jinas), suggests the existence of a Jaina temple at the site.
• King Mrigeshavarman made several grants in favor of Jaina establishments.
• One of the grants from king Mrigeshavarman records the donation of land to a Jaina shrine for various activities such as temple cleaning, image anointing, worship, repairs, and image decoration.
• Another grant from the same king lists three beneficiaries, including a temple of Jinendra at Paramapushkala, the sangha of the Shvetapata-mahashramanas, and the Nirgrantha-mahashramanas.
• The Jinendra temple appears to have been jointly owned by the Digambaras and Shvetambaras.
• An inscription from the reign of Ravivarman mentions a grant to cover the expenses of the eight-day festival of the lord Jina at Palashika, in which the king also participated.
• While the Kadambas made grants to the Jaina community, they favored the Brahmanas more.
• Kadamba kings and queens supported literature, arts, and made liberal grants to temples and educational institutions. The Adikavi Pampa praised this kingdom in his writings.
• Kadamba kings were also devotees of Karthikeya..

Architecture of the Kadamba Dynasty

The Kadamba architectural style shares similarities with the Chalukyan, Pallava, and certain Satavahana traditions. A distinctive feature of Kadamba architecture is the Kadamba Shikara, a pyramid-shaped roof that rises in steps, topped with a Stupika or Kalasha.

• The Kadamba Shikara is characterized by its unadorned, stepped design, resembling later architectural works such as the Doddagaddavalli Hoysala temple and the Mahakuta temples at Hampi.
• Kadamba temples often feature perforated screen windows, a design element that influenced the subsequent Chalukya-Hoysala architectural style.

Notable Temples:

• The Madhukeshwara Temple in Banavasi, dedicated to Lord Shiva and built by the Kadambas in the 10th century, is renowned for its intricate carvings.
• Other significant examples of Kadamba architecture include the Doddagaddavalli Hoysala temple, the Mahakuta temples in Hampi, and the Madhukeshwara temple in Banavasi.

Decline of the Kadamba Dynasty

• After the death of Ravivarma in 519, his son Harivarma peacefully succeeded him according to the Sangolli inscription.
• Harivarma was murdered around 530, as noted in the Bannahalli plates, when Krishnavarma II, son of Simhavarma from the Triparvata branch, attacked Banavasi, uniting the two branches of the kingdom.
• The Chalukyas, who were vassals of the Kadambas and ruled from Badami, seized the entire kingdom in 540.
• Following this, the Kadambas became vassals of the Badami Chalukyas.
• Eventually, the dynasty split into various subsidiary branches, ruling from Goa,Halasi,Hangal,Vainad,Belur,Bankapura,Bandalike,Chandavar, and Jayantipura.