Kadamba Dynasty: It’s Origin, Founder, Kings, Architecture

The Kadamba Dynasty (345-525 CE) was an ancient royal family of Karnataka, India, that ruled northern Karnataka and the Konkan from Banavasi in present-day Uttara Kannada district. The rulers of this dynasty made remarkable contributions in various fields, ranging from trade and commerce, cottage industries, and agriculture to architecture and sculpture. The contributions of the Kadamba Dynasty in social life, political life, economic life, and architecture are discussed below.

Contemporaries of the Western Ganga dynasty, the Kadambas established indigenous kingdoms to rule the region.

From the mid-6th century, the dynasty continued to rule as a vassal of the larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires, for ever five hundred years, during which time they branched into minor dynasties. Among these, the Kadambas of Goa, the Kadambas of Halis, and the Kadambas of Hangal are especially remarkable.

Brief information of Kadmba Dynasty

• Kadamba Dynasty Ruled in: 345 CE–525 CE.
• Kadamba Dynasty Founder: Mayurasharma (345-365 CE)
• Last king of Kadamba Dynasty: Krishna Varma II.
• Kadamba Dynasty Capital: Banavasi

Kadamba Dynasty Kings

• Kings of Banavasi branch
  • Mayurasharma (345-365)
  • Kangavarma (365-390)
  • Bagitarha (390-415)
  • Raghu (415-435)
  • Kakusthavarma (435-455)
  • Santivarma (455-460)
  • Mrigeshavarma (460-480)
  • Shivamandhativarma (480–485)
  • Ravivarma (485–519)
  • Harivarma (519–525)
• Kings of Triparvatha Branch
  • Krishna Varma I (455)
  • Vishnuvarma
  • Simhavarma
  • Krishna Varma II
• Emblem: Lion
• Preceded by: Pallava Dynasty
• Succeeded by: Chalukya of Badami Dynasty.
• Inscriptions: Halmidi inscription (this inscription was the first epigraph of Kadamba Dynasty), Talagunda Inscription, Gudnapur Inscription, Halasi Inscription, Chandravalli Inscription.
• Religion patronized: Jainism, also followers of Vedic Hinduism.

Kadamba Dynasty Temples

• Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi.
• Mahadeva Temple at Tambdisurla.
• Jain Basadis.
• The Shiva Temple at Talagunda.
• Kalleshwara, Someshwara, and Hattikeshwara Temples at Halasi.
• Tarakeshwara Temple at Hangal.
• Bhuvaraha/Bhoo-Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple at Halasi.
• Lakshmi Devi Temple at Doddagaddavalli.
• Group of temples at Kadaroli.

Important rulers of Kadamba Dynasty

Mayurasharma

• The Talagunda inscription mentions him as the founder of this dynasty.
• Mayurasharma, probably with the help of some local tribes, defeated the armies of the Pallavas of Kanchi and claimed sovereignty.

Kakushthavarman

• During Kakushthavarma’s reign, the Kadamba power reached its highest point.
• He established matrimonial relations with the Guptas and Gangas. He also extended his territory.
• He had annexed parts of Tamil Nadu, Malnad, and the coastal areas of Karnataka to his empire. Probably for the convenience of political work, he had transferred his empire’s capital from Banavasi to Kolar. As a patron of the Jain religion, he had built many Jain temples along with many Jains Basadis for Jain gurus in various places of the kingdom.
• Durvinita, the court poet of Kakusthavarma, wrote his biography called “Kakusthava Charit.” This biography provides us important information about Kakusthavarma and his achievements.

Kakushthavarman II

• During his 30-year reign, he had sent expeditions against the Gangas of Talakad and Vokkaligas of Balipete.

Origin of Kadamba Dynasty

• Ancient Kannada inscriptions of Kadamba King Kamadeva from the Hangal branch and Hoysala King Veera Ballala II located in the open mantapa of the Tarakeshwara Temple at Hangal.
• There are many myths regarding Kadamba’s origin. In one such mythology, Trilochana Kadamba, the father of Mayurasharma, was a three-eyed, four-armed warrior who formed from Lord Shiva’s sweat under a Kadamba tree and established this dynasty.
• In an attempt to make things simpler, there is a different myth that says Mayurasharma was born of Shiva and Bhudevi. There are other legends that unsubstantially connect them to the nagas and nandas of northern India.
• Another myth derived from the Talagunda inscription states that “the six-faced god of war, Skanda,” chose Mayurasharma to be the first ruler of the dynasty.
• As per an inscription found in 1189, the person who founded the kingdom is believed to have been born in a forest of Kadamba trees, which is known as Kadamba Rudra. He was known as Mayurasharma. Because of the reflections of his limbs that resembled “peacock feathers.”
• Rao and Minahan, who are native Kannadas, state that as soon as the kadambas emerged as rulers, their language, Kannada, immediately got political and administrative importance.
• According to R.N. Nandi, the inscription is proof of the family’s tribal origins and claims the family got its name from caring for the totem tree that produced the beautiful Kadamba blossoms.
• According to the Talagunda and Gudnapur Inscriptions, they belonged to the Manavya Gotra and gave titles as Haritiputra (descendants of the Hariti Chinese) with the local Chutus of Banavasi, a tributary state of the Satvahana Empire.

Administration of Kadamba Dynasty

The first tribal dynasty was the Kadambas to use Kannada language for administrative purposes. Kadamba kings referred to themselves as “Dharma-maharajas”.

For administrative convenience, the kingdom was divided into several provinces (mandalas or desha). Again, the province was divided into several vishayas. The head of the vishaya was called ‘vishayapati’ or ‘governor’. They enjoyed all kinds of privileges from the king.

Below the Vishaya, that is, at the lowest level, were village (Grama) and town units (Nagara). The head of Nagara was called ‘Nagarika’ and the head of Grama was called ‘Gramapati’. In both cases, ‘Bali’ and ‘Bhaga’ taxes were collected.

Various officials were appointed to different positions to assist the king in administrative work, and a large bureaucracy was formed. Information obtained from the inscriptions of the Kadamba Dynasty showed that there were some officials named Adhikarana, Kara, and Mahakara to help the king. Some other positions are mentioned below:

PM (Pradhan), Steward (Manevergade), Secretary of Gathering (Tantrapala or Sabhakarya Sachiva), Insightful Older Folks (Vidyavriddhas), Doctor (Deshamatya), Private Secretary (Rahasyadhikritha), Boss Secretary (Sarvakaryakarta), Boss Equity (Dharmadhyaksha), and Different Authorities (Bhojaka and Ayukta).

Some military positions are Jagadala, Dandanayaka, and Senapathi. The army had cavalry, chariots, elephant corps, and foot soldiers.

You can also read about: Paramara Dynasty: Founders, Kings, Capital and Their Legacy

Social life of Kadamba Dynasty

• During this period, the caste system was commonly used in society. Brahmins occupied the highest position in society and enjoyed all kinds of privileges. They were not even taxed. Brahmins mainly worked as priests in the royal court.
• The rulers belonged to the Manavya gotra and the Kshatriya caste. Their main job was to perform administrative duties.
• As the third class in society, Vaishyas enjoyed business, trade, merchantship, money lending, and land ownership.
• Shudras were considered the lowest caste. However, they were the majority in society.
• There were some small castes or communities that mainly existed outside this four-fold caste system. They were weavers, blacksmiths, and potters. However, in the social system, people of each class, caste, or group had a cordial relationship with each other. Although people of different faiths coexisted in society during their rule, no religiously antagonistic events were observed.
• Although the system existed, no detailed information was found. It is known that slaves and maidservants were offered as gifts and dedicated to temple work.
• Women held high positions and could work as writers and receive education independently. However, most of the society was under a patriarchal governance structure.

You can also read about: Gurjara Pratihara Dynasty: A Powerful Indian Dynasty

Economic life of Kadamba Dynasty

• The main foundation of the Kadamba dynasty’s economy was agriculture. Land revenue collected from agriculture was the main source of income. Rice was cultivated the most, along with coffee and pepper. ‘Bali’ and ‘bhaga’ were collected as revenue. Along with agriculture, people raised livestock.
• The rulers of this dynasty were diligent in all aspects to improve trade and commerce at that time. Both internal and external trade were prevalent. In terms of internal trade, crops and essential goods produced in villages went to cities, and in terms of external trade, luxury goods were exported.
• Many ‘guilds’ originated around trade. The kings provided all kinds of help to these ‘guilds’ in terms of trade improvement. Many small industries had developed, such as weaving, pottery and blacksmithing, oil and salt production industries, etc.

Architecture of Kadamba Dynasty

• The most prominent features of Kadamba architecture were shikaras called Kadamba Shikara.
• The Kadamba Shikaras were mostly pyramid-shaped, and the temples were square. The Kadamba Shikaras did not have decorations on their surfaces like the Shikaras of later Nagara and Dravidian temple architecture, but a Kalasha or Stupika was notable on top of it. This Kadamba temple’s vimana had a square plan.
• An essential connection between the architecture of the Shatavahanas, Pallavas, and Chalukyas was made by the Kadambas.
• The architectural and sculptural expertise of the Kadamba dynasty laid the foundation for the architectural styles of later dynasties, such as the Hoysala Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty. These dynasties, in turn, used elements from the Kadamba Dynasty in their temple construction.
• Most of the temples from this period were made by cutting stone. One of the most famous temples of Kadamba Rock-Cut architecture is the Cave temple at Arvalem (Harvalem) in Goa, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• The temples often followed Trikuta (three-shrined) or Ekakuta (single-shrined) plans. The temple Shikaras were mainly built over the Sanctorum (Garbhagriha). The temples typically had one sanctorum (garbhagriha) and hall (mandapa).
• The Kadamba dynasty saw the height of the iconic Pala style paintings found in the Ajanta Caves. This period’s Kolar temples have paintings and murals that display exquisite expressions of art.

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