Kadamba Dynasty (345-525 AD) designates an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. From the mid-6th century, the dynasty continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they branched into Kadambas of Goa, Hangal and Belur
Kadambas kept paying nominal allegiance to major rulers of the Deccan like Yadavas and Hoysalas of Dorasamudra and maintained their independence. Four different families ruled in southern India which were Kadambas of Banavasi, Kadambas of Goa, Kadambas of Hangal and Kadambas of Belur.
The Kadambas were the first indigenous dynasty to use Kannada, the language of the soil at an administrative level. In the history of Karnataka, this era serves as a broad-based historical start point in the study of the development of the region as an enduring geo-political entity and Kannada as an important regional language.
Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi
According to the Talagunda and the Gudnapur inscriptions, they were connected to the native Chutus of Banavasi, a vassal of the Satavahana empire, who ruled from 1st to 3rd century AD and had their capital at Banavasi too. The kingdom was founded by Mayurasharma in 345 AD, a native of Talagunda, in present day Shimoga district of Karnataka and his family got the name from the Kadamba tree that grew near his home. From the Talagunda inscriptions it is known that he maintained marital relations with the Guptas of northern India. The Kadamba power reached its peaks during the rule of Kakusthavarma (345-455 AD).
Around 540 AD, the Chalukyas who were vassals of the Badami Chalukyas and governed from Badami conquered the entire kingdom. The Kadambas thereafter became vassals of the Badani Chalukyas. In later centuries, the family fragmented into numerous minor branches and ruled from Goa, Halasi, Hangal, Vainad, Belur, Bankapura, Banalike, Chandavar and Jayantipura (in Odisha). The Kadambas of Banavasi were a prosperous kingdom is stated in the Aihole inscription of the Chalukyas at Bagalkot.
The Kadamba kings called themselves ''Dharmamaharajas''. The Kadambas were followers of Vedic Hinduism although they encouraged Jainism as well.
They are the originators of Karnataka architecture around 4th century AD.
In the early centuries of the 1st millennium inscriptions were in Prakrit language, then slowly changed to Sanskrit-Prakrit around mid 4th century and by the 5th century changed to Sanskrit Kannada. The credit of developing Kannada as a language goes to Kadambas.
The inscriptions at Talagunda, Gudnapur, Birur, Shimoga, Muttur, Hebbatta, Chandravalli, Halasi and Halmidi inscriptions are some important inscriptions about the Kadambas from over 50 known inscriptions describing the dynasty.
Kadambotsava is a festival celebrated every year by the Government of Karnataka in honour of this kingdom. The navy has a base named INS Kadamba in Karwar. The Goa bus service is known as Kadamba Transport Corporation
Coins of Kadambas of Banavasi. The coins came to light for the first time in 2006, when a hoard of coins was discovered, mostly coins of a lesser branch of Satavahanas, who had ruled the Banavasi area, a few coins of the Chutus and the Kadamba coins.
Coins of Kadambas of Goa. In the late 10th century, the Kadambas supported the Chalukyas of Kalyan in their struggle against the Rashtrakutas. After the Rashtrakutas were defeated, it appears the Kalyani Chalukyas gave the Kadambas some independence in Goa and Hangal. The Kadambas of Goa was established in 960 AD and enjoyed this independence for about 250 years, or till the 14th century, during which they issued a series of gold coins.
Coins of Kadambas of Hangal. Chatta Deva was the founder of Kadambas of Hangal (980-1031 AD). He was a feudatory of the Chalukyas, but his successors enjoyed independence till the 14th century. They occupied both Banavasi and Hangal and carved out a kingdom to include Ratnagiri and Kolhapur. Later around 1075-1116 AD, and till 1188 AD, Kadambas kept paying a normal allegiance to Yadavas and Hoysalas of Dorasamudra and thus maintained their independence.
Kadamba of Hangal, Toyimadeva, 1048-1075 AD, Gold pagoda, weight 4.1 g, lion standing right, looking back with floral design on reverse
Kadamba of Hangal, Toyimadeva, 1048-1075 AD, Gold pagoda, weight 4.29 g, lion standing right, looking back with floral design on reverse
Kadamba of Hangal, Toyimadeva, 1048-1075 AD, Gold pagoda, weight 4.28 g, lion standing right, looking back with floral design on reverse
They eventually succumbed to an invasion from the Yadavas of Devagiri in the first half of the 13th century. Eventually this territory fell to Alauddin Khilji and after a brief period as part of the Delhi Sultanate, was absorbed into the Bahmani kingdom.
Wonderful recap of history of this region, which is the fountainhead and repository of history, architecture and culture of Karnataka.
ReplyDeleteWere these coins used in trade? Or did they have some other significance.
Your using numismatics to glean history is par excellence, Rajeev: great summary of emergence of first Kannada kingdoms!
ReplyDelete