Topic: Kadamba Dynasty

Answer:There were several regional states durin the Gupta Period. Kadamba Dynasty (345 - 525
CE) was a primeval majestic dynasty of Karnataka that ruled from Vaijayanti or Banavasi in
present day Uttara Kannada district. 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 dynasty later
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 Goa, Hanagal, and
Chandavar. Mauryas, Satavahanas and Chutus were the pre Kadamba rulers where the ruling
families were not natives of the region. Kadamba dynasty is important because it was the first
indigenous dynasty to use Kannada at an administrative level. Kadambas kept paying nominal
allegiance to other major power brokers of Deccan like Yadavas and Hoysalas of Dorasamudra
and thus mantained their independence. Four different families of Kadambas ruled in southern
India which was Kadamabas of Hangal, Kadambas of Goa, Kadambas of Belur and Kadambas of
Banvasi.
Kadamba dynasty was founded by Mayurasharma in 345 AD. The Kadamba kings called
themselves Dharmamaharajas and an absolute autonomy was formed by the Kadambas.
Kangavarma the successor of Mayurasharma was defeated by Vakataka Prithvisena who had to
fight the Vakataka might to protect Kuntala. Kakusthavarma who was the most ferocious and
powerful ruler of the kingdom. He maintained marital relations with even the imperial Guptas of
the north, according to the Talagunda inscription. One of his daughters was married to Kumara
Gupta's son Skanda Gupta. His other daughter was married to a Vakataka king Narendrasena.
The great poet Kalidasa had visited his court. After Kakusthavarma only Ravivarma who came to
the throne in 485 was able to build upon the kingdom. His rule was marked by a series of clashes
within the family, and also against the Pallavas and the Gangas. He is also credited with a victory
against the Vakatakas, which extended his Kingdom as far north as the river Narmada. The crux
of their kingdom essentially consisted of most of Karnataka, Goa and southern areas of present
day Maharashtra. After his death, the kingdom went into decline due to family feuds.
The successors of Mayurasharma took to the name "varma" to indicate their Kshatriya status.
Prakrit had the status of an official language under the early Kadamba rulers. But by the time of
Kakusthavarma, Sanskrit came to be increasingly adopted. Kannada too was assuming greater
importance by the 5th century A.D. as evidenced by the Halmidi inscription.

Administration of kingdom:
The prime minister (Pradhana), Steward (Manevergade), secretary of council (Tantrapala or
Sabhakarya private secretary (Dharmadhyaksha) and other officials (Bhojaka and Ayukta). The
army consisted of officers like
Jagadala, Dandanayaka and Senapathi. The kingdom was divided into Mandalas (provinces) or
Desha. Under a Mandala was Vishayas (districts). A total of nine Vishaya have been identified.

Under a Vishaya were Mahagramas (Taluk) and Dashagramas (Hobli). Mahagrama had more
villages than Dashagramas. Total one sixth of land produce was collected as tax. Taxes were
collected as Perjunka (levy on load), Vaddaravula (social security tax for royal family), Bilkoda
(salex tax), Kirukula (land tax), Pannaya (betel tax) and other professional taxes on traders etc.

Religion:
Sachiva), (Rahasyadhikritha), scholarly elders (Vidyavriddhas), chief secretary
(Sarvakaryakarta), Inscription of Talagunda starts with an invocation of Lord Shiva, while the
Halmidi and Banavasi inscriptions start with an invocation of Lord Vishnu. The founder of the
kadamba kingdom, Mayurasharma was a Brahmin by birth but later his successors changed their
surname to Varma to indicate their Kshatriya status. Some Kadamba kings like Krishna Varma
performed the horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha). Madhukesvara temple built by Kadambas is
considered as their family deity. Many records like the Kudalur, Sirsi records speak of grants
made by them
to scholarly Brahmins as well as made to Buddhist viharas. The Kadambas also patronised
Jainism. Several of the latter Kadamba kings adopted the Jainism, and built numerous Jain
Basadis (temples) that are scattered around Banavasi, Belgaum, Mangalore and Goa. The
Kadamba dynasty was followers of Vedic Hinduism.