Origins
According to the Talagunda inscription found in Shimoga in Karnataka, the Kadambas are of Brahmin origin, descended from Mayurasharma. There are many myths regarding their roots, but it is believed they are of Dravidian origin, later to become Vedic Brahmans.
Establishment of a separate dynasty
As a feudatory of the Chalukyas, Kadamba Shasthadeva was appointed as the Mahamandaleshwar of Goa by the Chalukya king, Tailapa II. According to the Savai vere inscription, the Kadambas were allies of the Chalukyas, whom they helped to defeat the Rashtrakutas. Shashthadeva later conquered the city of Chandrapur from the Shilaharas and established the Goan Kadamba dynasty in 960 CE.
Gopakapattana
King Shashthadeva conquered Goa, Port Gopakapattana and Kapardikadvipa and annexed a large part of South Konkan to his kingdom, making Gopakpattana his subsidiary capital. The next King, Jayakeshi I, further expanded the Goan kingdom. A Jain Sanskrit text, Dvayāśraya mentions the extension of his capital and that Port Gopakapattna had trade contacts with Zanzibar,Bengal, Gujarat and Sri Lanka. Gopakapattana was a pleasant commercial city, well connected with Old Goa and a trading hub for over 300 years. In the 1320s it was looted by Khilji generalMalik Kafur. The Kadambas went back to Chandor, but returned to Gopakapattana when Muhammad bin Tughluq overcame Chandor.
AdministrationThe languages of Kadamba administration were Sanskrit , Kannada and Marathi. They introduced the Kannada language to Goa, where it exercised a profound influence on the local language. The Nagari, Kadamba, Halekannada and Goykanadi scripts were very popular. It is known from another inscription that Tribhuvanamalla established a Brahmapuri at Gopaka. Brahmapuris were ancient universities run by Brahmins, where Vedas, astrology, philosophy, medicine, and other subjects were taught. They were found in Goa, Savoi verem, Gauli moula, and elsewhere.
During the rule of the Kadambas, the name and fame of Goapuri reached its zenith. Goa's religion, culture, trade and arts flourished and the dynasty built many Shiva temples. They assumed titles like Konkanadhipati, Saptakotisha Ladbha Varaveera, Gopakapura varadhishva, Konkanmahacharavarti and Panchamahashabda. .They married the royalty of Saurashtra and even local chieftains. The kings patronized the Vedic religion and performed major fire sacrifices (yagna) such as the horse sacrifice (Ashvamedha). They popularized Shaivism and patronized Jainism in Goa.
Having ruled Goa for more than 350 years, the Kadambas lost their power to the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri. They and the Musliminvasions destroyed the dynasty. Ruins of their palaces, mansions, temples and markets can still be seen in Chandor village.
| Kadambas of Goa | |
|---|---|
| Shashthadeva I(Kantakacharya) | 960 AD |
| Nagavarma | ~ |
| Guhalladeva I | ~ |
| Shashathadeva II | ~ |
| Guhalladeva II | 1038 AD |
| Veeravarmadeva | 1042–1054 AD |
| Jayakeshi I | 1050–1080 |
| Guhalladeva II alias Tribhuvanamalla | 1080–1125 |
| Vijayaditya I alias Vijayarka | Ruling prince up to 1104 |
| Jayakeshi II | 1125–1148 |
| Shivachitta paramadideva | 1148–1179 |
| Vishnuchitta alias Vijayaditya II | 1179–1187 |
| Jayakeshi III | 1188–1216 |
| Shivachitta Vajradeva | 1193–1202 |
| Sovideva Tribhuvanamalla | 1216–1238 |
| Shashthadeva III | 1246–1265 |
| Kamadeva(Husband of Kadamba princess Sovidevi) | 1265–1310 |