About the empire
Kadamba (345 - 525 CE) was an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka that ruled northern Karnataka and the Konkan from Banavasi in the present-day Uttara Kannada district. The dynasty was founded by Mayurasharma in 345 CE which at later times showed the potential of developing into imperial proportions, an indication to which is provided by the titles and epithets assumed by its rulers. The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Western Ganga Dynasty and together they formed the earliest native kingdoms to rule the land with absolute autonomy. 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 minor dynasties known as the Kadambas of Goa, Kadambas of Halasi, and Kadambas of Hangal.
Famous kings of their empire
Mayurasharma established the Kadamba dynasty, ruled from Banavasi from A.D. 345 to 365. He was a learned Brahman. It is said that Mayurasharma came to receive education at Kanchi, but he was insulted by some Pallava officials. To avenge his insult, he took up a military profession, defeated Pallava officials, and then Pallavas recognized the independence of Mayursharma.
Kakusthavarman (A.D. 435-455) was the most powerful king and administrator of the Kadamba dynasty and established matrimonial relations with the Gangas and the Guptas (dynasties). He also extended his territory.
After the death of Kakusthavarman, the Kadamba family split into two branches. One of the branches continued to rule from Banavasi and the other branch ruled from Triparvata. Krishnavarma-I, the ruler from Triparvata, united the family. But around A.D. 540, the Chalukyas of Badami defeated the Kadambas and captured their kingdom. In the southern Peninsula, three dynasties namely the Pallavas, Pandyas, and the Cholas were the major powers during this period.
Extent of their empire & Patronage towards the Hindu religion
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 starting point in the study of the development of the region as an enduring geopolitical entity and Kannada as an important regional language. The 'Kadambus' find mention in the Tamil Sangam literature as totemic worshippers of the Kadambu tree and the Hindu god Subramanya. The Kadambas minted coins with Nagari, Kannada, and Grantha legends which provide additional numismatic evidence of their history. The Kadamba kings called themselves Dharmamaharajas like the Satavahana kings. Dr. Mores has identified various cabinet and other positions in the kingdom.
Kadambas of Hangal - In 980 A.D, descendents of Chalukyas and Kadambas rose against Rashtrakutas and Rashtrakuta empire fell resulting in establishment of second Chalukya dynasty (called Western Chalukyas). Chatta Deva during 980-1031, founder of Kadambas of Hangal, who helped Western Chalukyas in this coup, re-established Kadamba Dynasty. He was mostly a feudatory of Western Chalukyas but his successors enjoyed considerable independence and were almost sovereign rulers of Goa and Konkan till 14th century AD. The successors of Chatta Deva occupied both Banavasi and Hangal and are known as Kadambas of Hangal. Uniting Banavasi and Hangal, distinguished himself against the Cholas and carved out a kingdom (which stretched, on this side, including Ratnagiri district, up to Kolhapur). He is referred to as having conquered Konkan. When the Chalukyas under their king, Jayasimha made an advance on Dhar(capital of the Malavas) and defeated Bhoja, who was then the Paramar king, the part played by Chaltadev(Chatta Deva), the feudatory of the Chalukyas, was significant. During 1075-1116 Kirtivarma subdued the 7 Konkans. Due to the struggle between the Hoysalas and the Yadavas, for supremacy, the Kadambas of Hangal Kamdeva marched against the Konkan and compelled Vijayadatta (to transfer his allegiance to him). But during 1187 and 1188, immediately on his accession, Jayakesi III declared himself independent. Later Kadambas kept paying nominal allegiance to Yadavas and Hoysalas of Dorasamudra and thus maintained their independence.
Kadambas of Goa - The Kadambas were a dynasty who ruled Goa from the 10th to the 14th century CE. They took over the territories of the Silaharas and ruled them at first from Chandor, later making Gopakapattana their capital. Their modern descendants still live in Goa. 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. 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 general Malik Kafur. The Kadambas went back to Chandor, but returned to Gopakapattana when Muhammad bin Tughluq overcame Chandor.
Architecture style of the kings
Kadamba architecture was a style of temple architecture founded by Mayurasharma in 4th century A.D in Karnataka Kadambas created a new style of architecture which was the basis of the Hoysalas style of architecture, developed an original school of sculpture, was the forerunner of series of South Indian sculptors. Many temples at Aihole, Badami, and Hampi are built-in Kadamba architectural style. The Kadamba style can be identified and that it has a few things in common with the Chalukya and the Pallava styles. The most prominent feature of their architecture, basic as it was, is their Shikara called Kadamba Shikara. The Shikara is pyramid shaped and rises in steps without any decoration with a Stupika or Kalasha at the top. This style of Shikara is used several centuries later in the Doddagaddavalli Hoysala temple and the Mahakuta temples in Hampi. Some of their temples also use perforated screen windows. It has also been pointed out that in architecture and sculpture, the Kadambas contributed to the foundation of the later Chalukya-Hoysala style. Kadamba architecture constituted an important link between the Shatavahanas, Pallavas and Chalukyas architecture. Kadamba architecture elements in Hoysala Architecture.
Key temples built/enhanced during this reign
The Madhukeshwara (Lord Shiva) temple built by them still exists in Banavasi which is a very good piece of art. The stone cot with wonderful carvings is one of the main tourist attractions in the temple. The 5th-century monuments at Halasi are the oldest surviving Kadamba structure. The most prominent feature is the Kadamba Shikara with a Kalasa on top. In Belgaum district, Hattikeshwara, Kalleshwara, and Someshwara temples at Halasi and a group of temples at Kadaroli illustrates the Kadamba architecture. The old Jain basadi containing a sanctum and a sukanasi at Halasi the most ancient stone temple in Karnataka. Many temples at Aihole including Ramlingesvara temple Complex, Badigergudi temple and small shrines at Durga temple complex, Tryambakeshwara temple complex, ruined temple at Mallikarjuna temple complex, shrines at Jyotirlinga temple complex, small temple at Hucchimalli temple complex, ruined temples Galaganatha temple complex and many temples along the Malaprabha River are built-in Kadamba architectural (Shikhara) style. There are many shrines with Kadamba superstructure at Mahakuta including Bhimeshwara ling temple, a newly renovated temple outside the main temple complex.
KAMALA NARAYANA TEMPLE - Degaon, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Kamala Narayana Temple at Degaon was constructed by Tippoja, the Chief Architect of Kamala Devi, the Queen of the Kadamba king Sivachitta Permadi in the 12th century. This temple built-in 1174. A.D with principal deity as Lord Narayana. There are three shrines here. The first shrine has a statue of Narayana. The second has a statue of Lakshmi Narayana, with the Goddess Lakshmi seated on the lap. The third shrine has a statue of queen Kamala Devi, with her attendants on either side.
KAMALA BASADI - Belagavi, Karnataka, India
The Kamal Basadi is one of the two Jain temples inside the Belgaum Fort which has been built in the later Chalukya style that has a tiered roof over the shrine. It was built in 1204 A.D during the period of Kartavirya-IV by his minister Bichirja of the Ratta dynasty. There are two pillars here that bear Kannada inscriptions, one is of the period Kartavirya-IV and another of the period of Seluva Krishna. The Kamal Basadi has a tiered, pyramidal roof, inside the temple, the dome above the mukha mandapa has a beautiful lotus carving, with 72 petals. Of these, 24 petals have figures of the last 24 Thirthankaras and the other 48 are for present and future Tirthankaras. The Kamal Basadi gets its name from this great Lotus sculpture.
Kamala Basadi Digambara Jaina Temple
BHUTNATH TEMPLE TORGAL (TORGAL FORT) - Munvalli, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Bhutnath temple of Toragl is in good condition and built-in Chalukyan style with red sandstone. The ceiling is decorated with inverted Padma and a small step like structure is attached to the western part of the wall and its doorway is decorated with sthambha shakha model. The temple has a shikhara of kadambanagara style usually square in plan, the tower is a pyramidal shape and constitutes a series of horizontal step stages. In this shikhara, fourteen stages have been created with a uniform series of quadrangular vertical projections.
MADHUKESHWARA TEMPLE - Banavasi, Sirsi, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, India
The Madhukeshwara temple gets its name from the honey-hued Shiva Lingam inside the sanctum. The temple dates back to the 9th century and hence is one of Karnataka’s oldest temples and was commissioned by Mayura Sharma from the Kadamba dynasty. The construction of the Nritya mandapa is attributed to the Hoysala rulers which is a sharp contrast to the Garba Mandapa in terms of ornamentation. The pillars bear the Hoysala trademark of reflective convex and concave carvings one below the other and this goes to prove the expertise of the stone carvers of that time. Another unique attraction of this temple is a vertically sliced Ganesha idol and it is believed that the other half of this stone idol is in Varanasi.
SOMESHWARA TEMPLE COMPLEX - Lakshmeshwara, Karnataka, India
Someshwara temple with the traditional structures of a temple includes a garbha griha, an ardha mantapa or halfway hall, a navaranga, and a mukha mantapa or entrance porch. The Nandi and Shiva Parvati idols in the temple are exquisitely sculpted and are referred to as Saurashtra Someshwara, as these idols were brought by a Shiva devotee from Saurashtra and installed at Lakshmeshwara. Inside the Someshwara temple complex, behind the temple, there is an open step-well which is being richly carved and ornamented, is of architectural and artistic significance.
MUKTESHWARA TEMPLE COMPLEX - Chaudayyadanapura, Haveri, Karnataka, India
The Mukteshwar Temple is a single cella temple in Jakkanachari style and is a jewel of architecture of the 11th–12th centuries. It was built during the heyday of the kingdom ruled by the Kalyani Chalukyas and the Seunas of Devagiri. The dome of the temple is hollow and is closed by the slabs of the stupi and the shikhara of the Mukteshwara temple is 2.2 m in its axis at the base. The stupi is made of three beautiful loti form moldings diminishing in size and a lotus bud with its base.
SRINGERI SRI SHARADAMBA TEMPLE COMPLEX - Sringeri, Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India
Sri Malahanikareshwara temple is a fine piece of architecture, consisting of a navaranga, an antarala, a garbhagriha, and with relieves on the pillars. The stone structure must have been raised early in the Vijayanagar period, replacing the older one in wood. The magnetic Nandi was installed by Janganna Mallinataha, during the Somashekara Nayaks regime (1664 – 1675) In the praakaara, the walls were constructed in 1685 by Sitammaji, daughter of Revanna Nayaka of Keladi.
Sringeri Sri Sharadamba Temple Complex
MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE AND NEELAKANTESHWARA TEMPLE - Kalasi, Karnataka, India
Mallikarjuna Temple is the biggest temple at Kalasi with a Garbhagriha, Sukanasi, Rangamantapa and Basavamantapa. The temple is constructed with three entrances in three directions. The uniqueness of the Mallikarjuna Temple at Kalasi is except Sukanasi, the other front part of the temple built with half walls. This provides the temple with unique brightness. The Neelakanteshwara Temple is about 30 feet away from Mallikarjuna Temple featuring a Gopura atop Garbhagriha. You can also see the statue of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari and the emblem of Hoysalas.
Mallikarjuna And Rameswara Temple
MAHABALESHWAR TEMPLE - Satara, Radhanagari, Maharashtra, India
Mahabaleshwar Temple built in the Hemadant architectural style of South India by the Chanda Rao More dynasty, this 16th-century temple is dedicated to the most revered deity of Hindu religion - Lord Shiva. The temple is secured by a 5 ft wall, which is divided into two parts - the sanctum sanctorum and the central hall and the sanctum sanctorum has the 500 years old and 6 feet long self-originated. There is a square-shaped raised platform made of gold, believed to be given as charity by the Maratha ruler, and is believed that the square is equal to the weight of his mother, Jijabai. There are two more temples; the Atibaleshwar temple and Panchganga temple, residing at the same site.
KRISHNABAI TEMPLE - Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India
The temple was built in 1888 by a ruler of Ratnagiri on a hilltop overlooking the Krishna valley and is supposed to be a source of the Krishna River. The temple has a Shiva lingam and a beautiful statue of Goddess Krishna. A small stream of the river flowing from a cow-face (gomukh) falls in a Kund or water tank which is the source of might River Krishna. Stone carved columns and ceilings are the special characteristics of this temple.
Praneshvara temple - Talagunda, Shimoga, Karnataka, India
The Pranavesvara temple is a small square austere building with a garbhagriha and a sukanasi. The garbhagriha houses a large Siva-linga on a Bhadra pitha. The epigraphical evidence says, that the temple appears to have been constructed around the 4th century AD. A Sanskrit inscription in box-headed characters with an invocation to God Pasupati engraved on the right door-jamb of the Pranavesvara temple, registers a grant of money for feeding thirty residents of Sthanakunjapura by Kakustha of the Bhatari family who was a feudatory of the Kadamba king.
BHUVARAHA NARASIMHA TEMPLE - Halasi, Karnataka, India
Bhuvaraha Narasimha temple is built on an elevated platform. There are a few smaller temples in the complex dedicated to Lords Shankara Narayana, Garuda, Maruti, Radha Krishna, and also a stepped well. The complex is well maintained and its temples are functional. This temple is perhaps the oldest surviving temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha. Only the original garbhagriha has a Shikara in the Kadamba Nagara style, built probably much later during the Goa Kadamba period. This temple bears architectural resemblance to the Sri Madhukeshwara temple at Banavasi to some extent. The temple has two garbhagrihas with an attached antarala, opening into a common Navaranga with 2 mukhamandapas and the central ceiling of the Navaranga carries a beautiful inverted lotus motif but is now covered with a wooden plank.
Sri Bhuvaraha Laxmi Narasimha Temple
TARAKESHWARA TEMPLE - Hangal, Haveri, Karnataka, India
The Tarakeshwara temple was the most significant contribution of the Kadamba with Jainism gaining massive appeal in the region in the 12th century, this temple became the bastion for the Shaivites. The major attraction of the temple is in the main hall which has a large domical ceiling in the form of a lotus. The ceiling rise in concentric circles towards the center, making patterns of the folds, and then drops down again as it reaches the apex. This gives the appearance of a bloomed lotus and the gathering hall has 8 supporting pillars arranged in octagonal shape and has carvings of various gods.
MAHADEVA TEMPLE - Tambdi Surla, Goa, India
Mahadeva Temple is a 12th-century Shaivite temple and is the only structural temple of the Kadamba period to survive the destructive violence of religious intolerance during Muslim and Portuguese occupations of Goan territory. The temple is built in the Kadamba style from basalt, carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau and carved by craftsmen. It is considered to be the only specimen of Kadamba architecture in basalt stone preserved and available in Goa. The temple survived invasions and the Goa Inquisition due to its remote location in a clearing deep in the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats.
DODDAGADDAVALLI SRI LAKSHMI TEMPLE - Doddagaddavalli, Hassan, Karnataka, India
Lakshmi Devi Temple towers are in Kadamba nagara style, each vimana has a vestibule connecting it to the central mantapa. On top of the vestibule is its tower called sukanasi. Of the four towers, three are undecorated and they look stepped pyramidal with a pile of dented horizontal moldings with the kalasa on top. The fourth tower is very well decorated (which is typical of Hoysala designs) and this is the tower of the main shrine that houses the Lakshmi Devi image. The mantapa is open and square. The reason for the square plan is the presence of shrines on all four sides of the mantapa with no side open for "staggering".
Doddagaddavalli Sri Lakshmi Temple
SRI UMA MAHESHWARA TEMPLE - Hosagunda, Shimoga, Karnataka, India
Sri Uma Maheshwara Temple is said to have been constructed from the 11th century to the 14th century during the Shanthara rulers period. The temple is constructed in an area of 2,400 square feet and has a Chalukya style of design. The architecture of the temple stands unique and significant. Green marbles are extensively used in the flooring of the sanctum sanctorum, auditorium, patio and amphitheater. The pillars and wooden beams on the roof are beautifully sculpted and stand as living proof for the architectural brilliance of that time and the amphitheater is conveniently open from three sides - east, north and south directions for better viewing.
