The Kadambas ruled Goa over 10th to 14th century AD. In the beginning they ruled only Sashti and a small part of Konkan. They ruled from Chandor, over a large part, but the port of Gopakpattana was not a part in the beginning.[1] The Goa Kadambas were the later scions of the main Kadamba dynasty, whose modern descendants still live in Goa.
| 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 |
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According to the Talagunda inscription found in Shimoga in Karnataka,a they are of Brahmin origin, descending from certain Mayurasharma.[2] There are many myths as far as their origin is concerned. It can be seen that they are of Dravidian origin later included in the Vedic Brahaminical fold.[3]
As a feudatory of the Chalukyas, Kadamba Shasthadeva was appointed as Mahamandaleshwara of Goa by Chalukya king Tailapa II.[4] According to the Savai vere inscription, the Kadambas as an alliance of the Chalukyas, aided them to defeat the Rashtrakutas. Later Shashthadeva conquered the city of Chandrapur from the Shilaharas, and established Goa Kadamba dynasty in 960 AD.[5]
King Shashthadeva conquered the island of Goa i.e., port Gopakpattana and Kapardikadvipa, and annexed a large part of South Konkan to his kingdom,and made Gopakpattana as his secondary capital. The next King Jayakeshi I further expanded the Goan kingdom. Sanskrit Jain text Dvayashraya mention the extend of his capital. Port Gopakapattna had trade contacts with Zanzibar, Bengal, Gujarat and Sri Lanka(mentioned as Zaguva,Gauda,Gurjara,Simhala in the Sanskrit text).The city has been described in the contemporary records not only as aesthetically pleasing but spiritually cleansing as well.On account of its commercial nature, Gopakapattna possessed a cosmopolitan look.The capital was served by an important highway called as Rajvithi or Rajpath which linked it with Ela, ruins of whose glory can still be seen.For more than 300 years it remained a neucleus of intra-coastal and trans-oceanic trade, from Africa to Malaya Goa became a known destination. Later in the 14th century the port was looted by Khilji general Malik Kafur, the headquarters were shifted to Chandor and back to Gopakapattna because of Muhammad bin Tughluq's attack on Chandor.[1]
During the rule of Kadambas,the name and fame of Goapuri had reached it zenith.Goa's religion, culture, trade,arts flourished under the rule of these kings. The pious Kings and their queens built many Shiva temples as they were devote Shaivites.they assumed titles like Konkanadhipati, Saptakotisha Ladbha Varaveera, Gopakapura varadhishva, Konkanmahacharavarti, Panchamahashabda.[6] The kings had matrimonial relationships with the Kings of Saurashtra,and even the local chieftains.the kings patronized Vedic religion and performed major fire sacrifices like the horse sacrifice or Ashvamedha. They popularised Shaivsm in Goa.(see:Goa through ages) They are also known for patronising Jainism in Goa.
Though their language of administration was Sanskrit and Kannada they also patronized Konkani and Marathi.They introduced Kannada language to Goa, influence of which was very profound on the local tongue.Nagari script, Kadamba script, Halekannada script and Goykanadi scripts were very popular. It is known from another inscription of Kadamba Tribhuvanamalla, saka 1028 i.e. AD 1106 that he established a Brahmapuri at Gopaka. Brahmapuris were ancient universities run by the Brahmins where Vedas, astrology,philosophy,medicine etc. were taught.(see:Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu: district Volume 1).Such Brahampuris were found in many places in Goa, Savoi verem, Gauli moula,and other places.
Kadambas having ruled Goa for more than 350 glorious years, lost in power to Devagiri Yadavas, further with the Muslim invasions the once magnificent dynasty was lost forever. Ruins of the palaces, mansions,temples and markets can be still seen in Chandor village.