KADAMBA DYNASTY-GOA

The Goan branch of the Kadamba Dynasty ruled during 1000-1334 A.D. and it consisted of fourteen kings who ruled in succession. The kings of this dynasty were ruling from Chandrapura (now known as Chandor) before they moved over to Goa. They made use of the dissensions between the weakening Rashtrakoota Empire and the rising Kalyani Chalukya dynasty. Guhulladeva-1, Shastadeva-2, Guhulladeva-3, Jayakeshi-2, Shivachitta, Vishnuchitta and Jayakeshi-3 are among the important kings who constitute this dynasty. Gopaka PaTTaNa (Goapuri) was built in 1054 A.D. as the capital of this kingdom. This was a crucial place in the context of trans-oceanic trade and commerce. The Kadmba kings entered in to many pacts with other kings so that their trade interests were not affected. Guhulldeva-2 entered in to an agreement with the Muslim settlers of ‘Tiswadi’ (tisvADi’) also. By the end of the 11^th century Kadambas were firmly entrenched in the regions of Goa and Konkan. Gradually Goa became the hub of intra coastal and trans-oceanic trade and it was a cherished destination for traders and sea farers. However the dominance of the Kadambas started waning and they could match the mauruding armies of Hoysalas, Yadavas and Kalachuris. Kadambas were totally over powered by the end of thirteenth century and thus ended another chapter in the history of Kadamba dynasty.

Many scholars have opined that the Kadambas had a distinct architectural style in comparison to Chalukya, Pallava and Hoysala styles. The Mahadeva temple at Tambadi Surla in Goa and Kamala Narayana temple in Deggamve in North Karnataka are illustrative of the characteristic features of this style. The most ancient temple in the all of Goa is located at Tambdi Surla. This well-preserved structure from the Kadamba dynasty was built in Jain style in the 12th century. The Tambdi Surla Temple was constructed with black basalt stone. It is quite small in comparison with most other Goan temples and the top part of the temple has never been completed. Intricate carvings adorn the interior of the temple, which ... More >

is accessed by an entrance hall with doorways on three sides. Four monolith carvings support the ceiling with a lotus flower in the center. The exterior of the temple has some miniature examples of sculpture and relief carvings. The temple faces towards the east so that the rays of the rising sun fall on the deity at the crack of dawn. The Sri Kamala Narayana temple was commissioned by Kamaladevi, the queen of Shivachitta the Kadamaba king of Goa. This branch of Kadambas did not really have many connections with Karnataka and it is merely a continuation of the well known Kadamba dynasty of Banavasi.

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