Mayurasharma

Mayurasharma, also known as Mayurashvarma, is traditionally credited as the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, an early South Indian kingdom centered in present-day Karnataka. He is associated with Banavasi, the Kadamba capital, and with the early use of Kannada in royal administration.

Origins and rise: According to legend, Mayurasharma belonged to the Kadamba clan and traveled to the Pallava capital to seek permission to perform a ritual. After reportedly being refused, he and his followers are said to have established an independent polity in the Western Ghats, with Banavasi as the capital.

Historical basis and dating: Details about Mayurasharma are scarce, and dates are uncertain; most traditions place his rule in late antiquity, commonly dated to the 4th or 5th centuries CE. The Kadamba kingdom grew into a regional power in parts of present-day Karnataka and nearby areas, at times expanding to coastal Karnataka and Goa.

Legacy and significance: The Kadamba dynasty is regarded as one of the earliest native South Indian kingdoms to use Kannada in administration and inscriptions. The dynasty’s emblem is the Kadamba tree, and later rulers claimed descent from Mayurasharma. Banavasi remains an important site for the study of early Kannada history and regional polity.