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{{Short description|Founder of Kadamba dynasty (ruled 345 to 365)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image = MayurasharmaPic.jpeg
| succession = Founder of [[Kadamba dynasty]]
| reign = {{circa|345|365 CE}}
| predecessor =
| successor = Kangavarma
| house = [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadamba]]
| house-type = Dynasty
}}
{{Banavasi Kadamba Kings Infobox}}
'''Mayurasharma''' or '''Mayuravarma''' (reigned 345–365 CE), a native of [[Talagunda]] (in modern [[Shivamogga district]]), was the founder of the [[Kadamba Dynasty|Kadamba]] Kingdom of [[Banavasi]], the earliest native kingdom to rule over what is today the modern state of [[Karnataka]], [[India]].<ref name="brahmin">Kamath (2001), p30</ref><ref name="brahmin1">[[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] (1931), pp9-10</ref> Before the rise of the Kadambas, the centres of power ruling the land were outside the Karnataka region; thus the Kadambas' ascent to power as an independent geo-political entity, with [[Kannada]], the language of the soil as a major regional language, is a landmark event in the history of modern Karnataka with Mayurasharma as an important historical figure. The earliest Kannada language [[epigraphy|inscriptions]] are attributed to the Kadambas of Banavasi.<ref name="progeny">Ramesh (1984), p2, pp10-11</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:Talagunda Pillar inscription (455-460 AD) at Talagunda.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Talagunda pillar inscription]] of about c.455 CE provides insights into the life of Mayurasharma and the Kadamba lineage]]
There are several legends and tales that describe the progeny of the Kadamba family. One legend states the family descended from a three-eyed, four-armed being called ''Trilochana Kadamba'' who sprang to life from the drops of sweat from the forehead of [[Shiva]] falling at the roots of a [[Kadamba tree]]. Another legend states Mayurasharma was born of [[Rudra]] (a form a Shiva) and the mother earth under an auspicious ''Kadamba'' tree and that he was born with a third eye on his forehead. According to yet another tale, Mayurasharma was born to the sister of a [[Jain]] Muni under a ''Kadamba'' tree. It appears that all these legends evolved so as to present the founder of the kingdom as a demi-god.<ref name="legend">[[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] (1931), pp7-8</ref>

The Talagunda [[inscription]] of 450 is considered the most reliable source of information about the family of Mayurasharma and the origin of the Kingdom. The inscription is known to be free of legends, giving a realistic and true account of the Kadamba line of kings.<ref name="free">Rice in [[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] (1931), p15</ref> According to the inscription, Mayurasharma was a ''Vaidika'' [[Brahmin]] scholar and a native of Talagunda. He was the son of Bandhushena, grandson of his ''guru'' (teacher) Veerasharma and a student at the ''Agrahara'' (place of learning) in Talagunda.<ref name="brahmin"/><ref name="brahmin1"/><ref name="scholar">Ramesh (1984), p3</ref> The inscription confirms the family is named for the ''Kadamba'' tree that grew near the family home. It is further claimed that they were a [[Kannadiga]] Dravidian family inducted into the Brahminic fold as was popular in the medieval times.<ref name="fold">There is no sound historical basis or inscriptional evidence to prove a northern origin or a southern migration of the ancestors of the Kadambas ([[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] 1931, p17)</ref> The Gudnapur inscription further confirms Mayurasharma's parentage and that he acquired the character of a Kshatriya.<ref name="brahmin"/>

==Birth of a kingdom==
According to the Talagunda inscription, Mayurasharma went to [[Kanchi]] the capital of the [[Pallava]]s to pursue his [[Vedas|Vedic]] studies accompanied by his ''guru'' and grandfather Veerasharma. Kanchi was an important ''Ghatikasthana'' (centre of learning) at that time. There, having been humiliated by a Pallava guard (horseman), in a rage Mayurasharma gave up his Brahminic studies and took to the sword to avenge his insult.<ref name="avenge">Ramesh (1984), p6</ref> The inscription vividly describes the event thus:
{{Cquote|That the hand dextrous in grasping the ''kusha'' grass, fuel and stones, ladle, melted butter and the oblation vessel, unsheathed a flaming sword, eager to conquer the earth<ref name="sword">Kamath (2001), p31</ref><ref name="sword1">[[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] (1931), p15</ref>}}

It can be said that the rise of Mayurasharma against the Pallava hold over the Talagunda region was actually a successful rebellion of Brahmins against the domination of the [[Kshatriya]] power as wielded by the Pallavas of Kanchi. Thus was born, in a moment of righteous indignation, the first Kingdom native to present day Karnataka region.<ref name="scholar" /> Other scholars however feel Mayurasharma's rebellion was well timed to coincide with the defeat of Pallava Vishnugopa by the southern invasion of [[Samudragupta]] of northern India.<ref name="samudra">[[George M. Moraes]] and Nilakanta Sastri in Kamath (2001), p31</ref> Mayurasharma first succeeded in establishing himself in the forests of Shriparvata (possibly modern [[Srisailam]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]]) by defeating the Antharapalas (guards) of the Pallavas and subduing the [[Bana Kingdom|Banas]] of Kolar. The Pallavas under Skandavarman were unable to contain Mayurasharma and recognised him as a sovereign in the regions from the Amara ocean (western ocean) to Prehara ([[Malaprabha River|Malaprabha river]]).<ref name="ocean">According to Professor Kielhorn who deciphered the Talagunda inscription, the extent of his kingdom may have been up to ''Premara'' or ancient [[Malwa]] in central India ([[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] 1931, p16)</ref> Some historians feel that Mayurasharma was initially appointed as a commander (''dandanayaka'') in the army of the Pallavas, as the inscription uses such terms as ''Senani'' and calls Mayurasharma ''Shadanana'' (six-faced god of war). However, after a period of time, availing himself of the confusion caused by the defeat of Pallava Vishnugopa by Samudragupta (from the Allahabad inscriptions), Mayurasharma carved out a kingdom with Banavasi (near Talagunda) as his capital.<ref name="crown">[[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] (1931), p16</ref> It is also known that in other battles, Mayurasharma defeated the Traikutas, Abhiras, Sendrakas, Pallavas, Pariyathrakas, Shakasthana, the Maukharis and Punnatas.<ref name="punnata">From the [[Chandravalli]] inscription of Mayurashrama (Kamath 2001, p31)</ref> To celebrate his successes, Mayurasharma performed many horse sacrifices and granted 144 villages (known as ''[[brahmadeya]]s'') to Brahmins of Talagunda.<ref name="halasi">from the Halasi plates of Kakushtavarma, great-grandson of Mayurasharma ([[George M. Moraes|Moraes]] 1931, p17)</ref> With an effort to rejuvenate the ancient Brahminic faith and to perform the royal rituals and the related functions of the government, Mayurasharma invited learned ''Vaidika'' Brahmins from [[Ahichatra]]. The [[Havyaka|Havyaka Brahmins]] claim descent from these early Brahmin settlers of the 4th century called the Ahichatra Brahmins or the Ahikaru/Havikaru.<ref name="settle">{{cite web|title=Havyaka Brahmins|url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/havyaka/index.htm|author=Kamat, Jyotsna Dr|publisher=Kamat's Potpourri|access-date=2007-03-06}}</ref>

==In popular media==

* Mayurasharma was the [[protagonist]] in the 1975 Kannada film ''[[Mayura (film)|Mayura]]'' starring [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]]. The story is a depiction of the early years of conflict with the Pallava rulers and Mayurasharma's eventual ascension to the Kadamba throne.
* Literature : The famous Telugu writer, poet and scholar, a Jnanapeeth recipient, Padmabushan [[Viswanatha Satyanarayana|Visawanatha Satyanarayana]] wrote the story of Mayura Sharma as a novel named '''Kadimi Chettu'' ' (Literal translation: The Kadamba Tree) in Telugu.

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* [[George M. Moraes]] (1931), ''The Kadamba Kula, A History of Ancient and Medieval Karnataka'', Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, Madras, 1990 {{ISBN|81-206-0595-0}}
* Suryanath U. Kamath, '' Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present'', Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) {{OCLC|7796041}}
* K.V. Ramesh, ''Chalukyas of Vatapi'', 1984, Agam Kala Prakashan, Delhi {{OCLC|13869730}} {{OL|3007052M}} {{LCCN|84900575}} {{ASIN|B0006EHSP0}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/deccan/kadamba.htm Kadambas of Banavasi , Dr. Jyotsna Kamat]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061104095148/http://www.ourkarnataka.com/history.htm  History of Karnataka by Dr.Arthikaje]

{{Karnataka topics}}

[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:365 deaths]]
[[Category:Kadambas]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Shimoga]]
[[Category:4th-century Indian monarchs]]

Mayurasharma - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article