SSC
Mayurasharman, the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, established a kingdom in present-day:
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Answer: Option A — Karnataka
Detailed Solution
Mayurasharman founded the Kadamba dynasty in the 4th century CE (around 345 CE), with its capital at Banavasi, in the present-day Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
About Mayurasharman:
- He was a Brahmana who went to Kanchipuram, the Pallava capital, to study the Vedas at the "ghatika" (centre of learning).
- According to the Talagunda inscription, he was insulted by a Pallava horseman (guard) there.
- Angered by this, he gave up his studies, took up arms, and with the help of forest tribes, established his own kingdom in the forests of Karnataka.
- The Pallavas were forced to recognise his independence.
- NCERT mentions that Mayurasharman, a Brahmana, gave up his traditional occupation and took to arms, establishing the Kadamba kingdom.
About the Kadambas:
- They were the first native dynasty to rule a large part of present-day Karnataka.
- They ruled from about 345 CE to 525 CE, until they became subordinates of the Chalukyas of Badami.
- Their capital Banavasi (Vaijayanti) was an important ancient town on the banks of the Varada river.
- They used Kannada in administration; the "Halmidi inscription" (about 450 CE) of the Kadambas is regarded as the oldest known inscription in the Kannada language.
- They built temples in an early form of the Kadamba style, with pyramidal towers.
The Talagunda inscription:
- It was composed by the poet Kubja, in the time of the Kadamba king Shantivarman.
- It describes the founding of the dynasty by Mayurasharman.
The Kadambas of Goa:
A later branch of the Kadambas ruled Goa from the 10th to the 14th centuries.
Karnataka's recognition:
- The Government of Karnataka celebrates the "Kadambotsava" festival at Banavasi, to honour the Kadambas.
- Kannada was declared a classical language in 2008.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Andhra Pradesh was ruled by the Ikshvakus and later dynasties.
- ✗Kerala was ruled by the Cheras.
- ✗Goa was ruled by a later branch of the Kadambas, but the dynasty was founded in Karnataka.
Quick tip
Remember: Kadamba founder = Mayurasharman (a Brahmana; capital Banavasi, Karnataka; Talagunda inscription); Halmidi inscription = oldest Kannada inscription (Kadambas).
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.