The Talagunda pillar inscription is a posthumous record of Kakusthavarman but put up by his son Santhivarman

The Talagunda pillar inscription is a posthumous record of Kakusthavarman but put up by his son Santhivarman. It is one of the most important inscriptions in South Indian history and can be compared to the Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II. The inscription gives the story of how Mayurasarman (AD 345-AD 370) went to Kanchi to study in the Ghatika which perhaps was a centre not only of Vedic studies but also of military studies.

He seems to have quarrelled with an equestrian guard, rode out and set up a principality independent of Pallave control. The Pallavas were obliged to recognise his autonomy. Some of his successors were Kangavarman (AD 370-AD 395), Bhagiratha (AD 395-AD 420), his two sons Raghu (AD 420-AD 430) and Kakusthavarman (AD 430-AD 450). The information in the Talagunda inscription that Kakusthavarman gave his daughter in marriage to the Guptas shows that the Kadambas were certainly not Brahmins.

After the death of Santhivarman (AD 450-AD 475) son of Kakusthavarman, the kingdom was divided between two branches of the dynasty. Mrigesavarman (AD 475-AD 490) was a Jaina who won successes against the Gangas and the Pallavas. His successor was Mandhatrivarman (AD 490-AD 497) who was succeeded by Ravivarman (AD 497-AD 537).

This latter ruler ruled for 40 years but sat on a precarious throne. He was, however, a popular ruler. His son Harivarman (AD 537-AD 547) was a weak ruler and had the misfortune to be a contemporay of Pulakesin I Chalukya, a feudatory of his, who broke away and set up an independent kingdom at Vatapi. The elder of the two branches of the Kadamba family ended with Harivarman.

Krishnavarman II. (AD 547-AD 565) allied himself to the Gangas and strengthened the junior branch. Ajavarman his successor had to accept the suzerainty of the Chalukyas. Bhogivarman (AD 606-AD 640) was consumed by the spreading power of the Chalukyas of Vatapi under Pulakesin II. The Kadamba power went under for a period of three and a half centuries. It had a revival towards the close of the 10th century. The later dynasties ruled over Goa on the West Coast and from Hangal in the Dharwar district.

Their ineffective power tried to stem the rise of the Hoysalas and quicken the disintegration of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. They continued in a more or less obscure condition till Vijayanagar put an end to them in the 14th century.

It is not to be supposed that apart from the major dynasties whose rise and fall have been described in the different chapters hitherto, along with the minor powers spoken of above were the only forces which influenced the politics of South India in ancient and medieval times. Petty families with deep rooted traditions and local affiliations, many of them of undiscoverable antiquity have played their role supporting or impeding the major dynastic ambitions and achievements.

The Banas who could be connected with the Panar of Tamil Sangam literature (it is interesting to see that the Brahatbanas of medieval epigraphy remind one of the Perumbanar of Sangam literature), the Kadavars of Tondaimandalam, the Reddis of Kondavidu, the Vaidumbas, the Sambavarayas and many other such families had their own but less influential role to pay in the history of South India.