Kakusthavarma
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Kakusthavarma () or Kakusthavarman was a ruler of the Kadamba dynasty in South India. He succeeded his brother Raghu as king. Under Kakusthavarma's rule the Kadamba kingdom attained the height of its power and influence, and the Kadambas enjoyed close diplomatic relations with the great royal houses of India. The
Talagunda Talagunda is a village in the Shikaripura taluk of Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Many inscriptions found here have provided insights into the rise of the Kadamba Dynasty. History Talagunda was earlier known as Sthanakund ...
and
Halmidi inscription The Halmidi inscription is the oldest known Kannada language inscription in the Kadamba script. While estimates vary slightly, the inscription is often dated to between 450 CE - 500 CE. The inscription was discovered in 1936 by Dr. M. H. Krishn ...
s praise Kakusthavarma as a formidable Kadamba warrior.


Early life

Kakusthavarma was born to King
Bhageerath Bhageerath (reigned c. 385 – 410 CE) was a king of the Kadamba dynasty in South India. He succeeded his father Kangavarma on the Kadamba throne. Bhageerath is praised as a "king loved by his kingdom just as a husband is held dear by his brid ...
, the third ruler of the Kadamba dynasty. Upon his father's death, Kakusthavarma's elder brother Raghu assumed the throne of the Kadamba kingdom, with Kakusthavarma as ''Yuvaraja'' or Crown Prince. Kakusthavarma held court as the heir apparent, perhaps at Palashika (present-day
Halasi Halasi (Kannada: ಹಲಸಿ, also Halsi or Halshi, in earlier times also called Halasige or Palasige) is a town in Khanapur Taluk, Belgaum District in Karnataka, India. It is 14 km from Khanapur and about 25 km from Kittur. As known ...
) from where he is known to have issued land grants. In due course, he succeeded his brother on the Kadamba throne.


Reign

Kakusthavarma's reign is notable for the marriage alliances that he contracted with other powerful dynasties. Most importantly, Kakusthavarma married one of his daughters into the imperial
Gupta Gupta () is a common surname or last name of Indian origin. It is based on the Sanskrit word गोप्तृ ''goptṛ'', which means 'guardian' or 'protector'. According to historian R. C. Majumdar, the surname ''Gupta'' was adopted by se ...
family. It is also likely that Kakusthavarma married another one of his daughters to the Vakataka prince
Narendrasena Narendrasena () was a ruler of the Nandivardhana-Pravarapura branch of the Vakataka dynasty. He succeeded his father Pravarasena II as Maharaja. Early life Narendrasena was possibly born to Ajnakabhattarika, who may have been the chief queen ...
, as the Vakataka records describe Narendrasena's wife Ajjhitabhattarika as a princess of the Kuntala country which probably corresponds to the Kadamba kingdom. Kakusthavarma appears to have been a great builder and avid patron of secular architecture as well as of religious causes. He is described as possessing numerous palaces adorned with '' gopuras''. Kakusthavarma's son and successor, Santivarma, records in his Talagunda pillar inscription that his father had constructed a great water tank near a Shiva temple at which Satakarni and other kings of the past had worshipped. Kakusthavarma himself appears to have had Jain religious tendencies, as in his grant at Halasi he begins with an invocation to Jinendra, the lord of the Jinas, and likely patronized a Jain temple at this place.


Successors

Upon Kakusthavarma's death, the Kadamba kingdom appears to have been divided between his progeny. One of Kakusthavarma's sons, Santivarma, succeeded his father at Banavasi and ruled over the northern part of the Kadamba realm. Another one of Kakusthavarma's sons, Krishnavarma, seems to have founded a cadet branch of the Kadamba dynasty at Triparvatha, in the southern part of the Kadamba realm.Sastri (1997), pp. 272–273


References

{{reflist Kadambas 5th-century Indian monarchs