Question

Why did Mayurasharma change his name to Mayuravarma?
(A) He adopted the Kshatriya way of life when insulted by the Pallava King Shivaskanda Varma
(B) He had a spiritual awakening
(C) He wanted to establish diplomatic relations with Shivaskanda Varma
(D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: He visited Kanchi for education but was not treated with great respect. The changing of his name was the symbol of undertaking a different way of life.

Complete answer: The correct option is (A) He adopted the Kshatriya way of life when insulted by the Pallava King Shivaskanda Varma.
Kadamba was the first dynasty in Karnataka to be founded. Their capital Banavasi, which is in the district of North Canara today. Mayurasharma was the father of this dynasty and a great ruler. The Pallava king, Shivaskanda Varma, insulted Mayurasharma and he adopted the Kshatriya lifestyle and became Mayuravarma. He vanquished the Pallavas in a war and founded the empire of the Kadamba. The Kannadigas looked up to him with pride. It is said that Mayurasharma came to Kanchi for education, but some Pallava officials insulted him. He took up a military career to avenge his provocation, defeated Pallava officials and then Pallavas accepted Mayursharma 's independence.

Additional information: The centres of power governing the land were outside the Karnataka area before the rise of the Kadambas; hence the rise of the Kadambas to power as an autonomous geo-political force, with Kannada, the language of the soil as a major regional language, is a landmark event with Mayurasharma as a significant historical figure in the history of modern Karnataka. The Kadambas of Banavasi are traced to the earliest Kannada language inscriptions.
Special contributions were made by the Kadambas to Karnataka and Indian culture. For about three hundred years, political stability existed under the law of Kadamba. The royal priests, ministers and generals of the military played a big role in administration. Provincially, for administrative simplicity officers were nominated to take control of the provinces.

Note: According to the Talagunda inscription, the founding king Mayurasharma was, by birth, a Brahmin, although his successors may have adopted the surname Varma to signify their transition to the rank of Kshatriya (warrior). A Vishnuvarma inscription identifies him as the "protector of the excellent Brahmana religion."