Kadambas was an ancient royal family of Karnataka, who ruled from their capital of Banavasi , later branched into Goa, Hanagal and Chandavar .

The dynasty was founded by Mayura Sharma in circa 345 AD. Ancestors were said to have migrated from the foothills of the Himalayas. Subjected to some sort of humiliation at the court of the Pallavas, the young Brahmin renounced his hereditary priestly vocation and took to the life of a fierce warrior and battled the Pallavas, who were forced to recognize him as a sovereign, when he crowned himself at Banavasi. One of his successors, Kakusta Varma (circa 435) was such a powerful ruler that even the Guptas cultivated marital relationships. The great poet Kalidasa is said to have visited his court. Tiring of the endless battles and bloodshed, one of the later descendants, King Shivakoti adopted Jainism.

The Kadambas went on to build numerous Jain temples that are scattered around Banavasi, Belgaum, Mangalore and Goa. Kings and Queens of the dynasty were renowned for their support of literature, arts and liberal grants to temples and educational institutions. Several descendants are scattered around present day Goa, Belgaum, Mangalore and Bangalore.