Satavahana
The Sātavāhanas, also known as the Andhras, were a dynasty which ruled in Southern and Central India starting from around 230 BCE. Although there is some controversy about when the dynasty came to an end, the most liberal estimates are of about 450 years. Long before that their kingdom had disintegrated into successor states.
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Origin
In the Pūrānas and their coins the dynasty is variously referred to the Andhras, Andhrabhrityas, Satakarnis and Satavahanas. They have been variously interpreted as originating from present day Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh, and were probably of Dravidian origin.
The Satavahanas started out as feudatories to the Mauryan Empire, and declared independence soon after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE).
They were the first native Indian rulers to issue their own coins with portraits of their rulers, starting with king Vashishtiputra Shri Pulumavi (r. 130–158 CE), a habit derived from that of the Indo-Greek kings to the northwest. Their coins give unique indications on their chronology, language, and even facial features (curly hair, long ears, strong lips). They issued mainly lead and copper coins, and their portrait-style silver coins were usually striked over the coins of the Western Kshatrapa kings. Their coins also display various symbols, such as elephants, lions, horses, and chaityas (stupas), as well as the "Ujjain symbol", a cross with four circles at the end.
The Satavahana kings are also remarkable for their contributions to Buddhist art and architecture. The great stupas in the Krishna River Valley were built by them, as well as the stupa at Amarawati. The stupas were decorated in marble slabs and sculpted with scenes from the life of the Buddha in a characteristic slim and elegant style.
Early rulers
After becoming independent around 230 BCE, Simuka, the founder of the dynasty, conquered Maharashtra, Malwa and part of Madhya Pradesh. He was succeeded by his brother Kanha (or Krishna)(r. 207 BCE- 189 BCE), who further extended his kingdom to the west and the south.
His successor Sātakarnī I defeated the Sunga dynasty of North India, and performed several Vedic sacrifices at huge cost, including the Horse Sacrifice. By this time the dynasty was well established with its capital at Pratishthānapura (Paithan) in Maharashtra, and its power spread into all of South India. The Pūrānas list 30 rulers of this line. Many are known from their coins and inscriptions as well.
Of the Sātavāhana kings Hāla (r. 20–24 CE) is famous for compiling the collection of Prakrit poems known as the Gāhā Sattasai ( Sanskrit: Gāthā Saptashatī), although from linguistic evidence it seems that the work now extant must have been re-edited in the succeeding century or two.
Conflict with the Shakas, Yavanas and Pahalavas
This period saw the incursion of the Sakas of Central Asia into India, where they formed the dynasty of the Western Kshatrapas. The four immediate successors of Hāla had short reigns totalling about a dozen years. The kingdom lost some of its territory, including Malwa to the Western Kshatrapas.
Gautamiputra (Sri Yagna) Sātakarni (r. 106 – 130 CE) defeated the Western Kshatrapas ruler Nahapana, restoring the prestige of his dynasty by reconquering large part of the former dominions of the Sātavāhanas. He was an ardent supporter of the Brahminical religion. He called himself "Destroyer of Shakas (Western Kshatrapas), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians)" in his inscriptions.
Gautamiputra Sātakarni's son, Vashishtiputra Pulumāyi (r. 130–158 CE) succeeded to him. He was the first Satavahana king to issue the portrait-type coinage.
His brother Vashishtiputra Satakarni, married the daughter of Rudradaman I of the Western Kshatrapa dynasty, but was defeated by his father-in-law in battle, strongly affecting Satavahana power and prestige.
It was not before the reign of Sri Yajna Sātakarni (CE 170–199), that there was any change of fortune for the Sātavāhanas. He struggled hard against the Shakas and recovered some of the territory lost to them.
Decline
The Sātavāhanas fell prey to the rising ambitions of their feudatories. Several dynasties divided the lands of the kingdom among themselves. Among them were:
- Abhiras in the northwestern part of the kingdom. They were ultimately to succeed the ātavāhanas in
their capital Pratishthanapura.
- Chutus in South Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- Ikshvākus (or Srīparvatiyas) in the Krishna-Guntur region.
On the boundaries of the old Satavahna Kingdom arose a number of new states, which seized their territory. The most important were the Pallavas of Kancipuram, of whom the first ruler was Simhavarman I( r. 275–300 CE).
Main rulers
- Simuka (r. 230- 207 BCE)
- Kanha (or Krishna)(r. 207 BCE- 189 BCE)
- Sātakarnī I
- Hāla (r. 20-24 CE)
- Gautamiputra Sātakarni (r. 106 – 130 CE)
- Vashishtiputra Pulumāyi (r. 130-158 CE)
- Vashishtiputra Satakarni
- Sri Yajna Sātakarni (r. 170-199 CE)
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6th century BCE |
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See also
References
- K.A. Nilakanta Sastri , A History of South India. (Madras, 1976).