Eternal India Encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

E t e r n a l I n d i a encyclopedia

SATAVAHANAS 235 B.C. - 225 A.D.

Overview *

Administration Followed a simple administrative system; kingship was hereditary; local administration was conducted by feudatories like rajas, ma- habhojas ; law as laid down in Dharmashastra was followed; the empire was divided into Janapadas and Aharas, looked after by Amatya; village was the smallest unit under gramika. Mainly Vedic religion was followed with sacrifices like Ashwamedha; Varna system was recognised; sub-castes also existed. Agriculture was the main occupation and land revenue was the chief source of income, important commercial centres like Banavasi, Nasik, Amaravati etc. existed; Mainly cloth, muslin, cornelian beads, spices and pearls were exported, merchants' guilds were known as nigamas or shrenis. Rock-cut architecture of the period is at Nasik, Karle and Kanheri, Amaravati. Prakrit was the official language with Brahmi script; Kannada was the popular spo- ken language, Gatasaptashati -a Prakrit work with 700 poems written by Hala, Brihatkatha of Gunadhya, Katantra of Sarvavarma (San- skrit grammar), were written; built chaityas and viharas: the chaityas at Bedsa and Karle are attributed to their period the stupas of the period were mainly found in Andhra pradesh (Amaravati, Ghantasala, Nagarjunakonda). Decline The Satavahana rule came to an end dur- ing the reign of Pulamayi IV; the kingdom was divided into 5 minor dynasties (the Chutas, Pallavas, Ikshuvakus, Abhiras etc.); weak suc- cessors after the rule of Gautamiputra Sa- takarni contributed to their decline.

* Siri Satakami (129-149 A.D.) * Siva Siri Pulamayi (150-156 A.D.) * Siri Sivakhanda

The first major royal dynasty of the Dec- can. * The main source of information: puranas {Mathsya, Vishnu and Bhagavata ) Prakrit inscriptions (at Karle, Nasik, Kanheri), and coins. * The empire extended from the Konkan coast in the west to the Godavari and Krishna deltas in the east, Tungabhadra and Chandravalli in the south. * Original homeland was Maharashtra; later moved to the south and came to be called as 'Andhras'. * The first ruler of the dynasty was Simukha. * Greatest ruler was the Gautamiputra Sa- takami (Nasik inscription). * They were mainly the followers of Brah- minism. * Ruled for 460 years; from 235 B.C. to 225 A.D. with 30 kings (puranas, V.V. Mi- rashi). Advent * The Satavahana dynasty was founded by Simukha in 235 B.C.; after the death of Asoka, being a feudatory of the Mauryas he became independent and ruled for 23 years (235-212 B.C.) Chronology

* Satakami * Siriyana * SvamiSakesana * Pulamayi IV Wars * Conquest of western Malwa and Alupa and Vidarbha by Satakarni I. * Capture of eastern Malwa by Satakami II. * Overthrow of Saka Nahapana by Gautami- putra Satakami; capture of Rishika, As- maka, Mulaka and Vidarbha. Gautamiputra Satakarni (70-95 A.D.) He was the great ruler in the.line of Satavahanas; brought under his rule vast terri- tories; has been described as the destroyer of Sakas, Yavanas and Pallavas; the Nasik in- scription issued by his mother is the chief source of information regarding his reign; greatest achievement was the defeat of Saka ruler Nahapana and the capture of Aparanta, Alupa, Saurashtra, Kukura, Akara and Avanti; he also held his sway over Rishika, Asmaka, Mulaka and Vidarbha; ruled over the whole of the Krishna basin and its south, Saurashtra and Malwa (north), Berar and Konkan; took up the title of 'Tri-Samudra-toya-pita Vahana' lost most of his territories won from Nahapana before his death (conclusion derived through the geography of Ptolemy and Junagadh in- scription of Rudradaman); to retain his con- quered territories he followed a policy of mat- rimonial alliance; he was succeeded by his son Vashishtiputra Pulamavi.

* Simukha * Krishna

(235-212 B.C.) (212-195B.C.)

* Satakami * Vedsiri and Satisiri Satakarni II * Hala (20-24 A.D.) * Gautamiputra Siri Satakami (70-95 A.D.) * Pulamayi II - (96-119 A.D.)