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Eternal India
encyclopedia
LURE - THRU THE AGES
THE SHAKAS 20 B.C. - 150 A.D.
Overview
*
Originally nomadic tribes of Central
Asia,
migrated to the south, fought against Bac-
trian Greeks, settled in Helmund river val-
leys; later crossed Hindukush and settled in
North India, came into conflict with the
Parthians.
*
The nomenclature of the early Shakas in
India shows a mixture of Shaka, Parthian
and Iranian elements.
*
Shaka chronology is perfect as their dates
are recorded in years of the Shaka era, be-
ginning in A.D. 78.
*
The greatest of the Shaka rulers were
Rudradaman (130-150 A.D.) (western
Shaka Satrap of Ujjain) and Nahapana
(western Shaka Satrap of Maharashtra).
*
Chief source of information is Junagadh
rock inscription, and a variety of coins.
There were two groups of Shaka Satraps -
Northern Satraps of Taxila and Mathura
and western Satraps of Maharashtra and
Ujjain.
Advent
*
Shakas were the tribes of Central Asia,
they migrated to south, crossed the Hin-
dukush ranges and settled in northern India;
they adopted Indian culture and religious
beliefs. They adopted Indian names and
entered into matrimonial alliances with the
Indians.
(20 B.C.-22 A.D.)
(5 B.C.-30 A.D.)
(35-79 A.D.)
Chronology
*
Maues
*
Azes
*
Azilises
*
Azes II
*
Gondophemes.
Northern Shakas Western Shakas
(Maharashtra)
Liaka Kusulaka Bhumaka
Patika
Nahapana (Ujjain)
Hagamasha
Yasamatika
(Hashtana 78 A.D.)
Hagana
Rajula
Rudradaman
Sodasa
Rudrasena I
Rudrasimha III
Wars
The occupation of Gandhara by Maues
(Taxila inscription).
Capture of a few districts of Kushana
empire by Gondophemes.
*
Capture of Maharashtra by Nahapana
from the Satavahanas.
*
Defeat of Nahapana by Gautamiputra
Satakarni (Satavahana ruler).
*
Two wars of Shakas against Satavaha-
nas, under Rudradaman.
*
Rudradaman's war against Yaudheyas
and their defeat.
Rudradaman
130-150 A.D.
The greatest of the Shaka rulers was
Rudradaman (of western Satrap of Ujjain),
our knowledge of his reign is based on the
Junagadh rock inscription. He was the son
and successor of Chashtana and won the
title of
'Mahakshatrapa';
he ruled over Avanti
(both eastern and western Malwa), Cutch;
Sindhu - Sauvira (the lower Indus Valley);
Maru (the desert country); and the northern
part of the Konkan. He also claimed to have
defeated the Andhras (Satavahanas) on two
occasions and conquered the Yaudheyas.
Rudradaman was an able administrator; he
was very much concerned with the welfare of
his subjects, this is proved by the fact that he
spent heavily on the repair of Sudarsana lake
which burst during his reign (Junagadh in-
scription); no special taxes were imposed
on his people, he was well-versed in gram-
mar, politics, finance, music and logic. Not
much is known about his successors, it
seems he was succeeded by Rudrasena I
followed by many insignificant satraps; the
rule of Satraps of Ujjain lasted for about
250 years.
Nahapana
119 - 124 A.D.
Was the most powerful Shaka ruler of
western Shakas of Maharashtra. A large num-
ber of coins and inscriptions issued by him are
the main sources of information; he conquered
Maharashtra from Satavahanas, Ajmer and
Pushkara; later he was defeated and driven
from Maharashtra by Satavahanas under
Gautamiputra Satakarni.
Impact
*
The early wars of the Shakas resulted in the
establishment of Shaka empire in India
and the later wars of Shakas especially
under Nahapana and Rudradaman contrib-
uted to the consolidation and expansion of
the Shaka rule in Northern India.
Strengths
*
Perfect chronology of Shaka rulers, large
number of coins of Nahapana.
Achievements
*
The establishment of Shaka era in 78
A.D. (the start of Hindu calendar year)
Weakness
*
Existence of northern and western
Shaka groups with different rulers and
weak successors.
Decline
*
After the death of Rudradaman, the
Shakas were succeeded by weak and in-
significant rulers, the Shaka rule came to
an end with the death of Rudrasimha III
killed by Chandragupta II of Guptas in 388
A.D.