Satavahana
 Approximate extent of the Satavahana Empire, circa 150 CE. | |
| Official languages | Maharashtri Prakrit (proto-Marathi) Sanskrit Telugu |
| Capitals | first Junnar near Pune, then Dharanikota/ Amaravathi near Guntur |
| Government | Monarchy |
| Preceding state of Sātavāhana | Mauryan Empire |
| Succeeding states of Sātavāhana | Ikshvakus, Sunga Empire, Kadambas |
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 suggest that it lasted about 450 years. The satavahanas are credited for establishing peace in the country from the onslaught of foreigners after the decline of Mauryan empire.
Contents |
Origins
The first mention of the Andhras is in the Aitareya Brahmana, dating back to the 8th century BCE. Their first capital was Junnar, near Pune which falls in Andar maval region. In the Pūrānas and on their coins the dynasty is variously referred to as the Andhras, Andhrabhrityas, Sātakarnīs and Sātavāhanas. there was a reference of Andhras in Greek traveller Megasthanes's indicates that they possessed 12,00,000 infantry, 2,000 elephants, and had more than 30 well built fortified towns and were in command of all the sea ports from Bengal to all of south India. The Andhras ruled the biggest and most powerful empire of that time in Asia and this was evidenced by establishment of Indian colonies in southeast Asia for the first time in history.
The Sātavāhanas started out as feudatories to the Mauryan Empire but 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 practice derived from that of the Indo-Greek kings to the northwest. Their coins give unique indications as to their chronology, language, and even facial features (curly hair, long ears, strong lips). They issued mainly lead and copper coins; their portrait-style silver coins were usually struck over coins of the Western Kshatrapa kings. Their coins also display various traditional symbols, such as elephants, lions, horses, and chaityas (stupas), as well as the "Ujjain symbol", a cross with four circles at the end. The legendary ujjayini emperor Vikramditya on whose name the Vikram Samvat is initiated might be a Satavahana emperor as the ujjayini symbol also appeared on the Satavahana coins.
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. 207-189 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 spreading into all of South India. The Pūrānas list 30 rulers of this line. Many are known from their coins and inscriptions as well.
Conflict with the Shakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas
The first century CE 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 (r. 20-24 CE) had short reigns totalling about a dozen years. About this time the kingdom lost some of its territory, including Malwa, to the Western Kshatrapas.
Eventually Gautamiputra (Sri Yagna) Sātakarni (also known as Shalivahan) (r. 78-106 CE) defeated the Western Kshatrapa ruler Nahapana, restoring the prestige of his dynasty by reconquering a large part of the former dominions of the Sātavāhanas. He was an ardent supporter of Hinduism. He called himself "Destroyer of Shakas (Western Kshatrapas), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians)" in his inscriptions. Gautamiputra Satakarni also defeated Shaka king Vikramaditya in 78 AD and started the calender known as Shalivahan era or Shaka era, which is followed by Marathi people and South Indians today as well. In Maharashtra, even today, Gautamiputra Satkarni has a special place in people's hearts, which he shares with another Maratha emperor Shivaji.
Gautamiputra Sātakarni's son, Vashishtiputra Pulumāyi (r. 106-130 CE), succeeded him. He was the first Sātavāhana king to issue the portrait-type coinage.
His brother, Vashishtiputra Sātakarni, married the daughter of Rudradaman I of the Western Kshatrapa dynasty, but was defeated by his father-in-law in battle, with serious effect on Sātavāhana power and prestige.
It was not until the reign of Sri Yajna Sātakarni (170-199 CE) that there was another change of fortune for the Sātavāhanas. He struggled hard against the Shakas and recovered some of the territory lost to them.
Cultural achievements
Of the Sātavāhana kings, Hāla (r. 20-24 CE) is famous for compiling the collection of Maharashtri Prakrit poems known as the Gaha 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.
The Satavahana Empire was also instrumental in the development of Maharashtri language which is a predeccesor of Marathi language. The great Satavahana Emperor Shalivahan aka Gautamiputra Satakarni is also credited for cultural development in the city of Pratisthan (now known as Paithan). It was during the Satavahana era, that the world-class Sari of Paithani was developed. [1]
The Sātavāhana kings are also remarkable for their contributions to Buddhist art and architecture. The great stupas in the Krishna River Valley were built by them, including the stupa at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. The stupas were decorated in marble slabs and sculpted with scenes from the life of the Buddha, portrayed in a characteristic slim and elegant style.the greatest achievement of satavahana empire is the colinisation of southeast asia and the spread of indian culture to those parts,mahayana buddism which originated in andhra spread to many parts of asia because of the rich maritime culture of satavahanas.the amaravati style of sculpture spread to southeast asia in this time.
Decline
Although the Satavahanas could resist their enemies, they were ultimately weakened by continuous military conflicts and around 220 AD, this Dynasty ended.
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 Sātavāhanas in their capital Pratishthānapura.
- Chutus in South Maharashtra
- Kadambas of Banavasi in North Karnataka.
- Ikshvākus (or Srīparvatiyas) in the Krishna-Guntur region.
On the boundaries of the old Sātavāhana Kingdom arose a number of new states, which seized their territory. The most important were the Pallavas of Kanchipuram, of whom the first ruler was Simhavarman I (r. 275-300 CE).
Main rulers
- Simuka (r. 230-207 BCE)
- Kanha (or Krishna) (r. 207-189 BCE)
- Sātakarnī I
- Lambodara Trikarna (r. 87-67 BCE)
- Hāla (r. 20-24 CE)
- Gautamiputra Sātakarni popularly known as Shalivahan (r. 25-78 CE)
- Vasisthiputra Sri Pulumavi (r. 78-114 CE)
- Vashishtiputra Sātakarni
- Gautamiputra Yajna Satakarni (r. 167-196 CE)[1]
| Middle kingdoms of India | ||||||||||||
| Timeline: | Northern Empires | Southern Dynasties | Foreign Kingdoms | |||||||||
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6th century BCE |
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See also
- Maratha clan system
- Indo-Greek Kingdom
- Indo-Scythians
- Indo-Parthians
- Western Kshatrapas
- Kushan Empire
- Andhra Pradesh
References
- K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, A History of South India (Madras, 1976).
Categories
Empires and kingdoms of India | Ruling clans of India | Telugu people