Satavahana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Territorial extent of the Satavahana Empire (continuous line), and conquests (dotted line). |
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| Official languages | Maharashtri Prakrit (proto-Marathi) Sanskrit Telugu |
| Capitals | Paithan, Junnar near Pune and Dharanikota/ Amaravathi near Guntur |
| Government | Monarchy |
| Preceding state of Sātavāhana | Mauryan Empire |
| Succeeding states of Sātavāhana | Ikshvakus, Kadambas, Western Satraps |
The Sātavāhanas (Marathi:सातवाहन Telugu:సాతవాహనులు), also known as the Andhras, were a dynasty which ruled from Junnar, Pune over 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, until around 220 CE. The Satavahanas are credited for establishing peace in the country from the onslaught of foreigners after the decline of Mauryan empire.
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[edit] Origins
The first mention of the Satatvahana is in the Aitareya Brahmana, dating back to the 8th century BCE. In the Pūrānas and on their coins the dynasty is variously referred to as the Sātavāhanas, Sātakarnīs, Andhras and Andhrabhrityas. There is a reference about the Sātavāhanas by the Greek traveller Megasthenes, indicating that they possessed 100,000 infantry, 1,000 elephants, and had more than 30 well built fortified towns:
- "Next come the Andarae, a still more powerful race, which possesses numerous villages, and thirty towns defended by walls and towers, and which supplies its king with an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants." Plin. Hist. Nat. VI. 21. 8-23. 11., quoting Megasthenes[1]
The Sātavāhanas ruled a large and powerful empire that faced down the onslaughts from Central Asia. Aside from their military power, their commercialism and naval activity is evidenced by establishment of Indian colonies in southeast Asia for the first time in history.[citation needed]
The Sātavāhanas started out as feudatories to the Mauryan Empire, and seem to have been under the control of Emperor Ashoka, who claims they were in his domain, and that he introduced Buddhism among them:
- "Here in the king's domain among the Yavanas (Greeks), the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma." Rock Edict Nb13 (S. Dhammika)
They soon declared independence however after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE) as the Maurya Empire started to weaken.
'Andhras' also figures in the accounts of Al-Biruni (1030 CE) who referred to a language spoken in South India as "Andhri". The book "Kitabu'l Hind" described some of the customs and traditions prevalent in Andhra region.
[edit] Early rulers
The Satavahanas/ Andhras initially ruled in the area of Andhradesa, the sanskrit name for the Telugu country between the rivers Krishna and Godavari, which was always their heartland. The Pūrānas list 30 Andhra rulers. Many are known from their coins and inscriptions as well.
[edit] Simuka (c.230-207 BCE)
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.
[edit] Satakarni (c.180-124 BCE)
His successor Sātakarnī I was the sixth ruler of the Satavahana. He is said in the Puranas to have ruled for 56 years.
Satakarni defeated the Sunga dynasty of North India by wrestling Western Malwa from them, and performed several Vedic sacrifices at huge cost, including the Horse Sacrifice. He also was in conflict with the Kalinga ruler Kharavela, who mentions him in the Hathigumpha inscription. According to the Yuga Purana he conquered Kalinga following the death of Kharavela. He extended Satavahana rule over Madhya Pradesh and pushed back the Sakas from Pataliputra (he is thought to be the Yuga Purana's "Shata", an abbreviation of the full name “Shri Sata” that occurs on coins from Ujjain), where he subsequently ruled for 10 years.
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.
[edit] Kanva suzerainty (75-35 BCE)
Many small rulers succeeded Satakarni, such as Lambodara, Apilaka, Meghasvati and Kuntala Satakarni, who are thought to have been under the suzerainty of the Kanva dynasty. The Puranas (the Matsya Purana, the Vayu Purana, the Brahmanda Purana, the Vishnu Purana) all state that the first of the Andhra kings rose to power in the 1st century BCE, by slaying Susarman, the last ruler of the Kanvas.[2] This feat is usually thought to have been accomplished by Pulomavi (c. 30-6 BCE), who then ruled over Pataliputra.
[edit] Victory over the Shakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas
The first century CE saw another 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. During the reign of the Western Satrap Nahapana, the Satavahana lost a considerable territory to the satraps, including eastern Malwa, Southern Gujarat, and Northern Konkan, from Broach to Sopara and the Nasik and Poona districts.[3]
[edit] Gautamiputra Satakarni (78-106 CE)
Obv: King in profile. Prakrit legend "Rano Gotamiputasa Siri Yana Satakarnisa": "In the reign of Gautamiputra Sri Yana Satakarni"
Rev: Hill with Satavahana symbol, sun and moon. Dravidian legend "Arahanaku gotami putaku Hiru Yana Hatakanaku".[4]
Eventually Gautamiputra (Sri Yagna) Sātakarni (also known as Shalivahan) (r. 78-106 CE) defeated the Western Satrap 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.
According to the Nasik inscription made by his mother Gautami Balasri, he is the one...
- "...who crushed down the pride and conceit of the Kshatriyas (the native Indian princes, the Rajputs of Rajputana, Gujarat and Central India); who destroyed the Shakas (Western Kshatrapas), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians),... who rooted the Khakharata familly (The Kshaharata familly of Nahapana); who restored the glory of the Satavahana race".[5]
Gautamiputra Satakarni may also have defeated Shaka king Vikramaditya in 78 AD and started the calendar known as Shalivahana era or Shaka era, which is followed by the 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. Gautamiputra was the first Sātavāhana king to issue the portrait-type coinage, in a style derived from the Western Satraps.[6]
[edit] Defeat by the Western Satraps and decline
Obv: Bust of king. Prakrit legend in the Brahmi script: "Siri Satakanisa Rano ... Vasithiputasa": "King Vasishtiputra Sri Satakarni"
Rev: Ujjain/Sātavāhana symbol left. Crescented six-arch chaitya hill right. River below. Dravidian legend in the Brahmi script: "Arahanaku Vahitti makanaku Tiru Hatakaniko".
His brother, Vashishtiputra Sātakarni, married the daughter of Rudradaman I of the Western Satraps dynasty. Around 150 CE, Rudradaman I, his father-in-law, waged war against the Satavahanas, who were defeated twice in these conflicts. Vashishtiputra Satakarni was only spared his life because of his familly links with Rudradaman.[7] As a result of his victories, Rudradaman regained all the former territories previously held by Nahapana, except for the extreme south territories of Poona and Nasik.[8] Satavahana dominions were limited to their original base in the Deccan and eastern central India around Amaravati.
The Satavahanas were also weakened by the rise of their feudatories. During the reign of Sri Yajna Sātakarni (170-199 CE) the Sātavāhanas regained some prosperity, and some of his coins have been found in Surashtra[9] but around 220 CE, the dynasty came to an end.
[edit] Dissection of the Satavahana realm
Several dynasties divided the lands of the kingdom among themselves. Among them were:
-
- Western Satraps in the northwestern part of the kingdom.
- Abhiras in the western 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.
- Ikshvaku dynasty (or Srīparvatiyas) in the Krishna-Guntur region.
- Pallavas of Kanchipuram, of whom the first ruler was Simhavarman I (r. 275-300 CE).
[edit] Account of the Puranas
The Puranas (the Matsya Purana, the Vayu Purana, the Brahmanda Purana, the Vishnu Purana, the Bhagavata Purana) give a list of the dynasties who ruled following the decline of the Satavahanas, probably from around 150 CE:[10]:
-
- 7 other Andhras kings (called "Andhrabhrytias", or "Servant of the Andhras", probably the Chutus in the Western and Southern districts.
- 10 Abhira kings, who ruled in the area of Nasik.
- 7 Gardabhila kings, who ruled in the area of Ujjain
- 18 Saka kings, probably the Western Satraps.
- 8 Yavana kings, thought to be some dynasty of Greek descent.[11]
- 14 Tusara kings (also called Tuskaras), thought to be the Kushans (who are called "Turuska" in the Rajatarangini).
- 13 Murunda or Gurunda kings.
- 21 Huna kings (also called Maunas), probably the Indo-Hephthalites.
[edit] Coinage
The Satavahanas are usually thought to be the first native Indian rulers to issue their own coins with portraits of their rulers, starting with king Gautamiputra Satakarni, a practice derived from that of the Western Satraps he defeated, itself originating with the Indo-Greek kings to the northwest.[12]
Satavahana coins give unique indications as to their chronology, language, and even facial features (curly hair, long ears and strong lips). They issued mainly lead and copper coins; their portrait-style silver coins were usually struck over coins of the Western Kshatrapa kings.
The coin legends of the Satavahanas, in all areas and all periods used, without exception a Prakrit dialect. Some reverse coin legends are in a Dravidian language, which seems to have been in use in their heartland of the Kistna District.[13]
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 Vikramditiya on whose name the Vikram Samvat is initiated might be a Satavahana emperor as the Ujjayini symbol also appeared on the Satavahana coins.
[edit] 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 Lilavati describes his marriage with a Ceylonese Princess.
The Satavahana Empire was also instrumental in the development of Maharashtri language which is a predecessor 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.[14]
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 colonisation of southeast Asia and the spread of Indian culture to those parts, Mahayana Buddhism which may have originated in Andhra (northwestern India being the alternative candidate) did spread to many parts of Asia because of the rich maritime culture of Satavahanas. The Amaravati style of sculpture spread to Southeast Asia at this time.
[edit] List of rulers
Puranic list of Andhra/ Satavahana kings (Source: "A Catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc...", Rapson). This list, the most complete one with 30 kings, is based on the Matsya Purana.
- Simuka or Sisuka (r. 230-207 BCE). Also (271-248 BCE), ruled 23 years.
- Krishna (r. 207-189 BCE), ruled 18 years.
- Sri Mallakarni (or Sri Satakarni), ruled 10 years.
- Purnotsanga, ruled 18 years
- Skandhastambhi, ruled 18 years
- Sātakarnī I (195 BCE), ruled 56 years
- Lambodara, ruled 18 years.(r. 87-67 BCE)
Probably as vassals of Kanva dynasty (75-35 BCE):
-
- Apilaka, ruled 12 years.
- Meghasvati (or Saudasa), ruled 18 years.
- Svati (or Svami), ruled 18 years.
- Skandasvati, ruled 7 years.
- Mahendra Satakarni (or Mrgendra Svatikarna, Satakarni II), ruled 8 years.
- Kuntala Satakarni (or Kuntala Svatikarna), ruled 8 years.
- Svatikarna, ruled 1 year.
- Pulomavi (or Patumavi), ruled 36 years.
- Riktavarna (or Aristakarman), ruled 25 years.
- Hāla (r. 20-24 CE), author of the Gathasaptasati, an Indian literature classic, ruled 5 years.
- Mandalaka (or Bhavaka, Puttalaka), ruled 5 years.
- Purindrasena, ruled 5 years.
- Sundara Satakarni, ruled 1 year.
- Cakora Satakarni (or Cakora Svatikarna), ruled 6 months.
- Sivasvati, ruled 28 years.
- Gautamiputra Sātakarni, or Gautamiputra, popularly known as Shalivahan (r. 25-78 CE), ruled 21 years.
- Vasisthiputra Sri Pulamavi, or Puloma, Puliman (r. 78-114 CE), ruled 28 years.
- Vashishtiputra Sātakarni (r. 130-160), or Shiva Sri, Sivasri, ruled 7 years.
- Shivaskanda Satakarni, (157-159), ruled 7 years.
- Yajna Sri Satakarni, (r. 167-196 CE), ruled 29 years.
- Vijaya, ruled 6 years.
- Canda Sri Satakarni, ruled 10 years.
- Puloma, 7 years.
- Madhariputra Svami Sakasena? (r. c.190)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Source:fragment LVI
- ^ Rapson, LXIV
- ^ "The Satavahanas did not hold the western Deccan for long. They were gradually pushed out of the west by the Sakas (Western Khatrapas). The Kshaharata Nahapana's coins in the Nasik area indicate that the Western Kshatrapas controlled this region by the first century A.D. By becoming master of wide regions including Malwa, Southern Gujarat, and Northern Konkan, from Broach to Sopara and the Nasik and Poona districts, Nahapana rose from the status of a mere Kshatrapa in the year 41 (58 A.D.) to that of Mahakshatrapa in the year 46 (63 A.D.)." in "History of the Andhras"
- ^ Source for coin information
- ^ Rapson XXXVII. Original Prakrit, line 5 and 6 of the inscription: "Khatiya-dapa-mana-madanasa Saka-Yavana-Palhava-nisudanasa -- Khakharatavamsa-niravasesa-karasa Satavahana-kula-yasa patithapana-karasa"
- ^ Rapson
- ^ "Satakarni, Lord of the Deccan, [whom Rudradaman] (inscription dated Saka 72=150 CE) twice in a fair fight was completely defeated, but did not destroy on account of the nearness of their connection", Rapson XXXVIII, quoting the Junagadh inscription.
- ^ Rapson
- ^ Rapson CLXXXVI
- ^ This list, with comments, is given in Rapson "Catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc...", Rapson, p LXVIII
- ^ Comments given in Rapson "Catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc...", Rapson, p LXVIII
- ^ However, recent archeological finds on the banks of river Amaravati in Tamil Nadu suggest that the Chera rulers in Southern india issued their own coins with portraits in early centuries BCE. Source
- ^ Rapson CLXXXVII
- ^ Marathi Vishwakosh, Government of Maharashtra publication
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6th century BCE |
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[edit] See also
- Maratha clan system
- Gautamiputra Satakarni
- Indo-Greek Kingdom
- Indo-Scythians
- Indo-Parthians
- Western Kshatrapas
- Kushan Empire
- Andhra Pradesh
[edit] References
- K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, A History of South India (Madras, 1976).
- Rapson "A Catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras..." (Patna, 1990).
