THE SATAVAHANA DYNASTY

THE SATAVAHANA DYNASTY

The Satavahanas (IAST: Sātavāhana), also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty based in the Deccan region. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE, although some assign the beginning of their rule to as early as the 3rd century BCE. The Satavahana kingdom mainly comprised the present-day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. At different times, their rule extended to parts of modern Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The dynasty had different capital cities at different times, including Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota).

The origin of the dynasty is uncertain, but according to the Puranas, their first king overthrew the Kanva dynasty. In the post-Maurya era, the Satavahanas established peace in the Deccan region, and resisted the onslaught of foreign invaders. In particular their struggles with the Saka Western Satraps went on for a long time. The dynasty reached its zenith under the rule of Gautamiputra Satakarni and his successor Vasisthiputra Pulamavi. The kingdom fragmented into smaller states by the early 3rd century CE.

The origin of the dynasty is uncertain, but according to the Puranas, their first king overthrew the Kanva dynasty. In the post-Maurya era, the Satavahanas established peace in the Deccan region, and resisted the onslaught of foreign invaders. In particular their struggles with the Saka Western Satraps went on for a long time. The dynasty reached its zenith under the rule of Gautamiputra Satakarni and his successor Vasisthiputra Pulamavi. The kingdom fragmented into smaller states by the early 3rd century CE







ETIMOLOGY

Another theory connects their name to the earlier Satiyaputa dynasty. Yet another theory derives their name from the Munda words Sadam ("horse") and Harpan ("son"), implying "son of the performer of a horse sacrifice".[9] Several rulers of the dynasty bear the name or title "Satakarni". Satavahana, Satakarni, Satakani and Shalivahana appear to be variations of the same word. Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi theorized that the word "Satakarni" is derived from the Munda words sada ("horse") and kon ("son").[10]

First revival

A coin of Nahapana restruck by the Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni. Nahapana's profile and coin legend are still clearly visible.

Satavahana architecture at Cave No.3 of the Pandavleni Caves in Nashik. This cave was probably started during the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni, and was finished and dedicated to the Buddhist Samgha during the reign of his son Vasishthiputra Pulumavi, circa 150 CE.
The Satavahana power was revived by Gautamiputra Satakarni, who is considered the greatest of the Satavahana rulers.[34] Charles Higham dates his reign c. 103 – c. 127 CE.[34] S. Nagaraju dates it 106–130 CE.[42] The king defeated by him appears to have been the Western Kshatrapa ruler Nahapana, as suggested by Nahapana's coins overstuck with names and titles of Gautamiputra.

Gautamiputra Satakarni was succeeded by his son Vasishthaputra Pulumayi. In his religious policy, he was not as orthodox as his father. While Gautamiputra did not permit marriages among the people of four traditional Varnas, his son Vasishthaputra did not hesitate to establish matrimonial relation even with the Sakas who belonged to a foreign race.
Second Saka invasion

Coin of Vashishtiputra Satakarni.
Pulumavi's successor was his brother Vashishtiputra Satakarni. According to S. N. Sen he ruled during 120–149 CE;[9] according to Charles Higham, his regnal years spanned 138–145 CE.[34] He entered into a marriage alliance with the Western Satraps, marrying the daughter of Rudradaman I.[9]

The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I states that he defeated Satakarni, the lord of Dakshinapatha (Deccan), twice. It also states that he spared the life of the defeated ruler because of close relations:[34]

After the death of Pulumavi IV, the Satavahana empire fragmented into five smaller kingdoms:[9]

Northern part, ruled by a collateral branch of the Satavahanas (which ended in early 4th century[34])
Western part around Nashik, ruled by the Abhiras
Eastern part (Krishna-Guntur region), ruled by the Andhra Ikshvakus
South-western parts (northern Karanataka), ruled by the Chutus of Banavasi
South-eastern part, ruled by the Pallavas

List of Satavahanas Rulers and their contributions

Name of Satavahana Rulers	Contribution (s)
Simuka	1. Founder of the dynasty 2. Succeeded by his brother Krishna (Kanha)
Kanha	1. He is identified with the "Kanha-raja" (King Kanha) of "Satavahana-kula" (Satavahana family) mentioned in a Nashik cave inscription 2. He extended the empire to further south and was succeeded by Simuka’s son Satkarni-I.
Satakarni	1. He was the third of the Satavahana kings and was the first powerful Satavahans ruler. 2. His achievements in details are describes in the Nanaghat inscription. 3. Reffered to as 'lord of Dakshinpatha' 4. His name is inscribed on one of the gateways of Sanchi Stupa.
Sivasvati	1. During his reign that the Western Satraps invaded Northern Maharastra and Vidarbha and occupied the districts of Pune and Nashik, forcing the Satavahanas to abandon their capital Junnar and to move to Prastisthana (modern Paithan) in the vicinity of Aurangabad. 2. His Queen was probably Gautami Balashri (mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni) who appears in an inscription at Nasik caves as the donator of Cave Number three.
Gautamiputra Satakarni	1. Information about him comes from his coins, the Satavahana inscriptions and the royal genealogies in the various Puranas. 2.  Best known inscription is the Nashik prashasti (eulogy) inscription of his mother Gautami Balashri, which credits him with extensive military conquests 3. The Nashik prashasti inscription of Gautamiputra's mother calls him the "king of kings", and states that his orders were obeyed by the circle of all kings. 4. He was the first king bearing matronym (Mothers name)
Vasishthiputra Pulumavi	1. Referred to as Vasishthiputra Sri Pulumavi 2. Set up his capital at Paithan or Paristhan on the bank of Godavari river. 3. He extended his borders to eastern Deccan and started trade with Java and Sumatra.
Vashishtiputra Satakarni	1. He had great conflict with the Scythian Western Kshatrapas in the West, but he eventually married the daughter of Rudradaman I of the Western Kshatrapa dynasty, in order to forge an alliance. 2. Inscription in a cave at Kanheri witnesses the marriage between Rudradaman I's daughter and Vashishtiputra Satakarni. 3. He was defeated by his father-in-law in the battle that causes a serious effect on Satavahana power and prestige.
Shivaskanda Satakarni	1. He succeeded Vashishtiputra Satakarni in 145 AD. 2. He was defeated twice in battle by his Western Satrap enemy Rudradaman.
Yajna Sri Satakarni	1. He was lover of trade and navigation. 2. He issued coins in which ships were depicted.
Vijaya	1. He was the last ruler of Satvahanas dynasty

The Satavahanas Empire collapse when Abhiras seized Maharshtra and Ikshvakus and Pallavas appropriated the eastern province. Their greatest competitors were the Sakas who had established their power upper Deccan and Western India. In the above list of Satavahanas Rulers and their contributions will enhance the general knowledge of the readers.

Satavahana Kings
Simuka	(100-70 BCE)
Kanha	(70-60 BCE)
Satakarni	(1st BCE)
Sivasvati	(1st century CE)
Gautamiputra Satakarni	(2nd century CE)
Vasishthiputra Pulumavi	(2nd century CE)
Vashishtiputra Satakarni	(2nd century CE)
Shivaskanda Satakarni	(2nd century CE)
Yajna Sri Satakarni	(2nd century CE)
Vijaya	(2nd century CE)

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