SATVAHANA (100 BCE -- 3rd AD)
INTRODUCTION
After the downfall of the vast Mauryan Empire when Magadha saw the rise of the Sunga and the Kanva dynasties.
Kalinga saw the rise of the Chedi Mahameghavahana Dynasty, South India also saw the rise of the Satavahana Dynasty in its Andhra region.
The founder of this southern dynasty was a King named Simuka. While this name ‘Simuka’ is seen in the inscription, the Puranas mention him as Sisuka and Sindhuka.
From the descriptions in the Puranas it is understood that this hero defeated some of the last surviving rulers of the Sunga Dynasty who ruled in the North and also the King of the Kanva Dynasty who ruled over Magadha, and established his power in the South. It is believed that Simuka rose to power during the First Century before Christ, after conquering an extensive territory in the Deccan.
A definite historical evidence is available regarding the authenticity of the Satavahana rule in the South. It is mentioned in the Hatigumpha Inscription of the Kalinga Emperor Kharavela that he defeated a King of the Andhra Satavahana Dynasty named Sri Satakarni. Since Kharavela belonged to the 1st century B.C., it can be historically said that the time of the rise of the Satavahana Dynasty in the Andhra region also took place in that century. King Sri Satakarni might have been one of the descendants of King Simuka, the founder of the Satavahana Dynasty.
The original home of the Satavahanas was somewhere in the Deccan, and most likely they belonged to the Andhra territory. Because, the Puranas described them as the Andhras. In other words, though the Dynasty became famous as the Satavahana, they were the inhabitants of Andhra. The Andhras were no doubt one of the most famous races of ancient India.
Apart from what the Puranas described of them, one finds the name ‘Andhra’ in the ‘Indica’of the Greek Ambassador Megasthenes who lived in the Court of Chandragupta Maurya. The Ashokan Inscriptions also contain the name ‘Andhra’. Most probably, the Satavahanas were a branch of the Andhra race. That is why the first King of the Satavahana Dynasty, Simuka, was described in the Puranas as a man of the Andhra Race.
Rule of the Satavahana Rulers
The first King of the Satavahana Dynasty Simuka conquered a large territory in Southern India and established his authority as a successful ruler. In the North, he extended his power as far as Vidisha. But he could not advance as far as Magadha even though the ruling Kanva Dynasty in Pataliputra was on its path towards decline and fall.
After the death of Simuka, the next King of the Dynasty named Krishna ruled over the Satavahana Kingdom for eighteen Years. After him, Sri Satakarni came to the throne. He was a powerful king. He tried to conquer new territories in the Deccan and succeeded in his attempts. It is for his new conquests that his queen Nayanika described her husband in the Nanaghat inscription as the ‘Dakshinapatha-Pati’ or the Lord of Southern India. Sri Satakarni ruled over many portions of the Godavari Valley and the northern regions of the Deccan. After conquering some territories of the Magadhan Kingdom and extensive areas of Western India, Sri Satakarni proclaimed his royal glory by performing both ‘Rajasuya’ and ‘Ashwamedha’ Yajnas.
But, to the misfortune of King Sri Satakarni, when he was trying to become the paramount lord of the South, the Kalinga Emperor Mahameghavahana Aira Kharavela led his aggressive military expeditions towards the South to conquer new territories for the Kalinga Empire. As a result, war broke out between the armies of the Kalinga Mahameghavahana Dynasty and the Andhra Satavahana Dynasty. In that struggle for supremacy, it was the Kalinga power which won victory after victory. Kharavela annexed a large part of the Satavahana territory to his Kalinga Empire.
By the time King Satakarni died, his sons were minor in age. The wife of the dead King, Queen Nayanika, therefore, looked after the administration of the kingdom. But, it was difficult for her to save the kingdom from decline. By the 1st century A.D., the foreign invaders named the Sakas invaded the Satavahana Kingdom again and again and took possession of the north-western regions of that Kingdom.
The power which the rulers of the Satavahana Dynasty enjoyed in the 1st century B.C. was no longer there during the first century of the Christian Era. Yet, the Satavahana Dynasty did not disappear from the history of the Deccan like the Sungas and the Kanvas of Magadha in the North. The dynasty continued to rule over the Andhra region even if the size of the territory was reduced.
Gautamiputra Satakarni
It was during the first half of the 2nd century A.D. that the Satavahana power once again rose into eminence in the South. The man of destiny this time was a king named Gautamiputra Satakarni. By his achievements as a conqueror and as an able administrator he raised the prestige of the Satavahana Dynasty to a new height and came to be regarded as its greatest monarch.
Gautamiputra first increased the size of his army and made it a strong fighting force. Next, he led expeditions against the foreign Saka rulers and drove them out of the Maharashtra region. After liberating that area, he fought against the Yavanas and the Palhavas and conquered their territories in the west. Like Emperor Kharavela of Kalinga, Gautamiputra Satakarni recorded his victory over others in his inscriptions.
It is known from his inscriptions that the empire of Gautamiputra Satakarni included such territories as Asmaka in the Godavari basin, Suratha or modern Kathiawad, Aparanta or northern Konkan, the land of Anupa on the bank of river Narmada, Vidarbha or modern Berar, Akara or Eastern Malwa, and Avanti or Western Malwa. It is thus estimated that the territory of Gautamiputra extended from Kathiawad in the north to the river Krishna in the south, and from Konkan in the west to Berar in the east.
Though Gautamiputra established his power over a vast territory, yet it proved difficult for him to consolidate his rule over the lands to the north of the Vindhyas. The conquered areas beyond the Vindhya Mountains could not be held for long because of the foreign invasions. During the life time of Gautamiputra, a foreign race called the Scythians conquered the land of Malwa. Other conquered regions on the northern side of the Vindhya ranges also became independent of the Satavahana power.
Gautamiputra Satakarni was a patron of Brahmanism. True to Brahmanical orthodoxy, he did not permit intercaste marriage among the people of the established ‘Four Varnas’. On the other hand, he was a benevolent king who looked after the welfare of his subjects. He took several steps to benefit the peasant population of his country and to improve the condition of agriculture. He was also a ruler of humanitarian attitude to help the poor and the needy. On the whole, during his liberal monarchy, the subjects lived in peace and enjoyed prosperity.
Gautamiputra was described in his inscriptions as the destroyer of the Sakas, Pahlavas and Yavanas. He was also mentioned as the ‘Lord of the Western Vindhyas’. Proud of his power, he styled himself as the ‘Raja-Raja’ or the King of Kings, and as the ‘Maharaja’. After a long reign, this King died in 104 A.D.
RULERS
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
Conquests
There were about 19 Satavahana rulers of whom the most important were Simuka who conquered Magadha and Krishna who occupied Nasik. Sri Satakarni conquered Berarand Madhya Pradesh. Little is known about their successors for about a century except Hala the 17th ruler of this dynasty.
Shri Gautamiputra Satakarni conquered Malwa, Kathiawar, Gujarat and part of the Rajputana. Shri Pulumavi had perpetual conflict with Rudradaman. The last king was Yagya Sri Satakarni who was a strong ruler. He waged wars to recover the territories conquered previously by the Saka rulers.
Satavahana Administration
The Satavahana coins, inscriptions and literature are the rich source of our knowledge about their administrative system. In this period the South was ruled over by the monarchies. King was the highest official of the Government and his office was hereditary.
They did not assume high sounding titles. Similarly, the Satavahana rulers did not believe in divine rights of a king and they carried administration in accordance with the directives of the Dharma Shastras and the social customs. The king himself led his armies in the battle-field and was commander-in-chief of his forces.
There was also a council of ministers to aid and advise him for carrying out the administration properly. The king was the head of the Government as well as the protector to his people. The Satavahana kings regarded their subjects as their own children and always looked after their welfare.
The Satavahana Empire was very vast. Their administrative system was feudal. They had divided their empire among a number of feudal chiefs who managed the land revenue system and looked after the administration.
There were three grades of feudatories – the ‘Raja’, the ‘Mahabhoja’ and the ‘Maharathi or ‘Senapati”. The ‘Raja’ belonged to the highest grade. He had the right to impose taxes and to strike coins. The kingdom was divided into provinces and ‘Janapadas’ for administrative efficiency.
The highest official in a province was ‘Amatya’ or minister. His office was not hereditary. Men of proven ability were appointed to this official. Each unit had several villages. A village was administered by a ‘Gramika’. There we several officials to help the king. Out of them, the most important were ‘Senapati, ‘Mahabhoja’, ‘Koshadhyaksha’, ‘Rajadoof, ‘Amatya’ etc.
There was also a special official called ‘Uparakshita’ who was charged with the duty of building caves etc. for the monks. The ‘bhikshus’ (monks) and Brahmanas were held in high esteem and they too observed and preached high standards of conduct. They were beyond the ordinary laws of the Government.
In this period, the local administration had its own importance. There were separate organization to look after the administration of the towns and the villages. The towns were administered by a body called the ‘Nagarsabha’ while in villages there were ‘Gram Sabhas’. These organizations carried their functions independently without any interference.
The military administration of the Satavahanas was also quite efficient. Their army consisted of foot soldiers, cavalry and elephants. Foot soldiers or infantry was the backbone of the army and they formed the vanguard and were flanked on either side by horses and elephants. The soldiers used swords, spears, axes and armours as weapons of war.
It was by dint of efficient military administration that the Satavahanas succeeded in expanding their empires. They kept a regiment posted in each village for maintaining peace and order. They were maintained at the expense of the rural inhabitants.
Society during Satavahana Period
The coins, sculpture and literature of the Satavahana period are the source of our knowledge not only in respect of the contemporary administration but also about the political, social, economic and religious and cultural conditions.
Social Condition
The Satavahana society was divided into four classes. This division was based on economic activity and status. The first class consisted of high officials and feudatory chief who ruled over provinces and districts. The second class included petty officers like Amatyas Mahamatras and wealthy traders. In the third class were the middle class peoples such as Vaidyas or physicians, writers, peasants, goldsmiths, perfumers etc.
The fourth and the last class were constituted of the lowest vocations such as carpenters, blacksmiths, fishermen and gardeners. There were the four divisions of the society. The smallest unit was the family in which the eldest living member commanded the greatest respect. He was called the ‘Grihapati and was obeyed by all the other members of the family.
Women were honoured. They were given higher education and they took part in religious functions. Some of the rulers even added their mother’s name to their own name, such as Gautamiputra, Vashishthiputra, Pulumavi, Kaushakiputra etc.
This practice itself reveals that the status of women was much high. Sometimes, women assumed guardianship of their minor sons and acted as their regents. They also took part in the Ashvamedhas. The Satavahanas were Brahmanas.
Therefore, Brahmansnism made rapid strides under their rule. The Brahmanas were accorded the highest place. Effort was also made to revice the Varna system. In their bid to exalt Brahmanism the Smritis declared that a ten years old Brahman would be more revered than a 100 years old Kshatriya.
Mixed marriages were considered obnoxious though there are some instances of such marriages. Vashishthiputra Pulumavi himself married the daughter of the Saka ruler Rudradaman thus giving respectability to such marriages. In this period, inter marriages among the Hindus and foreign tribes of the Sakas, the parthians and the Greeks were freely consummated so that these foreigners were absorbed forever in the Hindu social order.
Economic Condition
Agriculture and trade were prosperous. Life of the common man was happy as he was well- provided with all facilities of life. They were economically well-off. They inherited many traits of the material culture of the Mauryas and made their life better and well off. There was a free fusion of local elements and northern ingredients under them.
They learnt the use of coins, burnt bricks and ring wells from the Mauryas and added much to the advancement of their material life. Under the Satavahanas, agriculture was prosperous and the village’s economy was developed. Rice was cultivated in the territory between the Krishna and Godavari rivers. Cotton was also produced. The peasants used implements made of iron which were extensively used particularly in Carnatic. There were also wells for irrigation.
Encouragement was given to trade and industry. The traders and those engaged in other professions had their own guilds or ‘sanghas’. Coin dealers, potters, oil pressers and metal workers had their own guilds. These guilds looked after the collective interests of their trade and worked for their common uplift. These guilds were recognized by the Government and worked as bankers also.
Both internal and external to trade and industry. The external or foreign trade was carried through the famous ports of Supara, Broach and Kalyan. India and trade relations with countries like Arabia, Egypt and Rome. In the far eastern countries, Indian traders established their own settlements and preach Indian culture.
They referred to these countries as ‘Swargabhoomi’ or paradise. India exported cotton, textiles, spices etc. India imported wine, glass and items of luxury. The inland trade was also prosperous. Travel between the north and south of India were much easy as the roads and transport were better.
Several towns sprang up in Maharashtra during this period. Paithan, Nasik and Junar were big markets and centers of trade. In the south-east Vijaypur and Narsela were well-known trade centers. There were guilds of traders as well and they carried trade in groups. To encourage trade, the Satavahna kings struck numerous coins of gold, silver, copper and bronze.
Religious Condition
During the Satavahana period, both Hinduism and Buddhism spread rapidly. The Satavahana rulers were the followers of Brahmanism. They performed Aswamedha Yajnas and gave donations to Brahmanas. Indra, Surya (The Sun God), Chandra, (the Moon God), Vasudeva, Krishna, Pasupati and Gauri etc. were various Gods and Goddesses worshipped by the people. Shaivism and Vaishnavism were most popular form of Hinduism. Beautiful temples were built. The Brahmans occupied the highest position in the society.
The Satavahana kings were Brahmanas but they showed tolerance towards other faiths such as to Buddhism as well. They gave similar donations to Buddhism as they did for the Hinduism. Consequently, Buddhism too spread in this period. At many places, the Buddhist caves, chaityas and stupas were built.
Almost all the caves in the south belonged to the Buddhists. Sometimes, grants of land were made for the maintenance of these chaityas, viharas and stupas as well as for the monks or bhikshus. In this period, there were several sects of Buddhism in the south and various classes of monks were always busy to preach the Buddhist doctrines.
One significant development of this period was the admission of the foreign races of the Sakas, Greeks, Kushans and Abhiras to the folds of Hinduism or Buddhism. They became an integral part of the Indian society. They were quite tolerant and exchanged gifts on religious festivals and other occasions.
However, the Satavahana rulers promoted Buddhism by granting land to the monks. In their kingdom, the Mahayana form of Buddhism commanded a considerable following, especially amongst the artisan class. Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati in AP became important seats of Buddhist culture under the Satavahanas, and more so under their successors, the Ikshvakus. Similarly, Buddhism flourished in the Nasik and Junar areas in western Deccan in Maharashtra, where it seems to have been supported by traders.
Literature
The Satavahana rulers were lovers of literature. Under their patronage, great progress was made in the field of literature. Most of the Satavahana rulers were themselves learned and had special interest in literature. In this period, the Prakrit language and literature developed significantly.
They extended patronage to the Prakrit language and wrote most of their inscriptions in that language. The Satvahana King Hala was a poet of high order. He composed ‘Gatha Saptasatf in Prakrti. It has 700 shloakas. He also patronized several scholars who lived in his court. Gunadhya, the great scholar who wrote ‘Brihat Katha’ lived in his court. Another scholar Sarva Varman wrote a treatise on the Sanskrit Grammar.
The two great Epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, were compiled. Besides, some of the Dharmasastra were also composed in this period
Art and Architecture
Taxila, Sakala, Bhita, Kausambi, Ahichchhatra, Patliputra, Nagrujunkonda, Amaravati, Kaveripattanam were well planned and developed cities, protected by fortification walls and moats.Buddhism stupas at Sanchi, Amaravati, Bharhut, and Sarnath are the best examples of art and architecture that flourished during this period. Stupa is a hemispherical dome or mound built over sacred relics either of the Buddha himself or of a sanctified monk or a sacred text. Buddha relics were kept in a casket in a smaller chamber in the center of the base of the stupa.The stupa has a fenced path around called ‘Pradakshinapatha.’ The four gateways of Sanchi stupa built in the first century B.C. are extremely artistic and are one of the finest examples of art and architecture of India. One of these gateways was donated by the Guild of ivory workers of Vidisa.
Rock-cut caves are another form of marvel architecture of this period. These rock-cut caves are of two types, namely −
Great work☺️
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