The mighty Satavahana dynasty .

[Lord ZeN]

The Satavahana dynasty ruled which ruled huge part of India from the 2nd century BC to the late 2nd century CE was an Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar (Pune) and Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra.The Satavahanas are credited for establishing peace in the country, defeating the Scythian invaders and successfully protecting Peninsular India and Central India after the decline of Mauryan Empire.


Identity of the Satavahanas
The Pauranic genealogies refer to the kings of 'Andhra-Jati'. Some Puranas style them as Andhrabhrityas. The Nanaghat and Nasik cave inscriptions and coins discovered in the Deccan mention the names of several kings of 'Satavahana-Kula'. On the basis of certain names, and their order of succession common to various kings mentioned in the two sources, some scholars identified the Satavahanas of the epigraphical records and coins with the Andhras of the Puranas. However the Puranas never use the term 'Satavahana' and the inscriptions
and coins do not refer to the Satavahanas as the Andhras.On the basis of this, some scholars strongly objected to the identification.

However V.S. Suktankar, K.P. Jayaswal, H.C Roychaudhuri and V.S. Bakhle rejected the Andhra-Satavahana equation. Jayaswal regarded the Satavahanas as probable representatives of the Satiyaputras of the Asokan records.
All these scholars who denied the identity of the Satavahanas with the Andhras put forth the following arguments.

1. The Andhras were in the eastern part of Deccan. If the Satavahanas were Andhras, how was then the inscriptions end coins of the early Satavahana rulers were discovered only in Maharashtra but not in Andhra?
2. Many inscriptions and coins of the Satavahanas were found and no ruler is mentioned any where as the Andhra.
3. The language of the Andhras is Telugu. However the Satavahana records are in Prakrit. If the Satavahanas were the Andhras, then their records be issued in Telugu itself but not in Prakrit.
4. The kings mentioned in the Puranas were either Andhras or Andhrabhrityas but not Satavahanas.
5. The Satavahanas established their authority first in Maharastra. After sometime, they conquered the Andhra country. Among these rulers, the last 7 or 8 rulers reigned only Andhra proper. Simply because of this the contemporary Pauranic writers might have mistaken and described the Satavahanas as Andhras.

However the above arguments may be refuted on the following grounds :—
1. The Andhras were not simply confined to the eastern Deccan, They were to be found even in Bastar area of Madhya Pradesh, Northern Kamataka, some parts of Maharashtra and Orissa as well. The Satavahanas, starting from Andhra, conquered Maharashtra and settled there for sometime. Hence records of the early rulers were found there. However the recently discovered coins from Kondapur and Kotilingala (Karimnagar
district) in the eastern Deccan refer to Simuka Satavahana, the founder of the Dynasty. In view of this, the argument of the Scholars who denied the identity on the basis that records of early Satavahanas are not found in Andhradesa does not hold good.

2. It is true that inscriptions and coins do not refer to the Satavahanas as Andhras. Generally rulers give the names of their dynasties and not the racial affinity. For example, the rulers of the Post-Satavahana dynasties like Ikshvaku, Pallava, Salankayana, Vishnukundin and even Reddi, which ruled over Andhra did not claim themselves in their inscriptions as Andhras. But there is no denying the fact that they were Andhras. The
Nasik and Karle inscriptions refer to Nahapana's dynastic name (Kshaharata) and not his race (Saka-Pahlava known from other sources). Similarly the Kanheri inscription refers to Rudradaman's dynasty (Kardamaka) and not his race (Saka). Hence Satavahana is the name of the family (Kula). They might have been part and parcel of the Andhra race.

3. No doubt, Telugu is the language of the Andhras and it had its origins probably in the Desi of first century A.D. However the use of Prakrit might be the custom of that period. It was used in inscriptions not simply by the Satavahanas, but also by their predecessor Asoka, their contemporaries Sungas and their successors Ikshvakus and early Pallavas. Even the Buddhists also wrote books in Prakrit which was perhaps the
language of the masses.

4. It is true the Puranas refer to them either as Andhras or Andhrabhrityas but not as Satavahanas. The term 'Andhrabhritya' need not be interpreted as 'the servants of the Andhras (as Dr. Suktankar did). It may mean the Andhras that were servants'. Further K.P. Jayaswal suggested that when the
centre of political gravity shifted from Magadha, the Puranas describe the imperial dynasties with reference to their place of origin as in the case of Vakatakas who were described in the Puranas as the Vindhyakas. So also the Satavahanas were called Andhras in the Puranas. Moreover Matsya Purana clearly states that Simuka was an 'Andhra Jatiya'.

5.The Edicts of Asoka place the Andhras in present Andhradesa, and indicate it unreasonable to huddle
them together with the others in Maharashtra

6. There is evidence to show that the Satavahanas conquered Vidisa, Maharashtra and even Pataliputra. But there is no evidence to their conquest of Andhra area. This is because of the fact that they were Andhras and had their political career started first in the Andhra area and then extended to Maharashtra and other areas. The compilers of some of the Puranas were so near in point of time to the Satavahana kings that they could not have in their ignorance foisted the name Andhra on to the Satavahana princes simply because they found or knew them only as rulers of Andhra. The fact is that the Pauranikas were dealing with them in the larger context of their tribal or communal affinity. Further, if the Satavahanas and Andhras are not identified as one and the same, then number of difficulties will arise. In view of certain common names and the order of succession, one has to say that two different dynasties with same names of kings ruled over the same area during the same period, which is impossible. Thus it appears most likely that the Satavahanas belonged to the Andhra Community.

The Edicts of Ashoka mention the Sātavāhanas as feudatories of Emperor Ashoka


Orgins of Satavahanas

A subject of controversy regarding the Satavahanas is their homeland or origin. There are conflicting theories and contradictory opinions regarding this. Earlier scholars like D.R. Bhandarkar conjectured that the land of the Andhras must have at the early period consisted of certain parts of the Central Provinces together with the Visakhapatnam district and may have also included the Godavari and Krishna districts. The eastern Deccan was not called Andhra after its conquest by the Satavahanas. Andhradesa existed where it is today even before the Satavahanas came into prominence.
The Satavahanas ruled a large and powerful empire that withstood 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.The Satavahanas declared independence some time after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE), as the Maurya Empire began to weaken.
It is believed that they were originally practicing Sanatana Dharma (as per Sthala Purana of Amaravati). Some rulers like Maharaja Satakarni are believed to have performed Vedic sacrifices as well.

 

[Georgeclark]

I thought you left

 

[Lord ZeN]

Political History of the Satavahanas

The vague, disputed and uncorroborated doubtful evidences form the basis for the history of the Satavahanas. The Jain sources mention Satavahana as the first king in the family. The Kathasaritsagara also contains a story about Satavahana. The Kondapur coins bear the legend 'Sadvahana'. On scriptal grounds this Satavahana is placed close to (either before or contemporaneous with) Simuka, the first ruler of the family mentioned in the Puranas. The latest discovery, Kotilingala coins (from Karimnagar district) included seven coins belonging to this Simuka.

Simuka
The legend on these coins strengthens the possibility that the king Satavahana of Kondapur coins is none other than Simuka himself who is called Simuka Satavahana in a Nanaghat label inscription also. It may be assumed that Simuka Satavahana was the founder of the dynasty and his successors called themselves Satavahanas.
Though Simuka Satavahana was the reputed founder of the Satavahana line of kings, he had not founded an independent state. He was probably the first to bring several Andhra family groups together and to oblige them to recognise him as their mutual and unique leader. He emerged as a prominent figure about 271 B.C. When the great Asoka Maurya, according to the Buddhist sources, was waging a bitter war of succession against his brothers. With Asoka's show of force in the Kalinga war, Simuka and his associates who held power for 23 years were content with their semi-independent status.

Satavahana 1st century BCE coin inscribed in Brahmi: "(Sataka)Nisa"

Kanha (Krishna)
Kanha (Krishna), the brother and successor of Simuka, came under the spell of Asoka's increasing zeal for Dharma. A cave at Nasik for the Sramanas was constructed. Taking advantage of Asoka's death and the disturbed conditions in the Magadhan capital, Kanha probably broke off from the Mauryan yoke and acquired an independent status for the area under his authority.

Satakami-ll
The earliest of the Satavahana rulers to receive wide recognition was Satakami-ll (184 B.C.—128 B.C.), the sixth of
the Matsya corresponding to the third of the Vayu list and The Satavahanas 33 also to Satakami of both Kharavela's Hathigumpha inscription and Naganika's Nanaghat record. The wide recognition was due to his policy of military expansion in all directions. He defied Kharavela of Kalinga. He was the 'lord of Pratishthana' (modem Paithan in the north-western Deccan. He conquered eastern Malwa which was being threatened by the Sakas and the Greeks. He gained control of the region of Sanchi. After conquering the Godavari valley, Satakami became the 'lord of the Southern Regions' (Dakshinapathapati). He supported the brahman orthodoxy and performed an Aswamedha to establish
his claim to an empire. 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.).

Satakarni Copper, square nasik type coins

Coin of Satakarni


Gatitamiputra Satakami
Gatitamiputra Satakami, the 23rd king of the Matsya list, was one of the most illustrious rulers of ancient India. His reign is placed between 62 A.D. and 86 A.D. Some scholars attribute to him the foundation of the Safivahana era in 78 A.D. Gautamiputra was credited with the restoration of the fallen prestige of the dynasty. The Nasik inscription of his mother Gautami Bala Sri and his own records at Nasik and Karte furnish us a vivid account of his accomplishments and achievements.

Gatitamiputra Satakami

His phenomenal success realized his ambition to recover the imperial position of the Satavahanas. He first won back the territories on his western borders from the Kshaharata successors of Nahapana. Nahapana's coins were restruck in
his name. Bala Sri's record credits him with the extirpation of the Kshaharata family. It is solid that he humbled the power and pride of the Kshatriyas and destroyed the Yavanas, Sakas and Pahlavans.

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 theShakas (Western Kshatrapas), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians),... who rooted the Khakharata family (The Kshaharata family of Nahapana); who restored the glory of the Satavahana race"

Gautamiputra Satakarni's dominions included the countries of Asika. Asaka, Mulaka, Surashtra, Kakura, Aparanta, Anupa, Vidarbha, Akara and Avanti, the mountainous regions of Virtdhya, Achavata, Pariyatra. Sahya, Kanhagiri, Siritana, Malaya. Mahendra, Seta and Chokora and extended as far as the seas on either side. These details indicate the extent of his empire over the country between Rajasthan and Cuddalore and between the Rishikulya and Vaijayanti. Gautamiputra made his horses drink the waters of the three oceans. He was uniquely skilled
as an archer, absolute as a sovereign and a figure of the heroic mould.
Though an absolute monarch, Gautamiputra was kind to his subjects and a father to his people. He tried to fulfil the
duties of the Trivarga-Dharma, Artha and Kama. He shared the sorrows and pleasures of his people. He is described as
'the abode of the Vedas'.

Vasisthiputra Pulomavi
Gautamiputra's son and successor Vasisthiputra Pulomavi (86-114 A.D.) could not maintain for long his hold over his vast inheritance. During the last years of his rule, he lost the north-western provinces of the Andhra empire to Chashtana, the founder of the Western Kshatrapa Kardamaka line. His successors, Siva Sri and Sivaskanda each ruled for seven years during which period the house of Chashtana expanded its authority upto Cutch in the west by 130 A.D. Chashtana's grandson Rudradaman made his substantial contribution in the growth of the Kardamaka power.

Gautamiputra Yajna Sri
Gautamiputra Yajna Sri (128 A.D. - 157 A.D.) was the last of the great Satavahana rulers. He made attempts to recover the western (Aparanta) provinces. His efforts proved futile. Rudradaman won over the disgruntled Vasisthiputra
Satakami, a relation of Yajna Sri, to his side by giving him his daughter in marriage. The two encounters between Yajna Sri and Rudradaman's forces went against the Andhras. The Saka suzerainty was acknowledged. The Satavahana rule was confined to the Andhra area. The reigns of Yajna Sri's successors, Vijaya, Chanda Sri and Pulomavi (III), covering altogether a period of seventeen years, are of little significance historically. The rise of the Chutus in the west and south, the Abhiras in the Nasik area, the Ikshvakus in the east and the relentless pressure of the Kardamakas of Ujjain sounded the death-knell of the Satavahana empire. Thus came to an end the glorious phase of the rule of the Satavahanas who not only gave the area political integrity but protected it from foreign invaders who inundated the North at that time.

ADMINISTRATION

The extent of the Satavahana empire fluctuated continually according to the political vicissitudes of the times. At its zenith, their empire stretched from the Bay of Bengal in the east to the Arabian sea in the west and embraced the entire region between the Narmada in the north and the Krishna in the south. There is also archaeiological evidence regarding the Satavahana conquest of Malwa and the Puranic evidence for their control over the ancient imperial capital of Magadha, i.e. Pataliputra. Being the political successors of the Mauryans, they borrowed much from the Mauryan administrative system. Their government was based upon hereditory absolute monarchy. They were not content with the simple title of Raja. Gautamiputra Satakarni bore the imperial title 'Rajarano' i.e. of King of Kings. The rulers regarded themselves as the guardians of social and political order and the welfare of their subjects.
For administrative purposes, the empire was divided into a number of Aharas or Rashtras (Govardhana, Sopara. Manrrala, Satavahana etc.), each of which consisted of at least one central town (Nigama) and a number of villages. The Amatyas governed these Aharas. The Maharathis and the Mahabhojas, the feudatory chieftains, were superior in rank and power to
the Amatyas. The inscriptions refer to officers like Mahassnapati, Heranika, Bhandagarika, Mahamatra, Lekhaka and Nibandhakaras. Gramas (villages) and Nigamas (towns) were the lowest administrative units. Considerable autonomy was there in managing the affairs of these units. The trade and merchant guilds (srenies) played an important part in this regard.


ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

In the economic sphere, agriculture was the mainstay of both the people and the government. The country abounded in agricultural products. The king collected the traditional one-sixth of the produce as the share of the state. Salt was a state monopoly. industry and commerce occupied the next place in the economic life of the state. Various classes of workers such as Kularika (potters), Kolika (weaver), Vasakara (bamboo worker), Dhanntka (com dealer) and ICamara (iron worker) are known from the inscriptions. Most of these crafts and trades were organised into guilds or srenis. These guilds provided banking facilities. There was brisk inland trade and sea-borne commerce.Paithan, Tagara, Karahataka, Nasik, Govardhana Vaijayanti

D-hanyakataka, Vijayapura and Vinukonda were great inland market towns of the period. They were connected with each other and with the important parts by roads. Ptolemy described Barukachcha and Kalyan on the west and Maisolia, Allosygne and Apheterion on the east as greet centres of foreign trade. The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea notes that Barukachacha imported wines, silver vessels, fine cloth and ornaments white her exports included ivory, agate, silk cloth and pepper. The number and variety of the Satavahana coins also prove this vigorous commercial activity. The Roman gold flowed into
the Deccan for articles of luxury. The Satavahana period also witnessed an active maritime activity (as revealed by the ship-marked coins of Pulomavi and Yajnasri Satakarni) with the Far East, Ptolemy and the Periplus give descriptions of the Indian settlements in Burma,
Sumatra, Arakan and Champa.

 

[Srinivas]

This dynasty ruled my state and they are good rulers!

These guys are called Andhras from which the name of my state derived.

 

[itachiii]

@Darmashkian @wolfschanzze this might interest you guys..

 

[Magnet]

yeh sab jhoot ka palanda hai

 

[itachiii]

yeh sab jhoot ka palanda hai

kidddo tu na jake dailymotion mein videos dekhna, nahi toh jake so jaaa waise bi kal skool ko jana hain..

 

[Srinivas]

yeh sab jhoot ka palanda hai

Yes the world came into light when an Arab thakedar entered sindh !

 

[itachiii]

.
Satavahana Dynasty: Rulers, Administration, Society and Economic Conditions
by : Mamta Aggarwal | category : Empires
Read this article to learn about the Satavahana Dynasty: Rulers, Administration, Society and Economic and Religious Conditions during the Rule of Satavahana Dynasty !
In the north-western Deccan on the ruins of the Mauryan empire arose the kingdom of the Satavahanas in the first century B.C., with its centre at Pratishtana (modern Paithan in Maharashtra).


Image Curtsey: http://www.ensyklopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/the-time-of-Gautamiputra-Satakarni.jpg


The Puranas speak only of the Andhra rule and not of the Satavahana rule. On the other hand the name Andhra does not occur in the Satvahana inscriptions. There is a lot of controversy regarding the original home of the Satavahanas.

The kings represented in epigraphic records are mentioned in the Puranas as Andhras, Andhra – bhrityah and Andhrajatiyah. The Aitareya Brahmana speaks of them as the degenerate sons of Visvamitra. Pliny the Elder refers to the Andhras as a powerful race which supplied the king with an army of 1, 00,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants.

The Satavahanas were also called/the Andhra dynasty, which has led to the assumption that they originated in the Andhra region, the delta of the Krishna and Godavari rivers on the east coast, from where they moved westwards up the Godavari river, finally establishing their power in the west during the general political confusion on the breaking up of the Mauryan empire.

A contrary opinion has also been put forward that the family originated in the west and extended its control to the east coast, finally giving its name, Andhra, to this region. Since the earliest inscriptions of the Satavahanas are found in the Western Deccan, the later view may be correct.

The Andhras held a position of importance as early as the Mauryan period, since they are specifically mentioned by Asoka amongst the tribal people in his empire.

Early Satavahanas:
The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka. He and his successors established their authority from the mouth of the Krishna to the entire Deccan plateau. According to the Puranas, the Satavahana king killed the last Kanva ruler of Magadha and presumably took possession of his kingdom.

The earliest of the Satavahana kings to receive wide recognition was Satakarni I, and this was due to his policy of military expansion in all directions. He is the Lord of the west who defied Kharavela of Kalinga and against whom the latter campaigned. His conquests took him north of the Narmada into eastern Malva, which at the time was being threatened by the Shakas and the Greeks.

Satakarni I gained control of the region of Sanchi, and an inscription there refers to him as Rajan Shri Satakarni. His next move was in the southerly direction and on conquering the Godavari valley hefelt entitled to call himself Lord of the Southern Regions’ (Dakshina – pathapati).

The description of Satakarni I as (‘Dakshina -pathapati) in the Nanaghat inscription of Nayanika proves that the Satavahana dominion was not confined to western Deccan alone, but included other areas of the Deccan and beyond Satakarni I performed two Asvamedha sacrifices and one Rajasuya sacrifice.

Later Satavahanas:
After the reign of Satakarni I, the Satavahanas were driven out of the western Deccan by the Shakas of the Kshaharata clan. Coins and inscriptions of the Shaka Chief Nahapana have been found around Nasik, indicating the Shaka dominance in the area towards the close of the first century A.D. or the beginning of the second.

But it must have been soon after this that the Satavahanas regained their western possessions, for the coins of Nahapana are often found over-struck by the name Gautamiputra Satakarni, the king who was responsible for re-establishing Satavahana power in this region by driving out the Shakas.

Gautamiputra Satakarni (A.D. 106 -130) is said to have destroyed the power of the Shakas and the pride of the Khastriyas, promoted the interests of the twice-born and stopped the mixing of the four varnas. His achievements are recorded in glowing terms in the Nasik prasasti by his mother Gautami Balasri.

He ruled over a wide area extending from the Krishna in the south to Malwa and Saurashtra in the north and from Berar in the east to the Konkan in the west. To the Buddhists he made munificent donations. His patronage to Brahmanism is revealed by the epithet ‘Ekabrahmana’.

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.

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.

Architecture:
Marked progress was made in the field of architecture as well. The Satvahana rulers took interest in building caves, viharas or monasteries, chaityas or large halls with a number of columns and stupas.

Most of the rock caves in the Deccan were cut during this period. These caves were big and beautiful. The caves, monasteries, chaityas and stupas of Orissa, Nasik, Karle and Bhuj are fine specimen of contemporary architecture and decoration.

Chaitya was a large hall with a number of columns. The Vihara had a central Hall. One could enter this hall by a doorway from a varandah in front. The Chaitya of Karle was most famous. It is 40 metres long, 15 metres wide and 15 metres high. It has rows of 15 columns on each side.

Each of these columns is built on a stair like square plinth. Each pillar has a capital figure of an elephant, a horse or a rider on the top. The roof-tops are also decorated with elegant carvings.The viharas were meant as places of residence for the monks. At Nasik, there are three viharas carrying the inscriptions of Gautmiputra and Nahapana.

The most famous of these monuments are the stupas. Among them the Amravati Stupa and the Nagarjunakonda Stupa are most famous. The stupa was a large round structure built over some relic of the Buddha.

The Amravati Stupa measures 162 metres across the base and its height is 100 feet. Both these stupas are full of sculptures. The Nagarjunakonda town contains not only the Buddhist monuments but also some ancient Hindu brick temples.

Many sculptures were made during this period. Most of the sculptures of this period depict scenes from the life of the Buddha. At Amravati, there is a beautiful scene showing Buddha’s feet being worshipped. The scene, showing Buddha preaching at Nagarjunakonda, is pervaded with serenity and calm.

Achievements of the Satavahana Rulers:
The Satavahana rulers were great kings. They recorded significant achievements in various fields which are described as under:

1. The Satavahana Rulers and their 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.

2. Political Condition and Administration:

The system of administration was monarchical. The king himself was the commander of his force. He sought advice from his council of ministers to carry out his administration efficiently. The administration was feudal. The whole kingdom was divided into provinces, districts and villages.

The king was always prepared to take steps for the welfare of his subjects. The main sources of income were land tax, salt tax, property tax, justice- cess and income from import and export trade. The military administration was efficient. The army which consisted of infantry or foot soldiers, cavalry or horses and elephants were well-equipped.

3. Literary Progress:

The Satavahana kings were lovers of literature. They also patronized learning. The Prakrit language prospered well during this period. Hala wrote ‘Gatha – Saptasati, Gunadhya wrote ‘Brihat Katha’ and Sarva Varman wrote a treatise on the Sanskrit Grammar.

4. Progress in the Field of Architecture:

Under the Satavahanas great progress was made in the field of architecture as well.

5. Progress in the Field of Sculpture:

Many statues and images were also made during this period. Most of the images depict scenes from the life of the Buddha.

The scene depicting Buddha’s feet being worshipped is particularly a unique sculpture at the Amravati Stupa while at Nagarjunakonda the sculpture, depicting the Buddha giving a sermon, cast a spell of serenity and calm.

 

[Bornubus]

Nice thread...

Gautami putra shatkarni....one of the greatest ruler of India....they are credited with...

land grants for the first time at large scale

New kind of coins

Thriving trade with Romans....so much so that even pilny complaint of the outflow of Roman gold to India.


They were only defeated by Rudradaman and jaina king Kharvela...of Orissa.

 

[Lord ZeN]

yeh sab jhoot ka palanda hai

Yes the world came into light when an Arab thakedar entered sindh !

Oh i guess that's the time when real civilization arrived in Indian- Sub continent. All the other civilizations before the coming of Qasim are just Junglee civilizations according to Pakistanis.

 

[Bornubus]

Oh i guess that's the time when real civilization arrived in Indian- Sub continent. All the other civilizations before the coming of Qasim are just Junglee civilizations according to Pakistanis.

You don't expect Neanderthals....to know what rock cut architecture is...

 

[Lord ZeN]

You don't expect Neanderthals....to know what rock cut architecture is...

Well lets not call others names bhai. We all know the greatness of our civilization , our rich culture , our great Emperors.. If someone refuses to accept these great annals of history, it doesn't mean it's grandeur is somehow reduced. It only shows the mentality of such deniers aka haters.

 

[haviZsultan]

The Satavahana dynasty ruled which ruled huge part of India from the 2nd century BC to the late 2nd century CE was an Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar (Pune) and Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra.The Satavahanas are credited for establishing peace in the country, defeating the Scythian invaders and successfully protecting Peninsular India and Central India after the decline of Mauryan Empire.


Identity of the Satavahanas
The Pauranic genealogies refer to the kings of 'Andhra-Jati'. Some Puranas style them as Andhrabhrityas. The Nanaghat and Nasik cave inscriptions and coins discovered in the Deccan mention the names of several kings of 'Satavahana-Kula'. On the basis of certain names, and their order of succession common to various kings mentioned in the two sources, some scholars identified the Satavahanas of the epigraphical records and coins with the Andhras of the Puranas. However the Puranas never use the term 'Satavahana' and the inscriptions
and coins do not refer to the Satavahanas as the Andhras.On the basis of this, some scholars strongly objected to the identification.

However V.S. Suktankar, K.P. Jayaswal, H.C Roychaudhuri and V.S. Bakhle rejected the Andhra-Satavahana equation. Jayaswal regarded the Satavahanas as probable representatives of the Satiyaputras of the Asokan records.
All these scholars who denied the identity of the Satavahanas with the Andhras put forth the following arguments.

1. The Andhras were in the eastern part of Deccan. If the Satavahanas were Andhras, how was then the inscriptions end coins of the early Satavahana rulers were discovered only in Maharashtra but not in Andhra?
2. Many inscriptions and coins of the Satavahanas were found and no ruler is mentioned any where as the Andhra.
3. The language of the Andhras is Telugu. However the Satavahana records are in Prakrit. If the Satavahanas were the Andhras, then their records be issued in Telugu itself but not in Prakrit.
4. The kings mentioned in the Puranas were either Andhras or Andhrabhrityas but not Satavahanas.
5. The Satavahanas established their authority first in Maharastra. After sometime, they conquered the Andhra country. Among these rulers, the last 7 or 8 rulers reigned only Andhra proper. Simply because of this the contemporary Pauranic writers might have mistaken and described the Satavahanas as Andhras.

However the above arguments may be refuted on the following grounds :—
1. The Andhras were not simply confined to the eastern Deccan, They were to be found even in Bastar area of Madhya Pradesh, Northern Kamataka, some parts of Maharashtra and Orissa as well. The Satavahanas, starting from Andhra, conquered Maharashtra and settled there for sometime. Hence records of the early rulers were found there. However the recently discovered coins from Kondapur and Kotilingala (Karimnagar
district) in the eastern Deccan refer to Simuka Satavahana, the founder of the Dynasty. In view of this, the argument of the Scholars who denied the identity on the basis that records of early Satavahanas are not found in Andhradesa does not hold good.

2. It is true that inscriptions and coins do not refer to the Satavahanas as Andhras. Generally rulers give the names of their dynasties and not the racial affinity. For example, the rulers of the Post-Satavahana dynasties like Ikshvaku, Pallava, Salankayana, Vishnukundin and even Reddi, which ruled over Andhra did not claim themselves in their inscriptions as Andhras. But there is no denying the fact that they were Andhras. The
Nasik and Karle inscriptions refer to Nahapana's dynastic name (Kshaharata) and not his race (Saka-Pahlava known from other sources). Similarly the Kanheri inscription refers to Rudradaman's dynasty (Kardamaka) and not his race (Saka). Hence Satavahana is the name of the family (Kula). They might have been part and parcel of the Andhra race.

3. No doubt, Telugu is the language of the Andhras and it had its origins probably in the Desi of first century A.D. However the use of Prakrit might be the custom of that period. It was used in inscriptions not simply by the Satavahanas, but also by their predecessor Asoka, their contemporaries Sungas and their successors Ikshvakus and early Pallavas. Even the Buddhists also wrote books in Prakrit which was perhaps the
language of the masses.

4. It is true the Puranas refer to them either as Andhras or Andhrabhrityas but not as Satavahanas. The term 'Andhrabhritya' need not be interpreted as 'the servants of the Andhras (as Dr. Suktankar did). It may mean the Andhras that were servants'. Further K.P. Jayaswal suggested that when the
centre of political gravity shifted from Magadha, the Puranas describe the imperial dynasties with reference to their place of origin as in the case of Vakatakas who were described in the Puranas as the Vindhyakas. So also the Satavahanas were called Andhras in the Puranas. Moreover Matsya Purana clearly states that Simuka was an 'Andhra Jatiya'.

5.The Edicts of Asoka place the Andhras in present Andhradesa, and indicate it unreasonable to huddle
them together with the others in Maharashtra

6. There is evidence to show that the Satavahanas conquered Vidisa, Maharashtra and even Pataliputra. But there is no evidence to their conquest of Andhra area. This is because of the fact that they were Andhras and had their political career started first in the Andhra area and then extended to Maharashtra and other areas. The compilers of some of the Puranas were so near in point of time to the Satavahana kings that they could not have in their ignorance foisted the name Andhra on to the Satavahana princes simply because they found or knew them only as rulers of Andhra. The fact is that the Pauranikas were dealing with them in the larger context of their tribal or communal affinity. Further, if the Satavahanas and Andhras are not identified as one and the same, then number of difficulties will arise. In view of certain common names and the order of succession, one has to say that two different dynasties with same names of kings ruled over the same area during the same period, which is impossible. Thus it appears most likely that the Satavahanas belonged to the Andhra Community.

The Edicts of Ashoka mention the Sātavāhanas as feudatories of Emperor Ashoka


Orgins of Satavahanas

A subject of controversy regarding the Satavahanas is their homeland or origin. There are conflicting theories and contradictory opinions regarding this. Earlier scholars like D.R. Bhandarkar conjectured that the land of the Andhras must have at the early period consisted of certain parts of the Central Provinces together with the Visakhapatnam district and may have also included the Godavari and Krishna districts. The eastern Deccan was not called Andhra after its conquest by the Satavahanas. Andhradesa existed where it is today even before the Satavahanas came into prominence.
The Satavahanas ruled a large and powerful empire that withstood 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.The Satavahanas declared independence some time after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE), as the Maurya Empire began to weaken.
It is believed that they were originally practicing Sanatana Dharma (as per Sthala Purana of Amaravati). Some rulers like Maharaja Satakarni are believed to have performed Vedic sacrifices as well.

Is Satavahana history taught in any single Indian school? Just curious. I haven't had enough contact with my cousins to know what they are taught.

 

[Lord ZeN]

Is Satavahana history taught in any single Indian school? Just curious. I haven't had enough contact with my cousins to know what they are taught.

Well it's mentioned in CBSE/NCERT textbooks dealing with South Indian history during the period between 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. But it's not given that much importance due to the influence of all the Communists in our Edu- system.