Satavahana Dynasty

SATVAHANA Dynasty
(235/228 BCE– 224 CE)
Sachin Kr. Tiwary

• Finally believed that they
were Brahmins, though
according to Buhler and Dr.
Raychaudhary they were
mixture of Brahmin and
Naga, Dr. K. Gopalcharya
believed in Kshatriya.
• Pratishthan/Pai
than
(Maharashtra),
Amaraavati
(Andhra
Pradesh)
• Pulumavi-IV
(217 – 224 CE)
• Simuk (According to
Inscription-Naneghat (70-60
BCE))
• Sisuka, Sindhuka (Mentioned in
Purana) / Balipuccha
(According to Puranas)
• (He was Feudal of Kanva
Dynasty), He killed the Kanva
last ruler Susarman (c. 40 – c.
27/30 BCE) and established an
empire (According to Dr. D.C.
Sircar).
First
King
Last
King
Caste
Capital

How many
years they ruled
?:
• Rapson, Smith and many believe that they ruled for 450 years,
• R.G. Bhandarkar says 272 years, according to Matsya Purana 460
years
How many
rulers ?-
• Number of rulers 30 (according to Matsya Purana, Vayu Purana).
• Rulers of the Saatvaahana dynasty known as Dakshinaadhipati.
Empire Extend:
• Trans-Vindhyan Region/North- Narmada river/Vindhyan range,
South- Krishna River, East- Kalinga territory, West- Shaka territory.
The importance of boundary- Natural on north & south.
Today’s Political
extend-
• Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh (Core); Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh (extended).

NOMENCLATURE
Aandhra
(Mentioned in
Puranas),
Aandhra-Bhritya (In
Purana, Bhritya means
servant- Servant of
last Kanva),
Aandra Sajaatiya,
Andhra Jaatiya
(it is believed that the
name Andhra is stand
for jaati or tribe),
According to
Kathaasaritsaagar of
Somadeva (सात नामक यक्ष की
सवारी करने वाला- Who rides
over the Yaksha whose
name was Saat)
Saatavaahana
(Mentioned in the
inscriptions of
Naneghat, it is
believed that the word
Saatvaahana is stand
or the family or kula)

Sources:
Literature [Indian-Foreign]
– Religious- Puraans- Matsya,
Brahmaand, Vishnu, Vaayu,
Braahman; Aitareya Braahman;
Jaina literatures written by
Jinaprabhaasuri;
– Secular: Harshcharita of Banbhatt,
Kaantrak of Sarvavarman,
Kathaasaritsaagar of Somadeva,
Gaathaasaptasati and Leelaavati
Parinaya/Leelaavati of Haal,
Vrihatkathaa of Gunaadhya, Kaavya
Mimaanshaa of Rajshekhara,
Kaamsutra of Vaatsyaayan.
– Foreign- Geography of Claudius
Ptolemy (100–170 CE), Pliny’s
Naturalis Historia (100 CE), Periplus
of the Erythraean Sea (100 CE),
Indica of Megasthenes (350–290
BCE) (describe about ‘Andarae’
name and an Army).

Archaeological
[Epigraphs/Inscription/Edict/Copper Plate,
Numismatics, Architecture- Art]:
– Epigraphs-
• Naneghat inscription of Nayanika (2nd
&the 1st century BCE) (The inscriptions
present the world's oldest numeration
symbols for "2, 4, 6, 7, and 9" that
resemble modern era numerals)
• Nasik Inscription of Gautamiputra
Shaatkarni (200 CE) (Indicates about
the empire extend, titles of
Gautamiputra, Achievements of
Gautamiputra)
• Nasik Inscription of Kanha/Krishna
(100-70 BCE) (Inscription about the
excavated cave dedicated to Sramans)
• Nasik Prashashti of Balashri (Balasri was
the mother of Gautamiputra) (about
the extent of his empire, war and
achievements)
• Kanheri Inscription (mentions the
marriage
of Saatavaahana ruler Vashishtiputra
Shaatakarni to the daughter
of Rudradaman-I)
• Haathigumphaa inscriptions- 2nd
century BCE to the 1st century CE.
(talks about the war between Chedi
and Saatvaahana)
• Junaagadh Inscription of Rudradaaman-
150 CE (talks about the war between
Saatvaahana)
Sources:

Naneghat inscription of Nayanika

Coins/ Numismatics- Made of
Copper, Potin
(copper, tin and lead), Lead, Silver,
Gold; Coins depicted with the
Boat, Conch, Fish on reverse and
on obverse King portrait;
Overstrikes of Nahapana's coins
by Gautamiputra Shaatkarni found
in a hoard at
Jogalthambi, Nashik District, MH.
•Monuments (Stupa, Monastery,
Rock Cut Caves)-Amaraavati,
Saanchi Stupas; Kaanheri, Kaarle,
Naasik, Junnar caves and
monastery dedicated to the
Bhadraayan Sect, Mahaasanghik
Sect, Baudha, Jaina and Braahman
Religions.
•Excavations-
•Karimnagar and Dhanrikota- AP;
Ter, Paithan, Adam, Kayar- MH;
Vairat, Sambhar- RJ etc.
Sources:

LIST OF THE 30 RULERS:
S. Nagaraju relies on the Puranic lists of 30 kings, and
gives the following regnal dates:
1. Simuka (r. 228 – 205 BCE)
2. Krishna (r. 205 – 187 BCE)
3. Satakarni I (r. 187 – 177 BCE)
4. Purnotsanga (r. 177 – 159 BCE)
5. Skandhastambhi (r. 159 – 141 BCE)
6. Satakarni II (r. 141 – 85 BCE)
7. Lambodara (r. 85 – 67 BCE)
8. Apilaka (r. 67 – 55 BCE)
9. Meghasvati (r. 55 – 37 BCE)
10.Svati (r. 37 – 19 BCE)
11.Skandasvati (r. 19 – 12 BCE)
12.Mrigendra Satakarni (r. 12 – 9 BCE)
13.Kunatala Satakarni (r. 9 – 1 BCE)
14.Satakarni III (r. 1 BCE-1 CE)
15.Pulumavi I (r. 1 – 36 CE)
16.Gaura Krishna (r. 36 – 61 CE)
17.Hāla (r. 61 – 66 CE)
18. Mandalaka aka Puttalaka or Pulumavi II (r. 69 – 71 CE)
19.Purindrasena (r. 71 – 76 CE)
20.Sundara Satakarni (r. 76 – 77 CE)
21.Chakora Satakarni (r. 77 – 78 CE)
22.Shivasvati (r. 78 – 106 CE)
23.Gautamiputra Satkarni (r. 106 – 130 CE)
24.Vasisthiputra aka Pulumavi III (r. 130 – 158 CE)
25.Shiva Sri Satakarni (r. 158 – 165 CE)
26.Shivaskanda Satakarni (r. 165–172)
27.Sri Yajna Satakarni (r. 172 – 201 CE)
28.Vijaya Satakarni (r. 201 – 207 CE)
29.Chandra Sri Satakarni (r. 207 – 214 CE)
30.Pulumavi IV (r. 217 – 224 CE)

King Reign (c.) Achievements
Simuka 235-212 BCE Destruction of Kanva, Capital-Paithan, War with Shaka, Construction
and donation for Jain, Bauddha caves, monasteries and temples.
Kanha/Krishna 212-195 BCE Name mentioned in Naasik Inscription, Donation for Buddhist caves.
Shaatkarni-I
(First most
important king)
&
Nayanika/Naganika
She belongs to Amiya
Dynasty
195-166 BCE
Saatkarni-I and wife Nayanika ruled for 30 years (09 years king, 21
years queen), {he had Vedisri and Satisri two sons}
Sources- Naaneghaat/Naanaaghaat inscription of Nayanikaa, Periplus
of the Erythraean Sea,
Virud- Lord of Dakshinaapath, Apratihat, Pashchimpati (went to West
probably fight with Shaka), Pratishthaanpati,
Extension of an Empire: In the west upto West Maalavaa, In the East
upto Baraar of Vidarbha, In the north upto Anup-pur of Narmadaa
Valley,
Religious: 02 Ashwamedh Yagya and 01 Raajsuya Yagya, Grants of land
to the Buddhist and Brahmanism (It is the first epigraphical evidence).
Political: Defeated by Khaarvela mentioned in the Hathigumpha
inscription.
Shaatkarni-II 166-111 BCE He has mentioned in Bhilsa and Hathigumpha inscriptions,
The war between Shaka-Kshatrapa and Saatvaahan is still continuing.
Kaavyamimaanshaa of Raajshekhar and
Kaamshutra of Vaatsyaayan discussed about Saatkarni-II.

King Reign (c.) Achievements
Haal 20-24 CE He was literature lover, Promoted Prakrit Language and wrote few texts
on this language like Gaathaasaptasati,
Leelavati: Marriage with Srilankan lady.
Vrihadkathaakosh by Gunaadhya and
Kaatnatraa by Sarvaverman describes about Haal.
Gautamiputra
Shaatkarni
(Second most
important king)
106-130 CE Virud: Venkatak (because of the city he established with this name),
Raajaa-gaja, Vindhya-naresh, Tri-Samudra-Toya-Pitaa-Vaahan (Bay of
Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea), Lord of Vindhya, Rikshaavat,
Mahendra; Var-Varan-Vikram-Chaah-Vikram (walk like an elephant),
Advitiya Brahman, Krishna, Balaraam, Sankarshan.
Political: Khatiya Dapmaan Madnas, Sak-Yavan-Pahlava-Nisudanas,
Khakharaat-vaya-Niravasesakaras, He defeated Shaka (Malwa and
Kathiyawar) king Nahapan (24-70 / 66-71 / 119–124 CE),
Religion: According to Naasik Inscription he used ask everything to his
mother- Balasri, Donation of Villages like Alkaalkiya for Buddhist and
Karanjak for Brahmans.
Vashishthiputra
Pulumavi
130-154 CE Virud: Dakshinaapatheshwar, Mahaaraaj, Navanagar-swaami,
Political: He was the “First Andhra Emperor”, He was defeated by
Rudradaaman two time. He tried to developed Matrimonial alliance to
Rudradaman king but he refused, then he offered matrimonial alliance
to his brother Shivasri Shaatkarni.
Religious: Renovation and more beautification of Amaraavati Stupa.
Shivasri Shaatkarni 154-165 CE He was the Son in Law of Rudradaaman.
Sri Yajna Satakarni 172 – 201 CE He was the last important ruler. After the death of Rudradaaman he
conquered the land which was earlier occupied by Rudradaaman. He
has big Maritime army and control over the trade.

IMPORTANCE
OF THIS
PERIOD:
Political
Socio-
Cultural-
Economical
Religious
Art and
Architecture

IMPORTANCE OF THIS PERIOD
• Political-
– In comparison to others they ruled for long times (460 years).
– They were played an important role as guardian of South to enter the foreigners in to
their land.
– Feudalism starts during this period.
– The structure of defense- 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants-
Megasthenes.
• Socio-Cultural-
– Spread of Culture out of territory, ex:- Jaava, Sumaatraa, Malaayaa.
– The height of Prakrit language influence with Marathi ex:- Gaathaasaptasati of Haal.
– Use of मातृसूचक/Parental name, ex:- Gautamiputra Saatkarni
– Origin of jati on the basis of work, ex:-Charwaha-Shepherd (Golik), Farmer (Haalik)
– Contribution of women in every field.
• Economical-
– Development of Trade, Commerce,
– Marine trade, ports on Western and Eastern coast,
– Use of new metals for /coins- Lead, Potin.
• Religious-
– Revival of Brahaminism along with other religion and sects too.
• Art and Architecture -
– Development of various art influences with Greco-Roman art.
– Splendor architecture, ex:- Amaraavati, Sanchi, Rock Cut Caves, Stupas, Monastery.

Amaravathi, AP.
Satavahana Pd.

Ajanta Caves, MH., Satavahana Pd.

DECLINE
• Inept rulers of later times.
• Long war with the Shakas.
• Emergence of new powers-Feudal:
– North-western Deccan, Northern Konakan, Southern Gujarat-
Abhiraas/Abhira/Ahir Dynasty;
– Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Vidarbha) & Gujarat-
Vakataka dyansty;
– North Mysore, Karnataka- Kuntala dynasty;
– Andhra Pradesh between Krishna to Godavari-
Ikshvaaku/Solar dynasty;
– South-western Deccan (Karnataka)- Chutu Dynasty;
– North-western Deccan (Andhra Pradesh)- Bodhis Dynasty;
– Northern Andhra Pradesh- Brihatphalaayanas Dynasty;
– Tamilnadu- Pallava Dynasty.

Satavahana Dynasty

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