Satvahanas

2020-04-27 11:55:04

The Satavahanas

expansion of Mauryan empire towards the Deccan for the exploitation of its mineral resources led to dev of areas such as Dharanikota in Guntur district of AP, Satara in Maharastra etc.
areas were ruled by chiefs known as Maharathis. Satvahanas were matrimonially related to them.
According to Purana Simuka Satavahana was founder -> Kanha -> Satkarni I
Nasik inscription mentions his brother Kanha/Krishna.
Nanaghat inscription of widowed queen of Satakarni mentions various rulers of the dynasty.

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Nasik inscriptions by mother of Gautamiputra Satkarni gives details about him.
He counterstruck coins of Kshatrapa Nahapana.
Periplus mentions about the Greek ships being guarded and escorted from Kalyan to Bharuch because of this rivalry.
He was suceeded by Pulumavi. He consolidated his power in the Deccan. His inscriptions are found in Amravati.
Yajnasri Satakarni was the last imp ruler.
Later coins had bilingual legends in Prakrit and local language(Tamil/Telugu).

The details about relation b/w Satvahanas with Maharathi and Mahabhojas are little.
Some details about Maharathis can be found at inscription from Karle and about Mahabhojas from west coast.
Pre Satvahana and Satvahana levels at sites such as Veerapuram have coins with title Maharathi on them.
Many other coins have been found with the name of local rulers suggesting numerous small political principalities.
These rulers were the Rathikas and Bhojas during the Ashokan period.
The Puranas identify the Satvahanas as the Andhras viz the Matsya, Brahmanda and the Vayu.
Their coins have been found in Kotalingala and Sangareddy in Karimnagar but rule started in the western Deccan around Pratishthana and moved east.
Founder of the dynasty was Simuka .
The conflict b/w Satavahanas and the Shakas was for the control of the ports of Bhrigukacha, Kalyan and Sopara.
Vishishtaputra Pulamayi was the successor of Satakarni I. The coins of another king Yajnashri Satakarni depicts single and double masted ships.

Nasik inscription provides some details about it.
During Gautamiputras reign entire Deccan was divided into aharas. 5 aharas mentioned are Govardhan (Nashik), Soparaka (West Coast), Mamala (Pune and Satara), Satavahanihara (Bellary), Kapurachara (Gujarat) Aharas.
West coast had many famous ports at Bharuch, Kalyan, Sopara and Chaul.
Inland areas in the western countries were Nasik, Junnar. Excavations at Ter and Paithan have given materila remains.
Karad and Kolhapur were rich in soil and may have been agricultural sites.

Manusmriti and Dharmashatra mention some details but they are inaccurate.
practiced matronomy but were not matriarchs, were Brahmanas
Traders and Merchants flourished. Other imp sections were blacksmiths, gardeners and fishermen.
Yavanas or foreigners were another imp category of donators.
Women also made donations and their names come up in inscriptions.