THESATAVAHANAS

THESATAVAHANAS

The Satavahanas, also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, came into prominence in the Deccan after ending the rule of the Shungas and the Kanvas. Simuka is regarded as the founder of this dynasty. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty, Susharma, is said to have been killed by Pulamayi I about the middle of the first century BC.

Hala is considered another famous king of this dyn to be followed by Sri Satakarni, who ruled for 18 Y1 This Satakarni has been identified with the Satakarni OJ Nanaghat inscription (where he is called the lord of Deccan) and the husband of Queen Naganika. He formed two horse-sacrifices. The capital was at Pratis1 (Paithan) on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra.

A period of darkness follows till the rise of Gautamip Satakarni, who saved the Deccan from the Shaka slaughts. He managed to salvage whatever damage done by the Shaka king Nahapana by defeating him keenly contested war (AD 124-125). He also overthrew Greeks and the Parthians. He thus succeeded in defea all the invading foreigners and took from them Kathia1 Malwa, Gujarat, Berar, etc.

Gautamiputra (AD 106-130) was succeeded by his Vashishthiputra Pulumayi (AD 130-154), who was probe the first Satavahana ruler to establish his authority in Andhra country. His influence extended to the Coromar Coast and to some portions of Madhya Pradesh. successor was Vashishthiputra Satakarni (AD 159-165) ~ was married to the daughter of the Shaka ruler RudradiU1 I (AD 130-150). But this did not prevent Rudradaman I h twice defeating the Satavahanas. Yajnasri Satakarni (AD 1 194), one of the later kings, recovered north Konkan . Malwa from the Shaka rulers. He was a lover of trade. navigation. His coins have been found not only in And but also in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. ] love for navigation and overseas trade is shown by representation of a ship on his coins.

After Yajnasri, the Satavahana kingdom began to , cline, and it was partitioned among five minor dynasti The northern provinces came under the sway of a collate branch of the Satavahanas. In the west the Abhiras est lished themselves round Nasik; the Ikshvakus carved ( for themselves a kingdom in the eastern region; the Chu1 controlled the far-flung areas of the south-western parts a extended their power on the north and east, and the Pallavas filled the political vaccum in the south-eastE tracts.