[Capital – pratishtana /
paithan (Maharashtra)]
The most important of the native
successors of the Mauryas in the Deccan and Central India were the Satvahanas.
The Satvahanas are considered to be
identical with the Andhras who were mentioned I n the Puranas.
The early satvahana kings appeared
not in Andhra but in Maharashtra where most of their early inscriptions have
been found.
Simuka (60 BC - 37 BC) was the
founder of the satvahana dynasty.
Satakarni I, its 3rd ruler,
raised its power and prestige by conquests.
Hala, its 17th ruler,
was the author of ‘Gathasaptasati’ or,’Sattasai’ in Prakrit . Gunadhya ,the
auther of ‘Vrihat Katha’ (in Prakrit), was the contemporary of Hala.
It was Gautamiputra Satakarni (106
-130 AD) who revived the Satavahana power and defeated the Saka Ksatrap
Nahapana. He was the greatest Satavahan ruler (23rd Satavahana ruler).
Vasishthiputra Sri Satakarni, its
24th ruler, was married to the daughter of Sak Kstrapa Rudradaman
but defeated by him twice.
Yajna Sri Satakarni , its 24th
ruler ,was the dynasty’s last great ruler .
Pulamavi III, its 30th ruler,
was the last Saravahana ruler.
Satavahanas were finally succeeded
by the Ikshvakus I n3rd Century AD.
Satavahanas started the practice
of donating land with fiscal and administrative immunities to Brahmanas and
Buddhist monks, which eventually weakened their authority. The earliest
inscriptional evidence of land grant In India belongs to 1st century
BC.
Under the satevahanas, many Chaityas
(worship halls) and Viharas (monasteries) were cut out from rocks mainly in
north – West Deccan or Maharashtra. The famous examples were Nasik, Kanheri and
Karle.
Stupas (large round structure
erected over a sacred relic) were seen scattered all around Ellora. The most famous of these attributed to the
Satavanhana period are mravati a sculptural treasure house and Nagarjunakonda.
The official language of the
Satavahanas was Prakrit.
The Satavahanas issued their coins
In lead (mainly) , copper, bronze and potion.
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