SATAVAHANAS
The
Satavahanas rose to a political power, after the fall of the Mauryan
Empire. There were twenty-nine rulers of this dynasty according to
Matsya Purana. Sathavahanas ruled over the Telangana for about 400
years from the 2nd century BC. The Sathavahanas were also called
Salivahanas and Satakarnis. The founder of the Sathavahana dynasty,
Simukha unified the various Andhra principalities into one kingdom
and became its ruler from 271 BC to 248 BC. Dharanikota near
Amaravati in Guntur district was the first capital of Simukha, but
later he shifted his capital to Pratishtana (Paithan in Aurangabad
district).
The Satavahanas thus assumed significance as
imperial rulers in succession to the Nandas, Mauryas, Sungas and
Kanvas. The kings, who succeeded him, appear to have been driven, by
the Sakas, out of Maharastra back to their homeland in Andhra.
Gautamiputra Satakarni, the 23rd ruler of this dynasty ascended the
throne in AD 62. It was time, their kingdom made a sharp recovery of
the lost territories from the western Kshatrapas. Records describe
him as the restorer of the glory of the Satavahanas. His kingdom
included the territories of Asika, Assaka, Mulaka, Anupa, Kukura,
Aparanta, Vidarbha, Akara, Saurashtra and Avanti, and the
mountainous regions of Vindhya, Pariyatra, Achavata, Kanhagiri,
Siritana, Sahya, Malaya, Mahendra, Sata and Chakora, and extended as
far as seas on either side.
The Gautamiputra's kingdom
covered not only the peninsular India, but also the southern parts
of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. He died in AD 86,
and his successors witnessed the dismemberment of their empire.
Pulumavi II succeeded Gautamiputra and ruled for about 28 years.
Yajnasri Satakarni succeeded and he came into conflict with the Saka
Satrap, Rudradamana, and suffered defeat, and consequently, lost all
his western possessions. He continued to rule till AD 157 over a
truncated dominion. His ship-marked coins suggest extensive maritime
trade during his days. His passed away, marked the end of rule of
the Satavahanas by 2nd century AD.
It appeared that
Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district was used as capital. The Deccan, during this
period was an emporium of inland and maritime trade. The region
between the rivers of Godavari and Krishna was full of ports and
throbbing with activity. There was plentiful of currency to
facilitate trade and the Telugus entered upon a period of great
industrial, commercial and maritime activity.
Buddhism flourished
throughout the period and the rulers were also devoted to Vedic
ritualism. They constructed several Buddhist Stupas, Viharas and
Chaityas. Satavahanas were able rulers and loved literacy and
architecture. The 17th ruler of this dynasty, Hala was a great poet
and his “Gathasaptasati”
in Prakrit was well received by all. Gunadhya, the minister of Hala
was the author of “Brihatkadha”.
The decline and fall of
the Satavahana Empire left the Andhra country in a political chaos.
Local rulers as well as invaders tried to carve out small kingdoms
for themselves and to establish many dynasties. During the period
from AD 180 to AD 624 Ikshvakus, Vishnukundins, Vakatakas, Pallavas,
Anandagotras, Kalingas and others ruled over the Andhra area with
their small kingdoms. Such instability continued to prevail until
the rise of the Eastern Chalukyas.
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