Satavahana Dynasty: 60 BC – 225 AD
[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 in 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.
Satkarni 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 author of ‘Vrihat Katha’ (in Prakrit), was the contemporary of Hala.
It was Gautamiputra Satakarni (106 – 130 AD) who revived the Satvahana 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 Saka Kstrapa Rudradaman, but defeated by him twice.
Yajna Sri Satakarni, its 27th ruler, was the dynasty’s last great ruler,
Pulamavi III, its 30th ruler, was the last Satavahana ruler.
Satavahanas were finally succeeded by the Ikshvakus in 3rd Century AD.
Satavahanas started the practice of donating land with fiscal and administrative immunities authority the earliest inscriptional evidence of land grant in India belongs to 1st century BC.
Under the Satavahanas, 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 Satavahana period are Amravati, 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 potin.
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