Satavahanas Short Notes

 SATAVAHANAS (220 B. C to 225 A. D)

• Founder : Srimukha / Simukha / Chimukha
• Kotilingala (Karimnagar District) or Srikakulam (Krishna District) was the First capital of Satavahanas
• Pratisthanapura (Paithan) was the Second capital of Satavahanas
• Dhanyakataka (Amaravati) was the Third capital of Satavahanas
• Prakrit was the official language of Satavahanas (Kuntala Satakarni changed official language from Prakrit to Sanskrit)
• Sun is the Royal Insignia of Satavahanas
• Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest of all Satavahana rulers
• Pulomavi III was the last ruler of Satavahanas
• Satavahanas followed Jainism and Hinduism (Simukha was originally a Jain)
• Satavahanas were initially vassals of Mauryas
• Satavahanas were the first Andhra kings who united the Andhra region between Krishna and Godavari for the first time.
• According to K. M. Panikkar, Satavahanas played an important role in cultural integration between South India and Aryavarta (Ancient name of Central and Northern India).
• Satavahanas were also known as Shalivahanas, Andhra - Bhrityas, Andhras

Evidences related to the History of Satavahanas

Puranas

• Total no of puranas : 18
• 1st Purana : Brahma Purana
• Last Purana : Brahmanada Purana
• Puranas mentions Andhras as Andhrabhrityas
• Puranas have been translated into English by Pargiter under the title "Dynasties of Kaliyuga"
• The Matsya and Bhagavata Puranas referred Andhras as Mechhas
• Aitreya Brahmana mentions the Andhras as Atavikas
• Matsyapurana tells about the Geneology of Satavahanas
• Matsyapurana mentions a list of only 18 kings before Gautamiputra Satakarni who is mentioned as 23rd king in the puranas
• Matsyapurana mentions the 1st Satakarni as Mallakarni
• Vishnupurana gives a detailed legend about the Lineage of the Satavahanas
• Kaliyugarajavrittantam, a part of Bhavishya Purana contains details of Andhra Geneology
• Aitareya Brhamana, a part of Rigveda has the First mention of Andhras
• Mahabharata mentions that the Andhras live in a place called Banavasi and it is said that Andhras fought on the side of Kauravas

Coins

• Numismatics is a study of coins and the study of figures on the coins is known as Sigillography
• The coins of Satavahanas were made of an alloy of Lead, Potin (Copper + Tin + Lead) and Silver
• Most of the lead coins were minted during the period of Satavahanas
• According to Vrishabhadatta's Inscription, One Gold coin = 35 Silver Coins
• Satakarni - I minted silver coins
• Coins with Ujjain town on them were minted by Satakarni - I and Gautamiputra Satakarni
• Coins with ship sail marks were given by Yajna Sri Satakarni
• Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated the saka king Nahapana and reimprinted Nahapana's silver coins with Satakarni's symbol on it
• Images of Bull (Taurus), Elephant, Lion, Horse, Swastik symbol, Ujjaini Arch, Ship, Triratna were printed on coins of Satavahanas
• The coins were minted in 'Bilingual' mode
• Prakrit and Desibhasha were used on the coins
• Siva Sri Satakarni issued bilingual Coins