SATAVAHANAS IN TELANGANA

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.