Historical Sources of Andhra History

Historical Sources and Methods

• Primary sources of incidental nature, such as epigraphs, numismatics, and monuments, are used to record events and impressions for political, legal, and religious purposes.
• The history of the Andhras is still in the formative stage, and the available source material is vast, incomplete, and diverse in nature and variety.

Archaeological Sources

• Epigraphs or inscriptions are more copious for ancient and medieval Andhra history.
• Asoka's rock edicts in Brahmi script at Erragudi, Rajulamandagiri, Amaravati, and Kottam reveal the extension of the Mauryan authority and its administrative system over the Andhra area.
• The Bhattiprolu relic casket inscriptions, dated to 200 B.C., reveal the spread of Buddhism in the province.
• Other archaeological sources include coins, stone tools, pottery, bricks, megaliths, Buddhist structural remains, Jain relics, constructions of temples, forts, and palaces, sculptures, and paints.

Literary Sources

• Literary sources for ancient and medieval Andhra history can be divided into indigenous and foreign sources.
• Indigenous sources include sriti and smriti works like the Aitareya Brahmana, the Epics, the Puranas, and early Buddhist and Jain works.
• Foreign sources include works by Gunadhya, Hala, and Vatsyayana, which reflect the social and cultural life of the Satavahana period.

Theories of Andhra Origin

• The theory that the eastern part of Deccan, i.e., Andhradesa, was the homeland of the Satavahanas is championed by scholars like E.J.Rapson, V.A.Smith, R.G.Bhandarkar, and J.Burgess.
• The theory that the Maharashtra origin of the Satavahanas is based on the following arguments:
  • The Puranas describe Simuka only as Andhrajatiya but not as Andhradesiya.
  • Politically, Andhra was not independent but part of Kalinga.
  • The metronymics and the Prakrit language of the Satavahanas indicate their western or Maratha origin.
  • The early Andhra Satavahana rulers were connected with Paithan and their records are found only in the west.

Satavahana Chronology

• The starting point of the Satavahana rule under Simuka is 271 B.C.
• The correctness of this date can be verified and established from the known dates of Kshatrapas and other foreign kings.
• The power of the Satavahanas had to register a short decline due to foreign onslaughts, but was retrieved by Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni, the 23rd king in the Matsya list.
• Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni is described as the destroyer of the Sakas, Yavanas, and Pahlavas and the annihilator of the line of the Kshaharatas.

This quiz explores the primary sources of historical information about the Andhras, including epigraphs and literary works. It delves into the challenges of reconstructing ancient Indian history and the current state of Andhra history.