Satavahana Dynasty: Society, Governance & Culture

• Satavahanas made generous donations to the Buddhist cause and set up small memorial tablets.
• Gandhika, or the perfumers, were repeatedly mentioned as donors.
• At a later stage, the term Gandhika denoted all kinds of shopkeepers.
• Towns developed in Maharashtra by the first century BC and later in eastern Deccan.
• Pliny mentioned that Andhra included 30 walled towns and numerous villages.

Social Organisation

• The Satavahanas originally seemed to have been a tribe of the Deccan.
• They were Brahmanized, which is evident from the claims of Gautamiputra Satakarni.
• He boasted of re-establishing the four-fold varna system.

Matrilineal Aspects

• King’s names were often derived from their mothers, like Gautamiputra and Vashishthiputra.
• Some inscriptions were issued under the authority of both the king and his mother.
• Matrilineal elements were exhibited while the Satavahana ruling family had a patriarchal succession to the throne.

Administration

• Satavahanas followed the ideals of Dharmashastras.
• The king was portrayed as the upholder of dharma, having divine attributes.

Administrative Structures

• Some administrative structures from Ashokan times were retained.
• Officials were known as Amatyas and Mahamatras.
• High officials were called Maharashtrikas.
• New administrative divisions called Rashtra were introduced, while the districts were called Ahara.

Feudatories and Local Authority

• The kingdom had three grades of feudatories.

• Primary among them was the Raja, who had the right to strike coins.

• Others included Mahabhoja and Senapati.

• The Senapati (commander-in-chief) was appointed as provincial governor to control tribal areas.

• Administration in the rural areas was under Gaulmika, who was the head of a military regiment.

• Kataka and Skandhavara denoted military camps and settlements.

• These served as administrative centres so long as the king was there, representing the military character of their rule.

• Pliny mentioned that the Andhra kingdom had a large army consisting of infantry, cavalry and elephants.

Land Grants and Tax-Free Villages

• They started the practice of granting tax-free lands to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks that helped priestly groups attain higher status.
• Naneght inscriptions refer to tax exemptions given to the lands granted to Buddhist monks.
• The land donations resulted in creating a group of people who did not cultivate but owned land, leading to the development of land-based social hierarchy and divisions in the society.
• The Brahmans helped to enforce the rule of the varna system, making society stable.

Religion

• They performed Vedic sacrifices like "Ashvamedha" and "Vajapeya," and worshipped Vaishnava Gods, including Krishna and Vasudeva.

Promotion of Buddhism

• Mahayana Buddhism gained a significant following, particularly among the artisan class.
• Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh became important Buddhist centers.
• Buddhism also flourished in western Deccan areas like Nasik and Junar in Maharashtra, possibly with the support of traders.

Architecture

Rock-Cut Chaityas and Monasteries

• Numerous chaityas (sacred shrines) and monasteries were carved out of solid rock in north-western Deccan or Maharashtra, like Karle chaitya in western Deccan.
• Three viharas in Nasik carry Nahapana and Gautamiputra inscriptions, dating around 1st to 2nd century AD.

Buddhist Stupas in Andhra

• Construction of Amaravati Stupa started around 200 BC but was fully reconstructed in the latter half of the second century AD.

• Nagarjunakonda thrived during the second and third centuries under the patronage of the Ikshvakus, successors of the Satavahanas.

• This site contained both Buddhist monuments and early Brahmanical brick temples.

• The Satavahanas contributed greatly to the embellishment of the Buddhist stupa of Sanchi, which was repaired under King Satakarni II.

• Satavahanas rose in the 1st century BC in the Deccan region, succeeding the Mauryans in Deccan and Central India.

• They are believed to be identical to the Andhras, referred to as "Andhrabhrityah," likely denoting an Andhra tribe.

• Their rule extended over parts of Andhra, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.

Important Rulers

• Simuka: Founder of the Satavahana dynasty.

• Gautamiputra Satakarni (106-130 AD): Defeated Shaka ruler Nahapana, reissuing Nahapana’s coins.

• He is hailed as the conqueror of Shakas, Pahlavas, and Yavanas in the Nashik inscription by his mother, Gautami Balashri.

• He performed the Vedic Asvamedha sacrifice.

• He assumed the titles of Raja-Raja (King of Kings) and Maharaja (Great King), described as the Lord of Vindhya.

• Vasisthiputra Pulumavi (130-154 AD): Son and successor of Gautamiputra Satakarni and established his capital at Paithan on the Godavari.

• Yagnashri Satakarni (165-94 AD): Brother of Vashishtiputra Satakarni and the last significant Satavahana king.

• He recovered north Konkan and Malwa from the Shakas and issued coins with a ship motif, indicating overseas trade importance.

• King Hala: Authored Gatha Sattasai (Prakrit), a collection of 700 love poems.

• Satavahanas initially ruled in the Telangana area, then moved to Maharashtra, establishing Prathistan (Paithan) in Maharashtra as their capital.

• Eventually, they expanded eastwards to control coastal Andhra.

• The earliest Satavahana inscriptions date to the 1st century BC.

• They gained power by defeating the Kanvas, establishing their control over parts of central India, mainly north Maharashtra and the upper Godavari valley.

Material Culture of Satavahana

Metallurgy

• Satavahanas used iron tools and extracted iron ores from Karimnagar and Warangal in Telangana.
• They used gold as bullion since they didn't issue gold coins.
• Lead, Potin, Copper, and Bronze were mainly used for making coins.
• Ancient gold workings were found in the Kolar fields.
• Potin is a base metal alloy in coins, typically a mix of copper, tin, and lead.

Agriculture and Economy

• Paddy transplantation and cotton production thrived in the area between the Krishna and the Godavari rivers.
• Increased trade led to many Roman and Satavahana coins being found in the region, bringing merchants and artisans to the forefront.

Language

• Prakrit served as their official language with inscriptions composed in Prakrit and written in the Brahmi script.

Important Scholars During the Satavahana Period

• Hala: Contributed literature with Gatha Saptashati (700 verses) which is a collection of Prakrit poems focusing on love, nature, and rural life.
• Sarvasena: Contributed literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit and composed the Hari Vijaya, used Sanskrit.
• Gunadhya: A literature contributor, famously wrote Brihatkatha, a monumental work in Paisachi language which became a source for texts such as Kathasaritsagara.
• Naganika: Contributed to the religion and inscriptions as the Satavahana queen to the Naneght inscription which has administrative and social practices.
• Gautamiputra Satakarni: Patronage of learning and religion with scholars and religious works, promoting Vedic and Buddhist studies.

Important Satavahana Inscriptions

• Kanaganahalli (sannati,Karnataka) - Adhalaka Mahachaitya Inscription: Mentions names of Satavahana rulers, particularly Vasisthaputra Sri-Chimuka.
• Gautami Balashri’s Inscription: Issued by Gautami Balashri, the mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni which praises her son as the "destroyer of Saka, Yavana." and mentions victory of Gautamiputra satkarni over Nahapana.
• Nashik (Pandavleni) - Naneght Cave Inscription: Eulogy of Queen Naganika, wife of Satakarni I, mentions sacrifices like Rajasuy and Ashvamedha Yajas.
• Sanchi Stupa - Donative Inscriptions: Mentions Satkarni II at the gateway.
• Girnar - Rudradaman I’s Junagadh Rock Inscription: Mentions defeat of Vasisthaputra Pulumavi by Rudradaman 1 (Western Kshatrapa ruler).
• Hathi Gumpha - Kharavela's Inscription (not directly Satavahana but relevant): Mentions military exploits of Kharavela, including a possible confrontation with Satavahanas. Mentions Satkarni 1

Decline of the Empire

• The Satavahana Empire declined around the 3rd century AD.
• It was replaced by the Ikshvakus in Andhra and the Kadambas in northern Karnataka.