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1. 1
POST MAURYAN DYNASTIES
SATVAHANA (235/228 BCE– 224 CE)
1. First King- Simuk (According to Inscription-Naneghat (70-60 BCE)) Sisuka, Sindhuka (Mentioned in
Purana) / Balipuccha (According to Puranas) (He was Feudal of Kanva Dynasty), He killed the Kanva last
ruler Susarman (c. 40 – c. 27/30 BCE) and established an empire (According to Dr. D.C. Sircar).
2. Last King- Pulumavi-IV (217 – 224 CE)
3. Caste: Finally believed that they were Brahmins, though according to Buhler and Dr. Raychaudhary they
were mixture of Brahmin and Naga, Dr. K. Gopalcharya believed in Kshatriya.
4. How many years they ruled ?: Rapson, Smith and many believe that they ruled for 450 years,
R.G. Bhandarkar says 272 years, according to Matsya Purana 460 years.
5. How many rulers ?- Number of rulers 30 (according to Matsya Purana, Vayu Purana).
6. Capitals- Pratishthan/Paithan (Maharashtra), Amaraavati (Andhra Pradesh)
7. Rulers of the Saatvaahana dynasty known as Dakshinaadhipati.
8. Empire Extend: Trans-Vindhyan Region/North- Narmada river/Vindhyan range, South- Krishna River,
East- Kalinga territory, West- Shaka territory. The importance of boundary- Natural on north & south.
9. Today’s Political extend- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh (Core); Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
(extended).
NOMENCLATURE:
Aandhra (Mentioned in Puranas),
Aandhra-Bhritya (In Purana, Bhritya means servant- Servant of last Kanva),
Aandra Sajaatiya, Andhra Jaatiya (it is believed that the name Andhra is stand for jaati or tribe),
According to Kathaasaritsaagar of Somadeva (सात नामक यक्ष की सवारी करने वाला- Who rides over the Yaksha
whose name was Saat)
Saatavaahana (Mentioned in the inscriptions of Naneghat, it is believed that the word Saatvaahana is
stand or the family or kula)
SOURCES:
1. Literature [Indian-Foreign]
a. Religious-Puraans- Matsya, Brahmaand, Vishnu, Vaayu, Braahman; Aitareya Braahman; Jaina
literatures written by Jinaprabhaasuri;
b. Secular: Harshcharita of Banbhatt, Kaantrak of Sarvavarman, Kathaasaritsaagar of Somadeva,
Gaathaasaptasati and Leelaavati Parinaya/Leelaavati of Haal, Vrihatkathaa of Gunaadhya, Kaavya
Mimaanshaa of Rajshekhara, Kaamsutra of Vaatsyaayan.
c. Foreign- Geography of Claudius Ptolemy (100–170 CE), Pliny’s Naturalis Historia (100 CE), Periplus
of the Erythraean Sea (100 CE), Indica of Megasthenes (350–290 BCE) (describe about ‘Andarae’
name and an Army).

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2. Archaeological [Epigraphs/Inscription/Edict/Copper Plate, Numismatics, Architecture- Art]:
a. Epigraphs-
i. Naneghat inscription of Nayanika (2nd &the 1st century BCE) (The inscriptions present the
world's oldest numeration symbols for "2, 4, 6, 7, and 9" that resemble modern era numerals)
ii. Nasik Inscription of Gautamiputra Shaatkarni (200 CE) (Indicates about the empire extend,
titles of Gautamiputra, Achievements of Gautamiputra)
iii. Nasik Inscription of Kanha/Krishna (100-70 BCE) (Inscription about the excavated cave
dedicated to Sramans)
iv. Nasik Prashashti of Balashri (Balasri was the mother of Gautamiputra) (about the extent of his
empire, war and achievements)
v. Kanheri Inscription (mentions the marriage of Saatavaahana ruler Vashishtiputra
Shaatakarni to the daughter of Rudradaman-I)
vi. Haathigumphaa inscriptions- 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. (talks about the war
between Chedi and Saatvaahana)
vii. Junaagadh Inscription of Rudradaaman- 150 CE (talks about the war between Saatvaahana)
b. Coins/ Numismatics- Made of Copper, Potin (copper, tin and lead), Lead, Silver, Gold; Coins depicted
with the Boat, Conch, Fish on reverse and on obverse King portrait; Overstrikes of Nahapana's coins
by Gautamiputra Shaatkarni found in a hoard at Jogalthambi, Nashik District, MH.
c. Monuments (Stupa, Monastery, Rock Cut Caves)-Amaraavati, Saanchi Stupas; Kaanheri, Kaarle,
Naasik, Junnar caves and monastery dedicated to the Bhadraayan Sect, Mahaasanghik Sect, Baudha,
Jaina and Braahman Religions.
d. Excavations- Karimnagar and Dhanrikota- AP; Ter, Paithan, Adam, Kayar- MH; Vairat, Sambhar- RJ
etc.
LIST OF THE 30 RULERS:
S. Nagaraju relies on the Puranic lists of 30 kings,
and gives the following regnal dates:
1. Simuka (r. 228 – 205 BCE)
2. Krishna (r. 205 – 187 BCE)
3. Satakarni I (r. 187 – 177 BCE)
4. Purnotsanga (r. 177 – 159 BCE)
5. Skandhastambhi (r. 159 – 141 BCE)
6. Satakarni II (r. 141 – 85 BCE)
7. Lambodara (r. 85 – 67 BCE)
8. Apilaka (r. 67 – 55 BCE)
9. Meghasvati (r. 55 – 37 BCE)
10. Svati (r. 37 – 19 BCE)
11. Skandasvati (r. 19 – 12 BCE)
12. Mrigendra Satakarni (r. 12 – 9 BCE)
13. Kunatala Satakarni (r. 9 – 1 BCE)
14. Satakarni III (r. 1 BCE-1 CE)
15. Pulumavi I (r. 1 – 36 CE)
16. Gaura Krishna (r. 36 – 61 CE)
17. Hāla (r. 61 – 66 CE)
18. Mandalaka aka Puttalaka or Pulumavi II
(r. 69 – 71 CE)
19. Purindrasena (r. 71 – 76 CE)
20. Sundara Satakarni (r. 76 – 77 CE)
21. Chakora Satakarni (r. 77 – 78 CE)
22. Shivasvati (r. 78 – 106 CE)
23. Gautamiputra Satkarni (r. 106 – 130 CE)
24. Vasisthiputra aka Pulumavi III (r. 130 – 158
CE)
25. Shiva Sri Satakarni (r. 158 – 165 CE)
26. Shivaskanda Satakarni (r. 165–172)
27. Sri Yajna Satakarni (r. 172 – 201 CE)
28. Vijaya Satakarni (r. 201 – 207 CE)
29. Chandra Sri Satakarni (r. 207 – 214 CE)
30. Pulumavi IV (r. 217 – 224 CE)

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DETAIL OF SELECTED RULERS:
S.N. King Reign (c.) Achievements
1. Simuka 235-212
BCE
Destruction of Kanva, Capital-Paithan, War with Shaka, Construction
and donation for Jain, Bauddha caves, monasteries and temples.
2. Kanha/Krishna 212-195
BCE
Name mentioned in Naasik Inscription, Donation for Buddhist caves.
3. Shaatkarni-I &
Nayanika/Naganika
She belongs to Amiya
Dynasty
195-166
BCE
Saatkarni-I(Firstmostimportantking) andwife Nayanikaruledfor30
years(09 yearsking,21 yearsqueen),{he had Vedisri andSatisri two
sons}
Sources- Naaneghaat/Naanaaghaatinscriptionof Nayanikaa, Periplusof
the ErythraeanSea,
Virud- Lord of Dakshinaapath,Apratihat,Pashchimpati(wenttoWest
probablyfightwithShaka), Pratishthaanpati,
Extensionof an Empire: Inthe westuptoWestMaalavaa, Inthe East
uptoBaraar of Vidarbha,Inthe northuptoAnup-purof Narmadaa
Valley,
Religious:02 AshwamedhYagyaand01 RaajsuyaYagya, Grants of land
to the BuddhistandBrahmanism(Itisthe firstepigraphical evidence).
Political:DefeatedbyKhaarvelamentionedinthe Hathigumpha
inscription.
4. Shaatkarni-II 166-111
BCE
He has mentionedin Bhilsa and Hathigumpha inscriptions,
The war betweenShaka-Kshatrapa and Saatvaahan is still
continuing.
Kaavyamimaanshaa of Raajshekhar and
Kaamshutra of Vaatsyaayan discussed about Saatkarni-II.
5. Haal 20-24 CE He was literature lover,Promoted Prakrit Language and wrote few
texts on this language like Gaathaasaptasati,
Leelavati: Marriage with Srilankan lady.
Vrihadkathaakosh by Gunaadhya and
Kaatnatraa by Sarvaverman describes about Haal.
6. Gautamiputra
Shaatkarni
(Second most
important king)
106-130 CE Virud: Venkatak (because of the city he establishedwith this name),
Raajaa-gaja,Vindhya-naresh, Tri-Samudra-Toya-Pitaa-Vaahan (Bay
of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea), Lord of Vindhya,
Rikshaavat, Mahendra; Var-Varan-Vikram-Chaah-Vikram (walk like
an elephant), Advitiya Brahman, Krishna, Balaraam, Sankarshan.
Political: Khatiya Dapmaan Madnas, Sak-Yavan-Pahlava-Nisudanas,
Khakharaat-vaya-Niravasesakaras, He defeated Shaka (Malwa and
Kathiyawar) king Nahapan (24-70 / 66-71 / 119–124 CE),
Religion: According to Naasik Inscription he used ask everything to
his mother- Balasri, Donation of Villageslike Alkaalkiya for Buddhist
and Karanjak for Brahmans.
7. Vashishthiputra
Pulumavi
130-154 CE Virud: Dakshinaapatheshwar, Mahaaraaj, Navanagar-swaami,
Political: He was the “First Andhra Emperor”, He was defeatedby
Rudradaaman two time. He tried to developedMatrimonial alliance
to Rudradaman king but he refused, then he offeredmatrimonial
alliance to his brother Shivasri Shaatkarni.
Religious: Renovation and more beautification of Amaraavati Stupa.
8. Shivasri Shaatkarni 154-165 CE He was the Son in Law of Rudradaaman.
9. Sri Yajna Satakarni 172 – 201
CE
He was the last important ruler. After the death of Rudradaaman he
conquered the land which was earlier occupied by Rudradaaman. He
has big Maritime army and control over the trade.

4. 4
IMPORTANCE OF THIS PERIOD:
Political-
1. In comparison to others they ruled for long times (460 years).
2. They were played an important role as guardian of South to enter the foreigners in to their land.
3. Feudalism starts during this period.
4. The structure of defense- 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants- Megasthenes.
Socio-Cultural-
1. Spread of Culture out of territory, ex:- Jaava, Sumaatraa, Malaayaa.
2. The height of Prakrit language influence with Marathi ex:- Gaathaasaptasati of Haal.
3. Use of मातृसूचक/Parental name, ex:- Gautamiputra Saatkarni
4. Origin of jati on the basis of work, ex:-Charwaha-Shepherd (Golik), Farmer (Haalik)
5. Contribution of women in every field.
Economical-
1. Development of Trade, Commerce,
2. Marine trade, ports on Western and Eastern coast,
3. Use of new metals for /coins- Lead, Potin.
Religious-
1. Revival of Brahaminism along with other religion and sects too.
Art and Architecture -
1. Development of various art influences with Greco-Roman art.
2. Splendor architecture, ex:- Amaraavati, Sanchi, Rock Cut Caves, Stupas, Monastery.
DECLINE:
1. Inept rulers of later times.
2. Long war with the Shakas.
3. Emergence of new powers-Feudals:
a. North-western Deccan, Northern Konakan, Southern Gujarat- Abhiraas Dynasty;
b. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Vidarbha) & Gujarat- Vakataka;
c. North Mysore, Karnataka- Kuntal dynasty;
d. Andhra Pradesh between Krishna to Godavari- Ikshvaaku dynasty;
e. South-western Deccan (Karnataka)- Chutus Dynasty;
f. North-western Deccan (Andhra Pradesh)- Bodhis Dynasty;
g. Northern Andhra Pradesh- Brihatphalaayanas Dynasty
h. Tamilnadu- Pallava Dynasty.

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