The Satavahana Dynasty: List of Rulers and Their Contributions

The Satavahana dynasty is the most significant period in Indian history. The period falls between the Mauryas and the rise of the Gupta Empire. They were also known as the Andhras in Deccan as they were originated in the eastern Deccan region (present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). The word Satavahana is a Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word called Sapta-Vahana which means driven by seven. According to the belief of Hindu mythology, the chariot of the sun God is drawn by seven horses. The founder of Satavahana dynasty was Simuka. The kingdom of Satavahanas was extended to the present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The rule of the kingdom extended to the different parts of India; it reached some parts of modern Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The dynasty had different capital cities that were not the same, it kept changing with time. The famous capitals of this dynasty were Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota). The main capital of the Satavahana Dynasty was Paithan or Pratishthan. It remained capital for a long time. The Ancient people, Andhras are mentioned in the Aitareya Brahmana. The Satavahanas Dynasty collapsed because of the continuous attack of Sakas. The greatest competitors of Satavahanas were the Sakas. 

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Founder of Satavahana Dynasty

The Satavahana dynasty founder is Simuka. He is mentioned as the first king in the Satavahana inscription at Naneghat. According to Puranas, the founder of the Satavahana Dynasty ruled for 23 years. It is mentioned in Hindu Puranas, Matsya, and Vayu Puranas that the first Andhra king overthrew the Kanva king Susharman. According to historians, the reign of Simika began in 30 BCE. Many scholars support this theory. According to beliefs Jainism Mythology, he adopted Jainism and in the last years of his life he became a tyrant because of that he was deposed and killed. He was succeeded by his brother Krishna also known as Kanha who further extended the Satavahana empire westward to Nashik.

List of Satavahanas Rulers and Their Contributions

The Satavahana Dynasty time period was started in the mid of the 1st century BCE and ended in the early 3rd-century. There are many rulers who contributed to the upliftment of the dynasty. The evidence of their glory can be seen in the inscription of various caves. The list of Satavahanas Rulers and their contributions is given below. Here the list of Satavahanas contains the main and famous rulers.

Culture Achievements of The Satavahana Dynasty

The cultural achievements of the Satavahana kingdom in sculptures, paintings, art and architecture, etc. are given below:

• Sculptures

Indian historian and architect Madhukar Keshav Dhavalikar has written about sculptures of the Satavahana Dynasty. The stupas made during that period are full of examples of the sculpting culture of the Satavahana Kingdom. It is said that Buddha, after attaining Enlightenment, spent four weeks near the Bodhi tree. The cave of Bhaja Vihara marks the beginning of sculptural art in the Satavahana kingdom around 200 BC. It is decorated with fascinating carvings and pillars and has a lotus capital crowned with sphinx that looks like mythic animals. Along with some of the above major Satavahana sculptures, some more sculptures existed such as Dvarapala, Gajalaksmi, Shalabhanjikas, Royal Procession, Decorative pillar, etc.

• Bronze

Several metal statuettes are found that are attributed to the Satavahanas. A lot of unique objects made from bronze were also found in Bramhapuri. Some statuettes are also obtained in the house from where the objects were found such as wine jugs, a small statue of Poseidon, a plaque depicting Perseus and Andromeda. The fine elephant, the Yaksi image, and the cornucopia found in Posheri kept at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya can also be attributed to the Satavahana period.

• Architecture

The sculptures of the Amaravati Stupa witnessed the development of the architecture of the Satavahanas. They constructed a Buddhist stupa in Amravati of 95 feet high. They also constructed stupas at Ghantasala, Goli, Jaggiahpeta, Amravati Bhattiprolu. The most famous of these monuments are the stupas built by Satvahanas. The most famous stupa is the Amaravati Stupa and the Nagarjunakonda Stupa.

• Paintings

The paintings of the Satavahana are the earliest surviving specimens in India. The painting of this dynasty is found only at the Ajanta Caves. The artistic activity of Ajanta is found in two phases, the first phase occurred around the 2nd to 1st centuries BC, when Hinayana caves were excavated during the Satavahana ruling. One of the popular paintings of the Satavahana period is the Chhadanta Jataka in Cave Number 10 of  Ajanta. It is a painting related to a mythological story of an elephant named Bodhisattva that possesses six tusks. Hence the painting culture was also growing in that period.

• Art of Amaravati

The Satavahana rulers have remarkable contributions to Buddhist art and architecture. They constructed grand stupas in the Valley of Krishna River. They constructed a famous stupa at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. The stupas were designed with slabs of marble. The walls of the stupas are sculpted with beautifully presented scenes from the life of the Buddha that were portrayed in a characteristic slim and elegant style. The walls are decorated with the life stories of the kings and Buddha.   

Did You Know?

• The Prakrits are a group of languages that were used in India in ancient times around from the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE.