Question

What was the capital of Satavahanas?
A) Dhanyakataka ( Amravati)
B)Pratishthana ( Paithan)
C)Karanchi
D)A and B

Answer 1

Hint: The Sanskrit Sapta-Vahana is a Prakrit type of "driven by seven"; the chariot of the sun god is drawn by seven horses in Hindu mythology. This would mean that, as it was a common notion in ancient India, the Satavahanas initially claimed affiliation with the legendary solar dynasty.

Complete answer: It was widely believed that Satavahanas resisted the invasion of foreign rulers and established peace in the Deccan region, they patronized the Prakrit instead of the Sanskrit language. The Satavahanas were the supporters of Hinduism and Buddhism. The Satavahanas built peace in the Deccan region in the post-Mauryan period and overcame the issues with the Western Kshatrapas but by the early 3rd century CE, the kingdom had fragmented into smaller states.
Pratishthana (modern Paithan) was described as the capital of Pulumavi by Ptolemy (2nd century CE). The Satavahana capitals included Amaravati (Dhanyakataka) and Junnar at other times. The Satavahanas built a cultural bridge and played an imperative role in the transfer to Southern India of cultural symbols and ideas by offering a seductive range of architecture and paintings in the Ajanta Cave, Amravati and Nagarjunakonda regions.
Options A, B and C can be eliminated easily.
Therefore, option D is correct.

Note: The Satavahana Dynasty was founded by Simuka. From around the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE, the Satavahanas controlled. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the most potent monarch of this dynasty.