SATHAVAHANA ' CAPITAL




        DHANYAKATAKAM

satavahans capital is Purnns


Origin of Satavahana Andhra Myth
 
Satavahana Dynasty is also called Andhra’s. Let us analyze 
this

Who is Satavahana dynasty?
The Satavahanas were the political successors of the 
Mauryas in the Deccan and their rule lasted for four and a 
half centuries from about 230 B.C. their empire seems to 
have extended from the Konkan Coast in the West to the 
Godavari and Krishna Deltas in the East, while to the South 
it must have reached as far as Chandravalli. 

Where is this claim made? 
If we search the various sources. We can see this claim 
comes only with reference to Puranas.Those who claim 
Satavahana as Andhra’s cite the Puranas as the only source. 
Let us see the various Puranas.

1. No where in the Puranas Satavahana’s is mentioned.
2. No where we have any references to Satavahana kings.
So what does the purana’s tell?

Matsya Purana: Sisuka Vishnu Purana: Sipraka
Vayu Purana: Sindhuka Bhagvatha Purana: Vrsola Bali (i.e. 
Strong Sudra)
Brahmanda Purana: Chismaka

All this is supposedly to refer to King Simuka who 
established Satavahana dynasty. 

All Purana’s refer second king as Krishna

Third is given as 
Matsya: Sri-Mallakarni Vayu, Brahmanda, And Vishnu: Sri 
Satakarni
Bhagvatha: sri-Santakarna
The List of Names in Matsya Purana
1.Sisuka (Chimuka)-23 years, 2.Krishna-18 yrs, 3.Sri 
Mallakarni (Satakarni I)-10yrs, 4.Purnotsanga-18 yrs, 
5.Skandhastambhi-18 yrs, 6.Satakarni (Satakarni II)-56 yrs, 
7.Lambodara-18 yrs, 8.Apilaka-12 yrs, Meghasvati-18yrs, 
0.Svati-18 yrs, 11.Skanasvati 7 rs, 12.Mrgendra Svatikarna-
3yrs, 13.Kuntala Svatikarna 8 yrs, 14.Svatikarna-1 yr, 
15.Pulumavi (Pulumavi I)-36 yrs, 16.Riktavarna-25 yrs, 
17.Hala-5 yrs, 18.Mandalaka-5 yrs, 19.Purindrasena-5 yrs, 
20.Sundara Satakrna-1 yr, 21.Chakora Svatikarna-6 
months,22.Sivasvati-28 yrs,23.Gautamiputra Satakarni-21 
yrs,24.Pulumavi(Pulumavi II)28 yrs,25.Sivasri-7 
yrs,26.Sivaskanda Satakarni-7 yrs,27.Yajnasri Satakarni-29 
yrs,28.Vijaya-6 yrs,29.Chandasri Satakarna-10 yrs, and 
30.Pulumavi(Pulumavi III).
Let us see what the coins and inscriptions say
Chimuka, Krishna, Satakarni I, Satakarni II, Sata, Apilaka, 
Hala, Gautamiputra Satakarni, Vasistiputra Sri Pulumavi, 
Vasistiputra Sivasri Satakarni, Vasistiputra Satakarni, 
Sivasri Pulumavi, Skanda Satakarni, Gautamiputra Yajna 
Satakarni, Vijaya Satakarni, Vasishtiputra Chandra 
Satakarni, Pulumavi, Kausikiputra Satakarni, Saka 
Satakarni, Rudra Satakarni, Kumba Satakarni and Karna 
Satakarni. 

Let us see when the purana’s are written?
Puranas were written between 300AD to 1000AD. A difference 
of around 500 years, significant time for discrepancies to 
creep in. which is why it misses out on many names and many 
characteristics of Satavahana’s. The reason why they were 
Andhra’s has crept in.
Let us see other evidences.

1. Contemporary inscriptions at Hathigumpha (150BC) 
referred to them as 
Satavahanas 
2. Line four of Hathigumpha inscription refer him as 
Satakamni
3. Epigraph of Visitthiputta Ananda of (1st Century BC) 
refer him as Satakani
4. Nasik Inscription of (1st century BC) refer him as 
Sadakani
5. Nanghat inscription refer Satakani
6. Coins issued by Satavahanas refer as Satakani, Satakamni
Vahana and kanni means same that is son, so we can 
reasonably assume sata as dynastic name. It means Sata’s Son

You can see none them refer them as Andhra’s, only in 
purana’s you can see Andhra Tag that is also not to the 
same names. So we can clearly see Satavahana’s are not 
Andhra’s.

So if they are not Andhra’s who are they? 
1.Satavahan’s have their capital in Paithan. The ancient 
city of Pratisthan 
now Paithan was the seat of Satvahana dynasty who ruled 
from 2nd century 
BC to 2nd century AD. This is in ancient kuntala (kanara 
country) and not 
Andhra. 
2.Chutu’s (another line of Satkarnis) occupied most of the 
western Karnataka 
with a capital at Vaijayantipura (Banwasi). Even though one 
more line of 
Satakarni’s ruled Andhra, but chutu’s are called Kannada 
rulers.
3.Kuntala Satakarni denotes the king is from kuntala not 
Andhra. 
4.Satavahanas never called themselves Andhra’s
5.Sukthankar held the view that Bellary district was the 
original home of 
the Satavahanas
So Satavahan’s are of Kuntala and Kannada origin not Andhra 
Origin

Kuntala
In ancient times the areas south of the Godavari river 
including southern districts of modern Maharashtra, 
northern districts of modern Karnataka and south Karnataka 
districts of Shimoga and Chitradurga were collectively 
called Kuntala. An inscriptional passage the upper valley 
of the Krishna points to this theory [Ep. Ind., Vol. XII, 
p. 153. See Mirashi, Studies in Indology,]. In the Sanskrit 
work Udayasundarikatha of Soddhala (11th cent. A.D.) 
Pratishthana on the Godavari is said to be the capital of 
the Kuntala country. In early times Kuntala was probably 
included in the larger country called Maharashtra. The 
Aihole inscription of Pulakeshi II includes all these areas 
mentioned in Kuntala as Maharashtra. This designation of 
the entire area seems to be confirmed in Chinese notes as 
well. During these times, Kuntala came to denote the 
predominantly Kannada-speaking country, further 
corroborating views of historians such as Dr. Altekar and 
Dr. P.B. Desai. The Early Chalukyas of Badami and the Later 
Chalukyas of Kalyani were known as Kuntaleshvaras or lords 
of Kuntala. All their inscriptions are in Kannada and 
Sanskrit and their regal capitals at different times, 
Badami, Manyakheta(Malkhed in Gulbarga district) and 
Kalyani were also in present day Karnataka, which 
historically would be southern Kuntala. During these times 
however, the districts of Kolhapur, Satara, Sholapur, 
Ahmadnagar and Bid which are now Marathi-speaking, were 
included in Kuntala, indicating that Kannada country spread 
much further north of today's political boundaries. The 
Kannada classic Kavirajamarga calls the entire region 
between the Godavari and Kaveri rivers as Karnataka 
indicating Kannada country at one time extended far north 
and east of present day boundaries. Perhaps this was the 
region that embraced Hale Kannada as the official language. 
It is well known that during these times, Kannada and 
Telugu were written in Hale Kannada script. The Early 
Rashtrakuta, who were ruling over this territory as 
feudatory of the Chalukyas, were known as Kuntaleshvaras as 
well and their inscriptions call their overlords at that 
time as Karnataka Bala. Much later their imperial empire 
would rule large parts of India from regal capital 
Manyakheta in present day Karnataka, though as their empire 
grew they had many provincial capitals.
Their oldest inscription is found in Satara district of 
Maharashtra belonging to 6th century. In it Rashtrakuta 
king Avidheya has donated a village to learned Brahmins. 
The inscription is in Sanskrit written in Brahami script. 
This has confirmed their origin at above place generally 
called Kuntala. From above theories it is clear that the 
ancient regional names such as Kuntala, Karnata or 
Maharshtra may have covered large common areas in the 
deccan at different times in Indian history

capital of satavahanas  :


paithan in maharashtra, formerly called pratishtan.