Satavahana: Encyclopedia II - Satavahana - Origins

Satavahana - Origins

The Sātavāhana dynasty belongs to Andra Maval, a region in western Maharashtra. They were from 96 Maratha clans. Their first capital was Junnar, near Pune. From the area where they lived they are referred to as Andhras. Present day Andhra Pradesh got its name from this dynasty. In the Pūrānas and on their coins the dynasty is variously referred to as the Andhras, Andhrabhrityas, Sātakarnīs and Sātavāhanas. They have been variously thought of as originating from present day Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh, and were probably of Dravidian origin.

The Sātavāhanas started out as feudatories to the Mauryan Empire but declared independence soon after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE).

They were the first native Indian rulers to issue their own coins with portraits of their rulers, starting with king Vashishtiputra Shri Pulumavi (r. 130-158 CE), a practice derived from that of the Indo-Greek kings to the northwest. Their coins give unique indications as to their chronology, language, and even facial features (curly hair, long ears, strong lips). They issued mainly lead and copper coins; their portrait-style silver coins were usually struck over coins of the Western Kshatrapa kings. Their coins also display various traditional symbols, such as elephants, lions, horses, and chaityas (stupas), as well as the "Ujjain symbol", a cross with four circles at the end.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Origins", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki