Saka Satavahana Conflict. 1.There is controversy about the name Sakas some hold the view that they were probably .One branch of them was known as Kshabaratas .Some say Nahapanawas a pahlava and Ghasmotika the father of Chasthana was scythian .It was from the Gupta period that the name sakacame to beapplied to this family of the people. 2.The one reason that was responsible for the southward thrust of the Sakas was the Kushan pressure from the north. 3.To begin with they established themselves in western Rajputana ,Gujarat and Kathiyawad.Then they took malva and even northern Maharastra from the Satavahanas .At one time they even got southern Maharastra as Vijayanti from the Satavahanas. 4.The earliest know king of the Kshaharatas ,a branch of the Sakas ,was Bhumaka.He ruled over Gujarat,Kathiyawad and north Konkancoins belonging to him are found. 5.His successor was Nahapana title Raja -numerous coins advanced at the expence of Satavahanas-this advance began five years before the end of Nahapanas rule .After Nahapana defeated the Satavahana he assumed the title of Maha Kshatrapa.A jain work mentions Broach as the capital of Nahapana 6.Ushavadata was the general and son in law of Nahapana and he succeded him as the Saka ruler.He took western deccan including Malva.It is not known whether Paithan ,the capital of Satavahanas was lost or not.He defeated Satavahana rulers were Sundra Satakarni,Chakora Satalarni and Shiva sati. It is intresting to note that ushavadata following puranic Hinduism gave cows to brahmins-visited Pushiar gave religious benefactions-also gave viallages to Buddhist-Saka country was divided into districts. 7.It was Gautamaiputra Sstakarni who revived the glorious of Satavahanas.He defeated the successor of Nahapana ,Ushavadata was killed.Some say that he defeated Nahapana .Also a Jain work speaks of Nahapana were re-issued by Gautamiputra Satakarni .Some land grants also confirm this victory.It is said that the Satavahana king made preparations for 16 years to defeat the Sakas. 8.The conflict was re-opened during the days of Pulumayi II ,the king after Gautamiputra Satakarni ,as well as Sri Pulumayi. 9.After this Ghamotika appeared on the stage who ruled over kathiawad.His successor ,Ghashtana also inflicted defeats on the Satavahanas.Rudraman too defeated the Satavahanas.The victory of Rudraman and Ghastana around 150 A.D. Significane 1.The conflict between the Sakas and Satavahanas was inevitable as such conflicts were natural in feudal times.Probably the Sakas were perforce dieven to expand southward because of the establishement of Kushan empire .The Saka Satavahana conflict was because of the basic factors working in the political dynamic of the day. 2.The Sakas issued coins of great artistic value.Gautamiputra Satakarni re-issued the coins of Nahapana.In other words,the Sakas had better artistic sense. 3.Evidence shows that the Sakas introduced new ideas and institutions in south -silver coins ,free use of Sanskrit and Vigorour patronage of Buddhists and brahmins .Kshaharatas used Khoreshthi alphabet of extreme north-west. xxxxxxx
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:16:43 +0000