Sneha Girap (Editor)

Satakarni

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Reign
  
180 BCE

Issue
  
VedistriSatisisri

Children
  
Satisisri, Vedistri

Predecessor
  
Father
  
Parents
  
Kunala, Simuka


Name
  
Satakarni Satakarni

Successor
  
VedasriSatisiri

Died
  
193 BC

Spouse
  
Nayanika (Naganika)

House
  
Satavahana dynasty

Satakarni

People also search for
  
Dasharatha Maurya, Samprati, Ashoka, Kunala, Rani Padmavati

Grandparents
  
Ashoka, Rani Padmavati

Great-grandparents
  
Bindusara, Shubhadrangi

Real history of gautamiputra satakarni


Satakarni (Sātakarnī I) was the third of the Satavahana kings, who ruled the Deccan region of India. His reign dated variously as 70-60 BCE, or 187-177 BCE.

Contents

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Biography

According to the Puranas, the Satavahana king Simuka was succeeded by his brother Krishna (also known as Kanha). According to Matsya Purana, Krishna was succeeded by Mallakarni, but according to other Puranas, he was succeeded by Satakarni. The Nanaghat cave inscription of Satakarni lists his family members: it mentions Simuka's name, but not that of Krishna. Based on this, multiple historians conclude that Satakarni was Simuka's son, and succeeded Krishna. G. V. Rao, however, believes that the inscription is that of a different king Satakarni II; Simuka is mentioned in the inscription as the founder of the dynasty.

According to the Matsya Purana, Satakarni enjoyed a long reign of about 56 years. He seems to have conquered Western Malwa region from the Shungas.

He married Nayanika (Naganika), daughter of the Maharathi Tranakayiro Kalalaya, scion of the Amgiya (Ambhiya) family. She wrote the Naneghat inscription, in which she describes Satakarni as "Lord of Dakshinapatha, wielder of the unchecked wheel of Sovereignty". The Naneghat inscription of Naganika suggests that Satakarni performed two horse sacrifices (Aswamedha), to proclaim his sovereignty.

Encounter with Kharavela

The Hathigumpha inscription of the Kalinga king Kharavela mentions a king named "Satakani" or "Satakamini", who is identified with Satakarni. The inscription describes dispatching of an army and Kharavela's threat to a city variously interpreted as "Masika" (Masikanagara), "Musika" (Musikanagara) or "Asika" (Asikanagara). NK Sahu identifies Asika as the capital of Assaka janapada. According to Ajay Mitra Shastri, Asika-nagara was located in the present-day Adam village in the Nagpur district, where a seal mentioning the Assaka has been found. The inscription also mentions a river, variously identified with Krishna or with the combined flow of Kanha-Wainganga.

Since the inscription is only partially legible, different scholars interpret the events described in the inscription differently.

  • According to K.P. Jayaswal and R. D. Banerji, Kharavela sent an army against Satkarani. Sailendra Nath Sen also states that Kharavela sent out an army that advanced up to river Krishna, and threatened the Musika city located near the junction of Krishna and Musi rivers (near present-day Nalgonda).
  • According to Bhagwal Lal, Satakarni wanted to avoid an invasion of his kingdom by Kharavela. So, he sent horses, elephants, chariots and men to Kharavela as a tribute. In the same year, Kharavela captured the city of Masika with assistance of Kusumba Kshatriyas.
  • According to Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya, Kharavela's army failed to advanced against Satakarni, and then diverted its course to threaten the city of Asika (Asikanagara).
  • According to Alain Daniélou, Kharavela was friendly with Satakarni, and only crossed his kingdom without any clashes.
  • Succession

    He was succeeded by his two young sons Vedasri (Khandasiri or Skandasri) and Sakti-Sri (Sati Sirimata) or Haku-Siri, under the regency of their mother Nayanika.

    References

    Satakarni Wikipedia