Chapter - I
Introduction
Coins are discovered from time to time either in the course of
archaeological excavations or as accidental finds during the digging
operations of the earth. They play a vital role in throwing light on
historical facts hitherto unknown from other sources and help in their
reconstruction. They also substantiate the history known from the literary
and archaeological sources. The beginnings of the historical past of a
country or region are provided by the numtsmatic evidence. Thus, the
study of the coinage, in detail, is of great significance in the
reconstruction of remote beginnings of history. Till recently, most of the
historians believed that the political history of Andhra had commenced
with the Satavahanas. But the recent discoveries of inscribed coins at
Kotalingala in stratigraphic context and other sites reveal that local
chiefs ruled this area even before the Satavahanas,. Those coins bear
not only the names of rulers but also have striking similarities in metallic,
fabric and symbolic aspects with the Satavahana coinage. Hence, in the
reconstruction of historical trends of the region, the inscribed coins
assume great historical importance.
There was an interval of about a couple of centuries between the
termination of the Mauryan Power and the commencement of the
Satavahana rule. Although this phase of the history of the Deccan is still
not fully reconstructed. in detail. But , The new discoveries have shed
welcome light on this issue .. The coins seem to indicate that ,after the
fall of the
Mauryan Empire, the local chiefs might have ruled
independently and issued these coins. Subsequently, Siri Satavahana
might have occupied this area and ruled this region.
The uninscribed coins had been unearthed at various places. This
coinage had been followed by the inscribed coinage which commenced by
the beginning of the rule of local chiefs which can be placed as noted
above, between the end of the Mauryan rule and the advent of
Satavahanas. The study of this coinage deserves special attention as it is
fills the gap in the history of the period noted above to a great extent.
Hence, the theme of the present doctoral dessertation is chosen as
"Coinage of Early Andhradesa: Post-Mauryan and Pre-Satavahana period".
This study is based on the coins of Kotalingala and other neighbouring
sites which helps us to reconstruct the early history of Andhra. As Romila
Thapar has pointed out that "Elsewhere, the development from protostates to states was accelerated by the Mauryan administration. Kalinga
and Andhra in the Peninsula that were core areas in the Mauryan system,
built on their experience of being part of the state administration under
the Mauryas and evolved rapidly through a system of secondary state
formation into independent states in the subsequent period.
[Keval
Bodhi, p. 731. The coins, either uninscribed or inscribed that came up in
the post-Mauryan Deccan, reveal the growing degree of exchange in the
field of commerce and agriculture and donation to the Jaina and Buddhist
monks who were establishing the monastic centers in the Deccan.
Post-Mauryan and Pre-Satavahana Period [ 187 6.C to c. 80
B.C,J :
Chronologically, this period falls between the end of the Mauryan
dynasty and the beginning of the Satavahana dynasty i.e., from 2nd
century B.C. to c. lStcentury B.C. unknown historical fact. The Mauryan
Age ended with the demise of Brihadratha in 187 B.C. Consequently, in
the post-Mauryan period, local chieftains rose to rule independently in
various localities.
I n the Telangana region of the present Andhra
Pradesh, some chieftains asserted their authority before the rise of the
Satavahanas, about whom we know only through their coinage.
Interestingly this numismatic discovery lead to uncover an unknown
historical fact.
According to the testimony of the Puranas and the Harsha Carita,
Pushyamitra usurped the throne of Magadha after killing the last Mauryan
king Brihadratha in 187 B.C. This view has been accepted by all scholars,
and it is a rational presumption that he celebrated the horse-sacrifice at
his capital city Pataliputra after the horse was led back after a year's
victorious campaign.' The performance of this sacrifice is mentioned in
Kalidasa's ~alavika~nimitr$
and has been more than confirmed by an
epigraphic record which refers to Pushyamitra as performer of two horsesacrificesS3
Thus, the Mauryan rule came to an end
with the death of
Brihadratha in 187 B.C.; and in the post-Mauryan period, many
independent local dynasties in northern India and in the Deccan rose to
power. The coins discovered in Mathura, Panchala, Avadh and other
localities in U.P., show that local ruling dynasties flourished there in the
post-Mauryan period. The reign of all these rulers is assigned by Allan
before the end of the first century B.c.~
The Beginning of Satavahana Rule :
A lot of controversy prevails regarding the beginning and duration
of the Satavahana rule. The Matsya Purana says that altogether 30
Andhra (Satavahana) kihgs ruled for a period of 470 years, whereas,the
Vayupurana mentions only 17 rulers of the family and gives them a total
period of 272 years. But they are unanimous in opining that Simuka
Satavahana founded this ruling family after slaying the Kanva Susarman
and putting an end to the Sunga authority. Since the Mauryas are
believed to have ruled till c. 187 B.C., followed by the Sunga and Kanvas
who ruled for 112 and 45 years respectively. D.C. ~ i r c a * opined that c.
30 B.C. would be the initial date of Simuka's rule. According to him, the
Satavahana rule came to an end some time in the first half of the 3rd
century A.D.
There is another uncertainty about the identity of Satakarni, the
contemporary of Kharavela, i.e., whether he was Malla Satakarni, the son
of Krishna who ruled for only ten years or another Satakarni who ruled for
fifty six years. The Vayupurana mentions only the second Satakarni of
fifty six years rule and omits altogether Malla Satakarni. This difficulty
does not arise for those who accept the longer genealogy of the
Malsyapur~na,as they begin the Satavahana rule from c. 260 B.C,
According to Sircar's theory, Satakarni's rule began in c. 10 A.D.
because Simuka ruled for twenty three years and his brother Krishna
ruled for eighteen years (30 B.C.
+ 41 =
11 A.D.).
Kharavela, who,
according to his Hathigumpha inscription, ruled after three hundred years
of a certain Nanda ruler (i.e., first century B.C.) invaded Satakarni's
dominion in his second regnal year.
P.V. Parabrahma Sastry has
examined the issue, taking the stratigraphical data from the excavations
at Kotalingala, the coin symbols and other features, the Nsneghat relieve
labels and the large inscription of Nagarika and the puranic statements,
P.V.P. Sastry concluded and suggested that Simuka [Chhimukha] was the
son of Satakarni-I and his wife Nagarika and Satavahana was the founder
member of the family.
The present study is based on the coins unearthed at Kotalingala,
an ancient village situated on the right bank of the river Godavari in
Peddapalli taluk of Karimnagar district of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It
is a potential early historical site, its antiquities being datable from the
late Maurya period to the end of the first century A . D . ~
Kotalingala came to light first
when the coins, found by the
villagers during agricultural operations, were procured by S. Narahari, an
officer in the Postal Department at Karimnagar - who, in turn, handed
them over to Parabrahma Sastry of the Department of Archaeology at
Hyderabad. It is for the first time in the history of Indian Archaeology,
that the coins of Siri Satavahana, Siri Satakarni, Simuka Satavahana and
the coins of Gbbhada, SamagGpa, KamvZyaSiri, Siri~aya,Siri NSrina were
discovered in this village in 1978.'
140 copper coins of pre-Satavahana
and early Satavahana rulers were acquired for the State Museum in
Hyderabad, during the same year.' Further, these coins were published
by Parabrahma Sastry in a series of articles in the journal^.^ Review of
these articles was done by Parameshwarilal Gupta in the Journal,
Numismatic ~igest." Thus, the existence of the earliest inscribed coinage
in Andhra came in to lime light by this remarkable discovery.
Parabrahma Sastry studied the above numismatic material of the
Satavahana family.
He has strongly supports the theory that
Siri
Satavahana was the founder of the satavahana dynasty in his
monograph." Thus, for the epoch of the Satavahana rule, we see two
initial dates, which seem to be valid in their own way. Circa 30 B.C., as
the Puranas indicate, is also quite true, because the Puranic editors
reckoned Simuka's rule after his slaying of Kanva Susarman. This took
place after 187 B.C.; the last date of the Mauryas
+
112 years of the
Sunga rule and 44 years of the Kanva rule, which means 187
-
156
(112t44)= 31 B.C.
The stratigraphical evidence, the successive changes in the coin
symbols, the lable inscriptions and lastly the attribution of "Satakarni" to
both Simuka and Krishna in the Kaliyuga - Raja - Vrittanta, all go to
prove that Satavahana was the founder of the family as narrated in the
Kathasarilsagara and he was succeeded by his son Satakarni, who, in
turn, was succeeded by his son Simuka. Then followed his brother
~rishna.'~V.V. Mirashi has already said that King Satavahana was plainly
the founder of the Satavahana dynasty,13
Further, Parameshwarilal Gupta supported Parabrahrna Sastry's
genealogy of early Satavahanas in his commentary paper. He supported
the view that
l4
the coins of Chhimuka bear the letters in their legend,
quite distinct, angular in their form and appear to be later than the coins
of Satavahana and Satakarni. Hence, it appears that Satakarni followed
Satavahana and Satakarni was followed by Chhimuka. Moreover, after
critically evaluating the literary and archaeological evidence, Ajaymitra
Shastry arrived at the conclusion that the emergence of the Satavahana
power must be dated about mid-first century B.c."
Circa 80 B.C., a$ coins indicate, seem to be the probable date,
after the extinction of the Mauryas in C. 187 B.C.
We have to
accommodate the local rulers, i.e,, GEbhada for about 25 years,
SamagiSpa for about 40 years, Kamvzya Siri for about 20 years and
SiriVZya fo: about 10 years and the few other rulers, if any, represented
by the uninscribed coins.
Thus, according to P.V.P
ast try,'^ Siri
Satavahana founded the sovereign rule of the dynasty in c. 80 B.C.
whereas
Simuka ruled around 30 B.C. as third one.
Thus, the
numismatic study has pushed back the initial year of the Satavahana
rule.
The chronology and order of succession is supported by the
stratigraphy in the excavation. The coins of Sirnuka were found in later
layers
whereas
the coins of Siri Satavahana and Satakarni I were
found in the earlier layers. Thus, stratigraphy has also proved this vital
point with regard to the early kings of the dynasty. Further, this is
supported by palaeography as also by the Kharavela
synchronism."
-
Satakarni
King Satavahana is also known from the Jaina literature to have
built Jaina temples and Chaityas and that in the closing years of his reign,
he became a wicked king and was dethroned and killed.''
Leaving the
last part of
this statement, we can say that the King Satavahana patronized Jainism
in the beginning. There is a cavern on a hill called Munulagutta (hill of
Jaina ascetics) about one kilometer south of Kotalingala, where some rock
beds are noticed. ~ o n i ecoins with the legend Siri Satavahana are also
found near the ~avern.'~
The above Jaina tradition is not altogether
baseless. King Satavahana might have got those rock beds carved out in
the cavern for the use of the Jaina ascetics, who observe Sallekhana type
of nirvana. I n his later career, King Satavahana might have embraced
Vedic religion and hence, he was treated as a wicked king by the Jainas.
Any way that Siri Satavahana was the founder member of the family is
proved to be a historical fact and now this view is widely favoured.
Thus, the present Post-Mauryan and Pre-Satavahana Period seems
to fall between 187 B.C., and c. 80 B.C. specifically for the early history of
Andhradesa under local chiefs.
Importance of the Kota/inga/a Coins:
The Kotalingala coins furnish the names of atleast five rulers,
namely Gbhada, ~ama'g~pa,
Kamvgya Siri, SiriVsya and Siri ~5rana,who
can be definitely ascribed to the period between Mautyan Asoka and the
earliest known King Satavahana. Further, the coins of G6bhada are self
indicative by their technique and palaeography of the legend which
reveals that they were issued in the post-Mauryan period, say before c.
150 B.C. Some of the issuers of the uninscribed coins are also to be
accommodated before the issuance of the coins of G6bhada. The period
covered by the whole of the 2" century B.C. and even few decades
during the 1st century B.C. is ascribable to the rule of those five rulers.
Evidently, the coins prove to be a reliable source for the reconstruction
of the pre.Satavahana history wherein the inscriptions are a rarity.
Scope and Aim of the Study:
The present study traces the history of the above said rulers and
contemporary conditions of the period. Earlier, such a
work had not
been undertaken at a comprehensive level.. When the literary sources
are silent, the numismatic material has played an important role in tracing
this unknown historicalsfact, Hence, the newly found coins have been
systematically and technically analysed for this purpose .A major
objective of the present study is to study the political, social, economic,
cultural and religious aspects during the period. For this purpose the coin
motifs, legends, typology, metrology, chronology, provenances and the
frequency of distribution are examined.
The coin catalogue of the
available coins in museums, institutions and individual coin collections in
Andhra Pradesh and Anjaneri (Nasik district) is prepared.
A Review of the Earlier Works:
Numismatics is the most important branch of archaeological
studies, which deserves attention, for a large number of coins in hoards,
in surface and excavations from various historic sites are available.
Scholars since the late lgth century have begun evincing interest in
studying coins and classifying them on scientific lines. Among them, Sir
Walter Elliott was the first with his work on the Coins o f South India
Romans, in 1886. I n the former Hyderabad State, coins came to light at
a host of sites, of which Kotalingala, Peddabankur, Kondapur, Hyderabad,
Warangal,
Yeleshwaram,
Nelakondapalli,
Veerapuram,
Nandalur,
Amaravati, Vaddamanu, Aurangabad, Paunar, Nasik, Maski and Paithan
are very important. Scholars like P. L. Gupta, Yazdani, M. Rama Rao,
I.K. Sarma and P.V. Parabrahma Sastry contributed immensely to the
numismatic studies in Andhra.
Parabrahma Sastry has given a primary report on his discovery of
Kotalingala coins. Further, the coins were published by him in a series
of articles in the journals.20A review of the same was done by P.L. Gupta
in the journal, Numismatic ~igest,~'.Parabrahma Sastry had discussed
the significance of Kotalingala coins in a monograph.22 Raja keddy and
Suryanarayana Reddy published the coins of ~ 6 b h a d aand
~ ~~amagt5pa.~~
They have also studied the coins of KamvZya ~ i r i , ~S' i r i ~ S y aand
~ ~ Siri
~3rZna.~'
Likewise, Dinkar Rao published one specimen of ~ i j b h a d a ~and
'
one coin of ama ago pa.^' Further, I.K. Sarma published one specimen of
SamagGpa in his work.30
Thus, the present study aims at studying the uninscribed and
inscribed coins unearthed in the Telangana region, especially at
Kotalingala, indepth and its significance in political, economic and cultural
history of :he Andhradesa.
Sources of Data:
Numismatic discoveries and archaeological excavations form the
main sources of information for the present study, especially the coins
unearthed at Kotalingala and other sites. They have been treated as
primary source of data for the study of pre-Satavahana history. Since
the secondary sources of information is scarce ,only sources of topical
relevance ,wherever available, are referred to.
Primary Source :
Numismatic Material:
The coins of the pre-Satavahana period were found along with
punch-marked and uninscribed coins.
At present, these coins are
deposited in various places such as Andhra Pradesh State Museum in
Hyderabad, Hyderabad Numismatic Society, Hyderabad, Indian Institute
of Research in Numismatic Studies at
Anjaneri in
Nasik district,
Maharashtra and other private coin cabinets.
Archeological Remains:
The utility of archaeological remains is also important in the sphere
of historical reconstruction. They were unearthed along with the coins
found in the sites. Both have mutually contributed in rebuilding the preSatavahan~history.
After the discovery of inscribed coins at Kotalingala, under the
direction of Dr. V.V. Krishna Sastry, the State Department of Archaeology
and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, had conducted
excavations at this site from 1979-84 and had unearthed several
antiquities of archaeological importance, which include pottery, beads,
iron objects, terracottas, coins and large size bricks used for
constructions. They have identified six layers in different trenches. They
have been utilized in tracing the contemporary conditions of the history.
The coins found at Veerapuram show the different types in
circulation and a clear sequence of different series in succession. The
earliest coins are of
Punch-marked coins, the next series is that of the uninscribed die struck
coins, the Maharathi coins and the Satavahana coins.
Scores of silver punch-marked, Roman denari and Satavahana
coins have been found at Peddabankur and it was also probably a mint
centre and a market town.
A variety of coins of different types were reported also from
Kondapur which includes thousands of punch-marked and early type of
Satavahane coins. Yaz'adani designated it as an important Andhra town
where coins were minted.
Scheme of Chapterisation:
Following the introductory chapter, the aspects of coinage is taken
up. The thesis has been devided into five chapters .The first chapter
i,e.prelude to the present study discusses the problem under study and
the methodology adopted in dealing with it.
The second chapter presents a brief outline of the evolution of
coins ancient India and the three phases of the coinage such as punchmarked which was succeeded first by uninscribed and later by the
inscribed phase, Uninscribed coinage, its typology distribution and other
aspects are discussed. Earliest inscribed coinage of Andhra which was
found recently at Kotalingala and other sites are examined in detail. The
existence of local chieftains as revealed by the legends of the coins is
discovered. Furthetr characteristics
of coins,
symbolism, typology,
metrology, genealogy, chronology and other aspects are examined in
detail.
The third chapter examines symbolism and executional variations
of the symbols. Each symbol has its own significance - either religious or
political, The
symbols and figures appearing on the coins of pre-
Satavahan~rulers have been used for tracing religious history of the
period is examined. It also evaluates their expressions. The symbols on
the obverse as well as on the reverse have been discussed .
I n the fourth chapter, the existence of integrated political units in
Andhra were traced with the help of inscriptions and secondary sources.
How the numismatic material helps a lot in tracing the political power
in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh during the period was
examined .An attempt was made to understand the politico -socioeconomic conditions such as food habits, agriculture and industrial
activity, etc. Likewise, the archaeological antiquities which were found at
Kotalingala and neighbouring sites are also useful to understand the early
building activity and settlement pattern of people. The economic activity
and commercial mobility of the people were evaluated in the light of
coinage.
The fifth and final chapters presents the summary of major
findings are examined, in the light of historic analysis and numismatic
studies, the place to be assigned to the pre-Satavahana period under the
local rulers.
References:
1. Majumdar, R.C., "North India ARer the fall o f the Mauryan Empire,
JNSI, Vol. XXII, Varanasi, 1960, p. 47.
2. Malavikagnirnitra, Act V. For an English Translation of the Letter, of
V,A. Smith, The Early history of India, 3rd Ed., p. 201.
3. Epigraphia Indica, XX, p. 57.
4. Allan, I., Gtalogue ofthe Coins ofAncientInda, New Delhi, 1936,
pp.1 XXX VIII, ff. ; c V I I I ff;
cx Viff.
5. Sircar, D.C., TheSAgeof Imperial Unity, Bombay, 1953, p, 195.
6. Sastry, P.V.P.,Satavahana Epoch A New Light, Hyderabad, 199779, A.P., p. 28.
7. The Annual Report of the Dept. of Archaeology and Museums for
1978-79, A.P., p. 28.
8. Ibid., p. 39.
9. a] Sastry, P.V.P., "Unknown Coins o f Satavahanas and Their
Predecessors'; ND, Vol. 11, Pt. I,1978, pp. 10-21.
b] Sastry, P.V.P., "Some More Coins From Kotalingala~ND, Vol.
111, Pt. 11, 1979, pp. 17-28.
c] Sastry, P.V.P., 'Coins of Simuka Satavahana Discoverec APJA,
Vol. I, NO. I,1979, pp. 133-139.
10. Pararneshwarilal Gupta, 'Kotalingala Findofposl Mauryan Coins':
ND, Vol. 11, Pt. 11, 1978, pp. 24-33.
11. Sastry, P.V.P., Satavahana Epoch A New Light.
12. Ibid., p. 20.
13. Mirashi, V.V., "A Coin ofkingsatavahana': JNSI, Vol. VII, Varanasi,
1945, p. 2,
14. Parameshwarilal Gupta, Op. Cit., p. 31.
15. Parameshwarilal Gupta, [ed.], The 2" International Colloquium
Numismatics and Archaeolaogy, IIRNS, Anjaneri, 1987, p. 90,
Article by
Ajaymitra Shastry "Dating Potential of Early
Satavahana Coins".
16. Sastry, P.V.P., Op. Cit., p. 12.
17. Ibid., pp. 46-47.
18. Gopalachari, K., Early Histoiy of theAndhra County, Madras, 1976,
p. 35.
19. Sastry, P.V.P., Op. Cit., p. 17.
20. [a] Sastry, P.V.P., Op. Cit., "Unknown Coins..", pp. 10-21.
[b] Sastry, P.V.P., Op. Cit., "Some More Coins.." pp. 17-28.
[c] Sastry, P.V.P., Op. Cit., "Coins of Simuka..", pp. 133-139.
21. Parameshwarilal Gupta, Op. Cit., "Kotalingala Find of ..."pp. 24-33.
22. Sastry, P.V.P., Op. Cit., Satavahana Epoch A New Light.
23. [a] Raja Reddy, D., et, al,, Andhra Coins Through the Ages,
Hyderabad, 1999, p. 38.
[b] Raja Reddy and Suryanarayana Reddy, Kotalinga/a Coinage of
Satavahanas and Other Local Rulers ;A Profile, Hyderabad,
1987, p. 24.
24. [a] Raja Reddy, D., et, al., Op. Cit., Andhra Coins73rough the Ages,
p. 4, 38 & 40.
[b] Raja Reddy, D., et, al., Op. Cit., Kotalingala Coinage..., pp. 30-33,
& 51 and 54.
25. [a] Ibid., p. Nos. 19, 28, 29, 30, 51.
[b] Raja Reddy, D., et, al., Op. Cit., Andhra Coins....
., p. 4.
26. Raja Reddy, D., et, at., Op. Cit., Kotalingala Coinage ... , pp. 26-27.
27. Ibid., pp. 24-25.
28. Dinkar Rao "Two UnidentifiedAncient Coins, "ND, Vol. I, I,Pt. 1.
1977, PI. IV-7.
29. Ibid., PI. IV-8,
30. Sarma, I.K., Coinage of thesatavahana Empire, Delhi, 1980, PI. XI
SG-8.