The Satavahanas are identified in the Puranas by which one of the foll

The Satavahanas are identified in the Puranas by which one of the following epithets?

Andhras
Shakas
Kshatrapas
Sungas
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UPSC CAPF – 2021
The Satavahana dynasty, which ruled parts of south-central India from around the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE, is primarily referred to as the Andhras in the Puranic literature. This identification has led to discussions among historians regarding the original homeland of the Satavahanas and the relationship between the Puranic accounts and epigraphic/numismatic evidence. However, the Puranas consistently associate the Andhra name with the dynasty that ruled from the Deccan after the fall of the Sungas and Kanvas.
– The Satavahanas were significant rulers in the Deccan region, successors to the Mauryas and patrons of Buddhism and Brahmanism.
– Key sources for Satavahana history include Puranas, inscriptions (like Nashik and Nanaghat), and coins.
– The term “Andhra” in Puranas refers to the dynasty, possibly indicating their ethnic origin or later area of rule (Andhra region).
– Shakas and Kshatrapas were contemporary rivals, particularly the Western Kshatrapas.
– Sungas were a dynasty that ruled in North India before the Satavahanas rose to prominence in the Deccan.
The capital of the Satavahanas varied over time, including places like Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amravati. Their rule is noted for promoting trade and cultural exchange.