Andhra Ikshvaku

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For other uses, see Ikshvaku (disambiguation).

Ikshvakus of Andhra
Early 3rd century–early 4th century
Location of the Andhra Ikshvakus in c. 350 CE
CapitalVijayapuri
Official languagesSanskrit, Telugu
Religion
Shaivism (Hinduism), Buddhism
GovernmentMonarchy
Maharaja 
History 
• Established
Early 3rd century
• Conquest of Ikshvakus by Pallava Simhavarman and occupation of Vijayapuri by the Abhiras
early 4th century
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Satavahana dynasty
Pallava Empire
Abhira dynasty
Today part ofIndia

The Andhra Ikshvaku (

legendary namesakes
.

The Ikshvaku kings were Shaivites and performed Vedic rites, but Buddhism also flourished during their reign. Several Ikshvaku queens and princes contributed to the construction of the Buddhist monuments at present-day Nagarjunakonda.

Political history

Ancient Sanskrit texts, such as

Ayodhya, the capital of the Kosala Kingdom in northern India.[4]

A record of the Vijayapuri king Ehuvala Chamtamula traces his ancestry to the legendary Ikshvakus.[5] The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri seem to be same as the "Shriparvatiya Andhras" mentioned in the Matsya Purana.[4]

Chamtamula

Nagarjunakonda Ayaka pillar inscription of the time of Vira-Purushadatta (250-275 CE)

The dynasty's founder Vasishthiputra Chamtamula (

Satavahana power. He is attested by the Rentala and Kesanapalli inscriptions. The Rentala inscription, dated to his 5th regnal year, calls him "Siri Cāṃtamūla". The 4-line Kesanapalli inscription, dated to his 13th regnal year, and inscribed on the pillar of a Buddhist stupa, names him as the founder of the Ikshvaku dynasty.[6]

No information is available about Chamtamula's parents, except that his father had multiple wives and daughters. Chamtamula had two

IAST: Cāṃtaśrī) and Hammasri (IAST: Hammaśrī). Chamtasri, who married Mahatalavara Skandashri of Pukiya family (he is Commander-in-chief and a feudatory), played an important role in the construction of a Buddhist mahachaitya.[6]

The records of the later Ikshvaku kings describe Chamtamula as a great performer of the Vedic sacrifices such as Agnishtoma, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha.[7][8] These descriptions are corroborated by archaeological discoveries, including those of Chamtamula's Ashvamedha-type coins, a tank used for the Avabhritha ceremony, the kurma-chiti (a tortoise-shaped sacrificial altar), and the skeleton of a horse. An inscription of the later Ikshvaku king Ehuvala Chamtamula states that Vasishthiputra Chamtamula won many battles with his valour.[6]

Chamtamula had many wives.[9] His daughter Adavi Chamtisri (IAST: Cāṃtiśrī) married Mahasenapati Mahatalavara Dandanayaka Khamdavishakha (IAST: Khamḍaviśāakha) of the Dhanaka family. He was succeeded by his son Virapurushadatta.[6] An inscription dated to the 20th regnal year of Virapurushadatta mentions Chamtamula's death, which can be interpreted in various ways. It is possible that Chamtamula lived up to this time, having given up the throne at an earlier date; alternatively, it is possible that the inscription merely commemorates his death anniversary.[10]

Virapurushadatta

Scythian" soldier, Nagarjunakonda Palace site.[11][12]

Mathari-putra Vira-purusha-datta (

Scythian influence can also be noticed in the Palace of Nagarjunakonda, especially through the reliefs of Scythian soldiers wearing caps and coats.[11][12] According to an inscription in Nagarjunakonda, a garrison of Scythians guards employed by the Ikshvaku kings may also have been stationed there.[16]

His daughter Kodabalishri (IAST: Kodabaliśrī) married the ruler of the Vanavasa country[17] (possibly the Chutu ruler of modern Banavasi).[18] He had two sons, Eli Ehavuladasa (whose mother was Yakhilinika) and Evuvala Chamtamula (whose mother was Khamduvula, and who succeeded him on the throne).[14]

Ehuvala Chamtamula

Vasishthi-putra Ehuvala Chamtamula (

IAST: Vasiṣṭhīputra Ehuvala Cāṃtamūla) also ruled for at least 24 years, and is attested by inscriptions dated to the regnal years 2, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16 and 24. The Ikshvaku kingdom reached its zenith during his reign.[14] Several Hindu and Buddhist shrines were constructed during his reign.[14] His Patagandigudem inscription is the oldest known copper-plate charter from the Indian subcontinent.[19]

The Ikshvaku kingdom seems to have suffered multiple foreign invasions during Ehuvala's reign. The Sarvadeva temple inscription credits his commander Anikke with victories on the battlefield. The memorial pillar of his general Mahasenapati Chamtapula, a Kulahaka chief, also alludes to battle victories.[20]

Hariti-putra Virapurushadatta, the son of Ehuvala and queen Kapanashri (Kapanaśrī), bore the titles of an

Western Kshatrapa ruler).[20]

The

Shakas (the Western Kshatrapas) appear to have greatly influenced the Ikshvaku kingdom during Ehuvala's rule. Some of the inscriptions issued during this period use the Shaka title svamin for the king. An inscription to commemorate Vammabhatta, issued during the 11th regnal year of his son Rudrapurushadatta uses this title svamin for all the preceding kings.[20]

Rudrapurushadatta

Nagarjunakonda pillar inscription of the time of Rudra-Purushadatta (300-325 CE)

Vasishthi-putra Rudra-purusha-datta (

IAST: Vasiṣṭhīputra Rudrapuruṣadatta) is attested by two inscriptions. The Gurazala inscription, dated to his 4th regnal year, records a land grant to the deity Halampura-svamin by Nodu Keshri, for the increase of Keshri's life. The Nagarjunakonda inscription, dated to the 11th regnal year, records the erection of a pillar to commemorate the king's mother Vammabhatta.[20]

According to American academic

Western Ksatrapas and the Iksvaku rulers of Nagarjunakonda".[21]

Decline

An inscription dated to the 30th regnal year of the

Abhira king Vashishthi-putra Vasusena has been discovered at the ruined Ashtabhuja-svamin temple in Nagarjunakonda.[4] This has led to speculation that the Abhiras, who ruled the region around Nashik, invaded and occupied the Ikshvaku kingdom. However, this cannot be said with certainty.[6]

By the mid-4th century, the Pallavas had gained controlled of the former Ikshvaku territory, and the Ikshvaku rulers may have been reduced to vassal status.[22]

Rulers

Map
Find spots of the Ikshvaku inscriptions[7]

Four Ikshvaku rulers are known from the inscriptions and coins discovered at

IAST names in bracket).[4] The inscriptions of these kings are dated in their regnal years instead of a calendar era, so the exact dates of their reigns are uncertain. Historian K. R. Subramanian assigns Ikshvaku rule to approximately 225-340 CE.[23]

Assuming 227 CE as the last date of the

Satavahana king Puloma IV, and assuming that the Ikshvaku rule began immediately after that, scholar K. Krishna Murthy assigns the following dates to the kings, based on their inscriptions:[10]

  • Vasishthi-putra Chamtamula (Vāsiṣṭhīputra Cāṃtamūla), c. 227-250
  • Mathari-putra Vira-purusha-datta (Māṭharīputra Vīrapuruṣadatta), c. 250-274
  • Vasishthi-putra Ehuvala Chamtamula (Vasiṣṭhīputra Ehuvala Cāṃtamūla), c. 274–297; also spelt Ehavala
  • Vasishthi-putra Rudra-purusha-datta (Vasiṣṭhīputra Rudrapuruṣadatta), c. 297-309

Historian Upinder Singh estimates the reigns of the Ikshvaku rulers as follows:[24]

  • Chamtamula (210-250 CE)
  • Virapurushadatta (250-275 CE)
  • Ehuvala Chamtamula (275-297/300 CE)
  • Rudrapurushadatta (300-325 CE)

Territory

The Ikshvakus ruled parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Their inscriptions have been discovered at Nagarjunakonda, Jaggayyapeta, Kottampalugu, Gurazala, Rentala, and Uppugunduru.[7]

Religion

A goddess relief from Nagarjunakonda
A sculpture from Nagarjunakonda, depicting the division of Buddha Relics

The Ikshvaku kings are known to have performed various

Brahmanism, and the construction of several shrines, such as those of Nodagishvara-svamin, Pushpa-bhadra-svamin, and Sarva-deva.[14] The shrine of Sarva-deva ("all gods") was commissioned by his commander Elishri (Eliśrī) during his 11th regnal year. Six or seven versions of an inscription written in metrical Sanskrit were inscribed on its pillars. Prince Haritiputra Virapurushadatta commissioned the Pushpabhadra-savmin temple during the 14th regnal year of Ehuvala. The shrine of Nodagishvara-svamin was also built during Ehuvala's reign, and received a permanent endowment for its maintenance.[14]

Buddhism also flourished in Ikshvaku kingdom, and several princes and queens contributed to the construction of the Buddhist shrines.

Mauryan empire Ashoka to propagate Buddhism.[9]

Inscriptions dated to the regnal years 6, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 24 of Virapurushadatta's rule record the construction of Buddhist monuments by royal ladies and commoners.

upasika performed many religious activities in favour of the Apara-mahavina-seliya sect. A stupa (now termed as Stupa No. 9 at Nagarjunakonda) was renovated during Ehuvala's reign. Kumara-nandin, a merchant, installed an image of Buddha with a Sanskrit inscription during the same period.[14]

References

Part of a series on
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Chronology of the Telugu people, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana history
History and Kingdoms
Dynasties
  1. ^ Indian History Congress. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Parts 1-2. pp. 32–33.
  2. ^ Ram Chandra Jain. Ethnology of Ancient Bhārata. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office, 1970. p. 18.
  3. ^ Ram Chandra Jain. Ethnology of Ancient Bhārata. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office, 1970. p. 21.
  4. ^ a b c d K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 3.
  5. ^ Kotra Raghunath 2001, p. 4.
  6. ^ a b c d e f K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 4.
  7. ^ a b c d Himanshu Prabha Ray 2003, p. 140.
  8. ^ Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya 1974, p. 116.
  9. ^ a b c d e f K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 5.
  10. ^ a b K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 8.
  11. ^ a b "In Nagarjunakonda Scythian influence is noticed and the cap and coat of a soldier on a pillar may be cited as an example.", in Sivaramamurti, C. (1961). Indian Sculpture. Allied Publishers. p. 51.
  12. ^ a b "A Scythian dvarapala standing wearing his typical draperies, boots and head dress. Distinct ethnic and sartorial characteristics are noreworthy.", in Ray, Amita (1982). Life and Art of Early Andhradesa. Agam. p. 249.
  13. ^ a b P.R.Rao 1993, p. 23.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 6.
  15. ^ (India), Madhya Pradesh (1982). Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Ujjain. Government Central Press. p. 26.
  16. ^ "The Iksvakus Kings employed Scythian soldiers as their palace guards, and also an inscription hints that a colony of Scythians existed at Nagarjunakonda.", in The Journal of the Institution of Surveyors (India). Institution of Surveyors. 1967. p. 374.
  17. ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, pp. 5–6.
  18. JSTOR 42665170
    .
  19. ^ Singh 2017, p. 173.
  20. ^ a b c d K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 7.
  21. ^ Richard Salomon 1998, pp. 93–94.
  22. ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, pp. 8–9.
  23. ^ K. R. Subramanian 1989, p. 83.
  24. ^ Singh 2016, p. 45.
  25. ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, pp. 4–5.

Bibliography

External links
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