Ikshvaku Dynasty.pdf

Ikshvaku Dynasty

Ikshvakus came into force after the down fall of Satavahana dynasty. Puranas refer them as ‘Sriparvateeya Andhras’ who held power around Nagarjuna Konda region. Founder of Ikshvaku dynasty is vasishtiputra Santamula-I. A total 7 kings belongs to Ikshvakus dynasty ruled for 100 years. Four of them were mentioned in various inscriptions and ruled for 68 years. Later 3 more kings ruled for 30 more years whose names are unavailable. 

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According to Alluri Inscription of Veerapurusha Datta Ikshvakus used to be subordinates of Satavahanas. They came into force by making Sri Parvatha ( పరతం)  పరతం) as capital. Since they belong to Sri Parvatha region Puranas call them as Sriparvateeya Andhras. They refer themselves as a branch of the celebrated dynasty of Ayodhya to which lord Sri Rama belonged.

Birth Place of Ikshvakus:

There is difference in opinion among the historians about the birth place of Ikshvakus. 

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According to a Historian called Rapsan Bular (ాప బల) Ikshvakus belongs to North India. Another historian named Vogel () ) they belong to kanada region of south India. According to Gopala Chary they belong to Tamil Nadu.

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Prominent Historians like Burgen, Caldwell argue that a branch of the ancient iskhvakus of north India came to South and founded another kingdom there. According to a Jain work called ‘Dharmamrutham’ Karnataka reports that an Ikshvaku prince founded a kingdom at the mouth of river Krishna with Pratipalapura as its capital. According to Nagarjuna Konda Inscription Veerapurusha Datta belongs to lord Buddha Dynasty.

Important Inscriptions of Ikshvaku Dynasty:

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Nagarjuna Konda Inscription Jaggayyapet Inscription Ramireddy Palli Inscription Amravati Inscription

Political background: Vasishtiputra Santamula (180-193 A.D):

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He is the earliest know king of Ikshvaku Dynasty. He is the founder if Ikshvaku Dynasty. He came into prominence in the second quarter of 3rd century A.D He followed Hindu Religion but performed vedic sacrifices like Rajasuya. He performed Yaga’s like Aswamedha Yaga, Rajasuya Yaga and Vajapeya. He was married to a Brahmin lady named Matari Devi.

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vasishtiputra Santamula has two sisters Santisri and Harmyasri. His elder sister Santisri followed Buddhism and constructed Maha Chaitya at Nagarjuna Konda. He worked for the development of Agriculture by donating land and ploughs. vasishtiputra Santamula donated lakhs of cows and land and gold for Brahmins and got a title called Mahadanapati. His Inscriptions are found in Panigiri, Dachepalli, Rentala.

Veerapurusha Datta (193-213 A.D):

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His rule started in the third quarter of the 3rd He followed and Patronised Buddhism and give it back the fame it lost during his father’s reign. He is known as southern Ashoka. Veerapurusha Datta is the only Ikshvaku king who adopted Buddhism. In his time Nagarjuna Konda used to be great pilgrimage for Buddhism. In his period only Sri Parvata University started. Sri Parvata Unvercity is the India’s first Buddhist University. Veerapurusha Datta married to three daughters of his parental aunts (Santisri and Harmyasri). His first queen is Batti Mahadevi (భట    మే) and 2nd  queen is Rudra Battakari (రద భట    క). Ikshvaku Kings did not try to encourage Buddhism, their queens donated vigorously to the Buddhist.

Important Inscriptions of Veerapurusha Datta:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Alluri Inscription. Nagarjuna Konda Inscription. Amravati Inscription. Uppugundur Inscription. Jaggayyapet Inscription

Note: oldest

university in India is Takshashila (తల).

Ehubala Santamula (213-237 A.D):

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He is the third and last independent ruler of Ikshvaku Dynasty. He ruled for 24 Years. He is the son of Veerapurusha Datta and Batti Mahadevi. The Inscriptions of his age are found in Nagarjuna Konda. Method of writing inscriptions was changed to Sanskrit Instead of Prakrit in his period only. Most number of Hindu temples were constructed during his reign. Ehubala Santamula was the first king who constructed Hindu temples in Southern India. Ehubala Santamula has a sister named Konda Siri she constructed and donated Viharas for Buddhist.

Temples Constructed by Ehubala Santamula:

1. Pushpabhadra Narayanaswamy (పషభద  ాయణా) 2. Nandikeswara (నంశర) 3. Kartikeya (ా   య)

4. Navagraha (నవగ  హ) 5. Hariti Temple. 6. Ashtabuja Narayanaswamy (అషబజ ాయణా) 

In his reign of 11 years, his Prime Minister ‘Elisiri’ constructed a “Shaiva Temple” named “swarna devalaya”. And laid an Inscription there described himself about his victories in many wars.

Rudrapurusha Datta

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(237-248A.D):

Ehubala Santamula was succeeded by his own son Rudrapurusha Datta. During his ascension to throne, Pallava king Simhavarma invaded the Ikshvaku Kingdom. Milavolu Inscription issued my Shivaskanda Varma Pallava king says about the downfall of Ikshvaku Dynasty.

Ikshvaku Culture:

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The 100 year period of Ikshvaku Dynasty is considered as a turning point in the cultural and religious development of the Region. Ikshvaku Dynasty supported both Vedic and Buddhist faiths. They followed Prakrit Language their Official for quite some of time. Ikshvaku Dynasty is first south Indian Dynasty who worked for the development of Sanskrit. Ehubala Santamula is the first south Indian king to issue Inscriptions in Sanskrit.

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Students used to come from all over Asia to Nagarjuna Konda University to get trained as the Propagators of Buddhist faith.

Religion:

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In Ikshvaku dynasty Kings used to follow Brahmin and queens used to follow Buddhism. Vasishtiputra Santamula donated land and gold and cows to Brahmins. Viiragal (రగ) (Special Protection Force who lives and dies for king) started with Ikshvaku Dynasty. And they used to plant Statues in the memory of those great soldiers. They are the first Dynasty in south India to construct Hindu temples.

Buddhism:

Buddhism is flourished during Ikshvaku Dynasty. 

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Veerapurusha Datta is known as southern Ashoka for his contribution in the development of Buddhism. Many Buddhist Stupas and Viharas were built in and around  jaggayyapeta, Bhattiprolu, Chinna Ganjam, and other places. The Maha Chaitya was renovated at the Nagarguna Konda. Sri parvata University is first Buddhist University in India Constructed in Nagarguna Konda by Veerapurusha Datta. Queens of Ikshvaku Dynasty donated vigorously to the Buddhist.

Economy:

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Ikshvaku Dynasty worked for the development of Agriculture by donating Land and Ploughs. According to Nagarjuna Konda Inscription vasishtiputra Santamula donated ploughs regularly. During the time of Ikshvaku Dynasty trade used to happen with Rome in large quantity. In recent excavations Romans golden coins are found out in Nagarjuna Konda this show the life style and trade during Ikshvaku Dynasty. Handlooms association leader is known as Uliki Pramuka. According to Inscription of Visha Vatti it is known that Professional Taxes are issued to people.