Material Culture of Deccan (With Special Refernce to Satavahana- Ikshvaku Period)

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During the early centuries of the Christian era, there was an alround development in the country in socio-economic, religious and cultural spheres. Well knit trade routes and introductionof coinage helped brisk trade and commerce. Major religions like Buddhism and Jainism were introduced during this period. There was an overall change in the pattern of social organisation. In this bakcdrop Satavahanas emerged as a powerful dynastry which ruled Deccan for nearly four centuries and a half. Ikshvakus, another celebrated dynasty succceeded Satavahanas in the lower Deccan.

Boddanapalli Siva Rajedra Babu (b.1947) took his M.A. degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from the Andhra University, Waltair in 1970. The Mysore University awarded him the Degree of ph.D. in 1994 for his thesis "Material Culture of early Andhradesa (Satavahana0ikshvakus Times)". He was awarded Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India in 1978.

In 1971, he joined the Archaeological Survey of India and served in various capacities till he joined Delhi Administration in 1986. At present he is working as Deputy Director in the Department of Archaeolog, Govt,. of NCT of Delhi.

The study of material culture is gaining importance in recent days. Studies made by scholars like Dr. Margabandhu, Dr. Krishna Sastry and others have contributed substantially to this new field. Archacological explorations and excavations conducted by various organisations all over Andhra in recent past have yielded a mine of information bearing on the cultural aspects of Andhradesa during the early centuries of the christian era. But no systematic study has been undertaken by the scholars so far to obtain a comprehensive picture of the culture of the Andhradesa of this period culling out information from the excavated material. Hence, this attempt made by me in this direction.

Satavahanas who ruled Deccan for nearly four centuries and a half during the early centuries of the christian era was one of the most powerful dynasties of the period. Their immediate successors in lower deccan were the Ikshvakus, another celebrated dynasty. Under the patronage of the rulers of these two illustrious dynasties, Andhradesa witnessed a glorious epoch in all walks of life. There was continuity in the cultural life of the people under the Satavahanas and the Ikshvakus. Hence, the study of the material culture of this period has been made as a single unit for better understanding. Though the study is mainly related to Andhra, sometimes references are made to the neighbouring states like Maharastra and Karnataka of the same period particularly in the chapter on material life for comparative study.

This work was originally my doctoral disseration submitted to the Mysore University for the award of Ph.D. under the title "Material Culture of early Andhradesa Satavahana - Ikshvaku times" under the supervision of Prof. B.K. Gururaja Rao. With profound respect I express my gratitude to him for constant encouragement and guidance which is unforgettable.

The preparation of this study has been made possible by the generous help provided by a number of organisations and individuals. In the first place a special word of thanks is due to Dr.. V.V. Krishna Sastry.

The Andhra Pradesh State boundary was first laid down by Campbell in 1898, later by Grierson in 1901 and finally by the State Reorganisation Commission of the Government of India on linguistic basis in 1956. Geographically, the coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh from the southern limit of the Orissan plains to the Pulicat lake, lies in strong contrast with the geologically much older interior region. The hinterland is divided into two components, namely the plateaus of Hyderabad-Telengana and the inland area south of the Krishna, comprising of the Anantapur-Chittoor basins.

The coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh i.e. the Kirshna Godavari belt is rich in agricultural production and the region of Srikakulam - Vishakapatnam is studded with rocks. In the extreme south of coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh is Nellore region with a small belt of black soil. The Anantapur Chittoor basins between the Palkonda range and Mysore plateau are isolated and poor.

Geographicial limits of present Andhra Pradesh was totally different during the ancient times. The Andhra state was known by different geographical names as Andhra, Trillinga, Vengi etc. The Aitareya Brahmana, attached to the Rigveda, mentions the Andhras along with the Sabaras and the pulindas. Andhras were also referred to as a tribe in the Ashokan inscriptions. The Mayidavolu inscription of 4th century. A.D. locates the Andhra country (Andhrapatha) in the lower valley of the Krishna in and around Dhannakada or Amaravati. The Chejerla inscription too, links the Andhras with the Krishna valley. Foreign traveller Yuanchwang (7th A.D.) refers to Ping-ki-lo (Vengipura) identified with Peddavegi, in Eluru taluk of west Godavari district as the capital of An-to-lo or Andhra country. The Eastern Chalukyan records refer to the terms Andhra a region bounded on four sides by the eastern ocean (the Bay of Bengal), the Kalahasti (between Nellore and Chittoor), the Mahendra mountain (in Ganjam) and Sri-Sailam (in Kurnool). In the thirteenth century A.D. Hanmakonda near Warangal, is defined as the 'omament of the Andhra country' (Andhravani - mandana). In 14th century, the name Andhra-Khanda-Mandala is restricted to the region comprising of Gautama-nadi or the Godavari to the border of Kalinga (arabhya Gautama naditatama Kalingam). The Sakti Sangama Tantra, a medieval work defines the Andhradesa as the country which stretches from Jagannatha (Puri) to the shrine of Bhramarambika (Srisailam).

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