Andhra Ikshvaku

The Ikshvaku (IAST: Ikṣvāku) dynasty ruled in the

eastern Krishna River valley of India, from their capital Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri
at Vijayapuri (modern Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Early 3rd century–early 4th century
Pradesh) for over a century during 3rd and 4th centuries
TOCHARIANS
KIDARITES South Asia
CE. The Ikshvakus are also known as the Andhra KUSHANO- 350 CE
SASANIANS
Ikshvakus or Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri to distinguish LITTLE
SASANIAN
them from their legendary namesakes. EMPIRE KUSHANS
MADRAKAS
SAKASTAN
ARJUNAYANAS
SASANIAN YAUDHEYAS
TURAN

The Ikshvaku kings were Shaivites and performed MAKRAN

HIND
MALAVAS GUPTA
LICCHAVIS
KAMARUPA
DAVAKA
Vedic rites, but Buddhism also flourished during their WESTERN
SATRAPS
EMPIRE GAUDA
SAMATATAS
reign. Several Ikshvaku queens and princes contributed ABHIRAS
NAGAS OF
VINDHYATABI

to the construction of the Buddhist monuments at VAKATAKAS

present-day Nagarjunakonda. KADAMBAS

ANDHRA IKSHVAKUS

PALLAVAS
WESTERN
GANGAS

Political history KALABHRAS

◁▷
Ancient Sanskrit texts, such as Rigveda, Atharvaveda,
and Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana, mention a Location of the Andhra Ikshvakus in c. 350
CE
legendary king named Ikshvaku (literally, "gourd"). The
Atharvaveda and Brahmanas associate the Ikshvakus Capital Vijayapuri
with non-Aryan people, distinct from the Aryans who Official languages Sanskrit
composed the hymns of the four Vedas.[1][2] F. E. Telugu
Pargiter has equated the ancient Ikshvakus with the Religion Shaivism
Dravidians.[3] Later texts, such as the Ramayana and (Hinduism),
the Puranas, connect the dynasty of Ikshvaku's Buddhism

descendants to Ayodhya, the capital of the Kosala Government Monarchy

Kingdom in northern India.[4] Maharaja
History
A record of the Vijayapuri king Ehuvala Chamtamula
traces his ancestry to the legendary Ikshvakus.[5] The • Established Early 3rd
century
Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri seem to be same as the
• Conquest of Ikshvakus by early 4th
"Shriparvatiya Andhras" mentioned in the Matsya Pallava Simhavarman and century
Purana.[4] occupation of Vijayapuri
by the Abhiras

Chamtamula Preceded by Succeeded by

The dynasty's founder Vasishthiputra Chamtamula Satavahana Pallava

dynasty Empire
(IAST: Vāsiṣṭhīputra Cāṃtamūla; also transliterated
Abhira
Chantamula) rose to power after the decline of the dynasty
Satavahana power. He is attested by the Rentala and
Kesanapalli inscriptions. The Rentala inscription, dated Today part of India
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 uterine brothers,
named Chamtasri (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 Nagarjunakonda Ayaka
pillar inscription of the
Ashvamedha.[7][8] These descriptions are corroborated by archaeological
time of Vira-
discoveries, including those of Chamtamula's Ashvamedha-type coins, a tank Purushadatta (250-275
used for the Avabhritha ceremony, the kurma-chiti (a tortoise-shaped sacrificial CE)
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
Mathari-putra Vira-purusha-datta (IAST: Māṭharīputra Vīrapuruṣadatta) ruled for at
least 24 years, as he is attested by an inscription dated to his 24th regnal year. He had
multiple wives,[9] including three daughters of his paternal aunts (Chamtasri and
Hammasri).[13] He also married Rudradhara-bhattarika, the daughter of the ruler of
Ujjain (Uj(e)nika mahara(ja) balika), possibly the Indo-Scythian Western Kshatrapa
king Rudrasena II.[14][13][15] 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 "Scythian" soldier,
Ehavuladasa (whose mother was Yakhilinika) and Evuvala Chamtamula (whose Nagarjunakonda
mother was Khamduvula, and who succeeded him on the throne).[14] Palace site.[11][12]

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
heir apparent: Maharaja Kumara and Mahasenapati. However, he did not ascend the throne, probably
because he died before his father. Ehuvala was succeeded by Rudrapurushadatta, who was his son from
Vammabhatta, the daughter of a Mahakshatrapa (the 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
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 Richard Salomon "a Nagarjunakonda

memorial pillar inscription of the time of King Rudrapurusadatta attests to a
marital alliance between the Western Ksatrapas and the Iksvaku rulers of
Nagarjunakonda pillar
Nagarjunakonda".[21] inscription of the time of
Rudra-Purushadatta
(300-325 CE)
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
Four Ikshvaku rulers are known from the inscriptions and
coins discovered at Nagarjunakonda (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

Find spots of the Ikshvaku inscriptions[7]
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
The Ikshvaku kings are known to have performed various Vedic
sacrifices.[9] Vasishthiputra Chamtamula performed the
Agnishtoma, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha sacrifices. [6][7] The reign
of his grandson Ehuvala Chamtamula saw the rise of 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 A goddess relief from
on its pillars. Prince Haritiputra Virapurushadatta commissioned the Nagarjunakonda
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.[9] Chamtashri, the sister of Vasishthiputra Chamtamula,
generously donated towards the construction of a mahachaitya
("great chaitya"), which was built during the 6th regnal year of her
son-in-law Virapurushadatta, under the supervision of Ananda.[25]
A reliquary containing the tooth of Gautama Buddha (according to
A sculpture from Nagarjunakonda,
a local inscription) has been discovered among the ruins of the
depicting the division of Buddha
mahachaitya. According to the Buddhist tradition, the relics were Relics
brought by Mahadeva, a missionary sent by the 3rd century BCE
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.[9] During the reign of Ehuvala
Chamtamula, Mahadevi Bhattideva commissioned a monastery for the teachers of the Bhaushrutiya
(Bhauśrutīya) Buddhist sect. Mahadevi Kodabalishri (Kodabaliśrī) commissioned a monastery for the
leaders of the Mahishasaka (Mahiśāsaka) sect. Chandrashri (Candraśrī), an 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
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. K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 3.
5. Kotra Raghunath 2001, p. 4.
6. K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 4.
7. Himanshu Prabha Ray 2003, p. 140.
8. Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya 1974, p. 116.
9. K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 5.
10. K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 8.
11. "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 (https://bo
oks.google.com/books?id=HL81AAAAMAAJ). Allied Publishers. p. 51.
12. "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 (https://books.google.com/books?id=uQXqAAAAMAAJ). Agam. p. 249.
13. P.R.Rao 1993, p. 23.
14. K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 6.
15. (India), Madhya Pradesh (1982). Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Ujjain (https://books.g
oogle.com/books?id=lo5hAAAAIAAJ). 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) (https://books.google.com/books?id=7lIEAQAAIAAJ).
Institution of Surveyors. 1967. p. 374.
17. K. Krishna Murthy 1977, pp. 5–6.
18. Michael Mitchiner (1983). "The Chutus of Banavasi and their Coinage". The Numismatic
Chronicle. 143: 101. JSTOR 42665170 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/42665170).
19. Singh 2017, p. 173.
20. 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
Himanshu Prabha Ray (2003). The Archaeology of Seafaring in Ancient South Asia (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=iHHzP4uVpn4C&pg=PA140). Cambridge University Press.
ISBN 978-0-521-01109-9.
K. Krishna Murthy (1977). Nāgārjunakoṇḍā: A Cultural Study (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=4gBSWyLTSzkC&pg=PA1). Concept. OCLC 4541213 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4
541213).
K. R. Subramanian (1989). Buddhist Remains in Andhra and the History of Andhra Between
225 and 610 A.D. (https://books.google.com/books?id=vnO2BMPdYEoC&pg=PA83) Asian
Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0444-5.
Kandavalli Balendu Sekaram (1973). The Andhras through the ages (https://books.google.co
m/books?id=E6E5AQAAIAAJ). Sri Saraswati.
Kotra Raghunath (2001). The Ikṣvākus of Vijayapuri: a study of the Nagarjunakonda
inscriptions (https://books.google.com/books?id=oRZuAAAAMAAJ). Eastern Book Linkers.
ISBN 978-81-7854-005-4.
Richard Salomon (1998). Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit,
Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-
509984-2.
Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya (1974). Some Early Dynasties of South India (https://books.googl
e.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA116). Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-2941-
1.
Singh, Upinder (2016). The Idea of Ancient India: Essays on Religion, Politics, and
Archaeology (https://books.google.com/books?id=KIWTCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA45). SAGE
Publications India. ISBN 9789351506478.
Singh, Upinder (2017). Political Violence in Ancient India (https://books.google.com/books?i
d=t6A4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA173). Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-97527-9.
 P.R.Rao (1993). Ancient and Medieval History of Andhra Pradesh (https://books.google.com/
books?id=wENuAAAAMAAJ&q=Ancient+and+Medieval+History+of+Andhra+Pradesh+by+
P+R+RAO). Sterling publishers pvt. ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-1522-6.

External links
Early Inscriptions of Āndhradeśa (http://hisoma.huma-num.fr/exist/apps/EIAD/works/):
includes several Ikshvaku inscriptions

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