Rudradāman I (r. 130–150) was a Śaka ruler from the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. He was the grandson of the king Caṣṭana.[1] Rudradāman I was instrumental in the decline of the Sātavāhana Empire.[2] Rudradāman I took up the title of Maha-kshtrapa ("Great Satrap"), after he became the king and then strengthened his kingdom.
As a result of his victories, Rudradāman regained all the former territories previously held by Nahapana, except for the southern territory of Poona and Nasik.[3] The indigenous Nagas also were aggressive toward Śakakshatrapas.[citation needed] Sātavāhana dominions were limited to their original base in the Deccan and eastern central India around Amaravati:[2]
"Rudradaman (...) who is the lord of the whole of eastern and western Akaravanti (Akara: East Malwa and Avanti: West Malwa), the Anupa country, Anarta, Surashtra, Svabhra (northern Gujarat) Maru (Marwar), Kachchha (Cutch), Sindhu-Sauvira (Sindh and Multan districts), Kukura (Eastern Rajputana), Aparanta ("Western Border" - Northern Konkan), Nishada (an aboriginal tribe, Malwa and parts of Central India) and other territories gained by his own valour, the towns, marts and rural parts of which are never troubled by robbers, snakes, wild beasts, diseases and the like, where all subjects are attached to him, (and) where through his might the objects of [religion], wealth and pleasure [are duly attained]".
Silver coin of Rudradāman I, 16 mm, 2.0 grams. Obv: Bust of Rudradāman, with corrupted Greek legend "OVONIΛOOCVΛCHΛNO". Rev: Three-arched hill or Chaitya with river, crescent and sun. Brahmi legend around (from 12 o'clock):
"Rajno Ksatrapasa Jayadamasaputrasa Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Rudradamasa": "King and Great Satrap Rudradaman, son of King and Satrap Jayadaman"[6]
Rudradāman conquered the Yaudheya tribes in present day Haryana, as described in the Girnar rock inscription of Rudradaman. Rudradaman refers to the Yaudheyas as a militant republic of kshatriyas that confronted him as opposed to submitting:[7]
"Rudradaman (...) who by force destroyed the Yaudheyas who were loath to submit, rendered proud as they were by having manifested their' title of' heroes among all Kshatriyas."
However, the Yaudheyas soon reestablished themselves as independent. Within the next century the warlike Yaudheyas became more powerful. The Yaudheyas were then conquered by the Kushan Empire, who were the suzerains of the Western Kshatrapas, until ultimately by the Gupta Empire.
Wars with the Satavahana Dynasty
Rudradāman fought many battles against the Sātavāhanas (or the Āndhras) and Vashishtiputra Satakarni, the son of the Āndhra king Pulamayi, in an effort to end the hostilities, married the daughter of Rudradāman.[2] The inscription relating the marriage between Rudradāman's daughter and Vashishtiputra Satakarni appears in a cave at Kanheri:
"Of the queen ... of the illustrious Satakarni Vasishthiputra, descended from the race of Karddamaka kings, (and) daughter of the Mahakshatrapa Ru(dra)....... .........of the confidential minister Sateraka, a water-cistern, the meritorious gift.
— Kanheri inscription of Rudradaman I's daughter".[8]
Rudradaman maintained matrimonial relationships with Sātavāhanas and conceded the country of Aparanta to Vashishtiputra Satakarni, his son-in-law and younger son of Gautamiputra Satakarni, as dowry. In spite of the matrimonial link, at least two wars took place between them wherein he defeated Sātavāhanas but spared the life of Satakarni (probably, Vashishtiputra Satakarni), essentially because of their relationship.[2][9] However, it is not known who was the aggressor in either of the wars and whether there were more wars between them.
"Rudradaman (...) who obtained good report because he, in spite of having twice in fair fight completely defeated Satakarni, the lord of Dakshinapatha, on account of the nearness of their connection did not destroy him."
Andhau stone inscription of the time of Rudradāman, Śaka Year 52 (130 CE). The inscription reads: "In the year fifty-two, 50, 2; on the second day of the dark half of Phaguna, of (the reign of) the king Rudradāman, son of Jayadaman, (who was the grandson) of the king Caṣṭana, son of Ysamotika, (this) staff was raised in memory of Rishabhadeva, son of Sihila, of the Opasati gotra, by (his) brother, Madana, son of Sihila."[10]
Genealogical stone inscription of Rudradāman: "Ghsamotika, his son rajan mahakshatrapa svamin Caṣṭana, his son rajan svamin Jayadāman, and his son rajan svamin Rudradaman." Khavada , Kutch district.[11]
The Sanskrit Junagadh inscription dated 150 CE[12] credits Rudradāman I with supporting the cultural arts and Sanskrit literature and repairing the dam built by the Mauryans. He in fact repaired the embankments of the lake Sudarśana, which was constructed by the Mauryas for checking floods.
Rudradāman is also known as the king who was ruling when the Greek writer Yavanesvara translated the Yavanajataka from Greek to Sanskrit, which influenced astrology in India.[12]
While most of the scholars, following Rapson believe that Rudradāman ruled from Ujjain, there is no such evidence to support this. In fact, there is evidence to prove the contrary:[citation needed]
Jain sources mention that after Nahapana (40 years) and Gardabhilas (15 years), Śakas will rule Ujjain but for only four years. Caṣṭana no doubt has ruled Ujjain but he must have ruled it only for four years. His son Jayadāman (a Kshatrapa as against Caṣṭana being a Mahaksatrapa) was an ineffectual king and lost most of the territory won by Caṣṭana. This must have included all important Ujjain as well.
Natural History of Claudius Ptolemy in 160 CE record Caṣṭana as the king of Avanti while it is known that it is Rudradāman who was ruling between 130 and 150 CE. Ptolemy was obviously referring only to the last best known ruler and if Rudradāman was ruling Avanti, he would have mentioned him, since he was certainly well known through his conquests.
Truly speaking, Rudradāman made no reference to Avanti. He said he conquered Eastern and Western Akaravanti (Eastern Malwa) - Western Akaravanti being land lying east to Bhopal, which does not include any western part of Malwa or Avanti. Akaravanti, earlier called as Sudarsana, comprised only Eastern Malwa. Western Akaravanti does not refer to Avanti.
Notes
^Page 9, Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volume 7, Asiatic Society of Bombay, Publisher: The Society, 1867, Original from Harvard University, Digitized 14 Jun 2008
^ abcdSingh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. p. 381. ISBN9788131716779.
^ abc. Projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
^Rapson, "Indian coins of the British Museum" p.lx
^Rapson, Edward James (1967). Catalogue Of The Indian Coins In The British Museum. p. 78.
^Rosenfield, "The dynastic art of the Kushans", p132
^Burgess, James; Bühler, Georg (1883). Report on the Elura cave temples and the Brahmanical and Jaina caves in western India; completing the results of the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons' operations of the Archaeological survey, 1877-78, 1878-79, 1879-80. Supplementary to the volume on "The cave temples of India.". London, Trübner & Co. p. 78.
^Sircar, Dineschandra (1971). Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 228. ISBN9788120806900.
^Thomas, F. w (1921). Epigraphia Indica Vol.16. p. 24.
^Indian Archaeology 1960-61 a Review. p. 44, item 22.
^ ab. Groups.mcs.st-and.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
References
Todd, James - The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Rajputana Publications, 1942
Michell, George - PRINCELY RAJASTHAN - Rajput Palaces and Mansions, Oriental Books, 1992
Rosenfield, "The dynastic art of the Kushans"
Divatia, N. B. (1993). Gujarati Language and Literature. Asian Educational Services. ISBN81-206-0648-5.
Buddhist critical spirituality: Prajñā and Śūnyatā, by Shōhei Ichimura, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers (2001), ISBN81-208-1798-2
rudradaman, rudradāman, Śaka, ruler, from, western, kshatrapas, dynasty, grandson, king, caṣṭana, rudradāman, instrumental, decline, sātavāhana, empire, rudradāman, took, title, maha, kshtrapa, great, satrap, after, became, king, then, strengthened, kingdom, r. Rudradaman I r 130 150 was a Saka ruler from the Western Kshatrapas dynasty He was the grandson of the king Caṣṭana 1 Rudradaman I was instrumental in the decline of the Satavahana Empire 2 Rudradaman I took up the title of Maha kshtrapa Great Satrap after he became the king and then strengthened his kingdom Rudradaman IWestern Satrap Rajno Ksatrapasa Jayadamasaputrasa Rajno Mahaksatrapasa RudradamasaRudradaman I coin with corrupted Greek legend British Museum Reign130 150 CEPredecessorJayadamanSuccessorDamajadasri IIssueDamajadasri I Rudrasimha I Contents 1 Reign 1 1 War with the Yaudheyas 1 2 Wars with the Satavahana Dynasty 2 Other details 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksReign EditAs a result of his victories Rudradaman regained all the former territories previously held by Nahapana except for the southern territory of Poona and Nasik 3 The indigenous Nagas also were aggressive toward Saka kshatrapas citation needed Satavahana dominions were limited to their original base in the Deccan and eastern central India around Amaravati 2 Rudradaman who is the lord of the whole of eastern and western Akaravanti Akara East Malwa and Avanti West Malwa the Anupa country Anarta Surashtra Svabhra northern Gujarat Maru Marwar Kachchha Cutch Sindhu Sauvira Sindh and Multan districts Kukura Eastern Rajputana Aparanta Western Border Northern Konkan Nishada an aboriginal tribe Malwa and parts of Central India and other territories gained by his own valour the towns marts and rural parts of which are never troubled by robbers snakes wild beasts diseases and the like where all subjects are attached to him and where through his might the objects of religion wealth and pleasure are duly attained Junagadh rock inscription 4 Geographical interpretations in parenthesis from Rapson 5 War with the Yaudheyas Edit Silver coin of Rudradaman I 16 mm 2 0 grams Obv Bust of Rudradaman with corrupted Greek legend OVONILOOCVLCHLNO Rev Three arched hill or Chaitya with river crescent and sun Brahmi legend around from 12 o clock Rajno Ksatrapasa Jayadamasaputrasa Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Rudradamasa King and Great Satrap Rudradaman son of King and Satrap Jayadaman 6 Rudradaman conquered the Yaudheya tribes in present day Haryana as described in the Girnar rock inscription of Rudradaman Rudradaman refers to the Yaudheyas as a militant republic of kshatriyas that confronted him as opposed to submitting 7 Rudradaman who by force destroyed the Yaudheyas who were loath to submit rendered proud as they were by having manifested their title of heroes among all Kshatriyas Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman 4 However the Yaudheyas soon reestablished themselves as independent Within the next century the warlike Yaudheyas became more powerful The Yaudheyas were then conquered by the Kushan Empire who were the suzerains of the Western Kshatrapas until ultimately by the Gupta Empire Wars with the Satavahana Dynasty Edit Rudradaman fought many battles against the Satavahanas or the Andhras and Vashishtiputra Satakarni the son of the Andhra king Pulamayi in an effort to end the hostilities married the daughter of Rudradaman 2 The inscription relating the marriage between Rudradaman s daughter and Vashishtiputra Satakarni appears in a cave at Kanheri Of the queen of the illustrious Satakarni Vasishthiputra descended from the race of Karddamaka kings and daughter of the Mahakshatrapa Ru dra of the confidential minister Sateraka a water cistern the meritorious gift Kanheri inscription of Rudradaman I s daughter 8 Rudradaman maintained matrimonial relationships with Satavahanas and conceded the country of Aparanta to Vashishtiputra Satakarni his son in law and younger son of Gautamiputra Satakarni as dowry In spite of the matrimonial link at least two wars took place between them wherein he defeated Satavahanas but spared the life of Satakarni probably Vashishtiputra Satakarni essentially because of their relationship 2 9 However it is not known who was the aggressor in either of the wars and whether there were more wars between them Rudradaman who obtained good report because he in spite of having twice in fair fight completely defeated Satakarni the lord of Dakshinapatha on account of the nearness of their connection did not destroy him Junagadh rock inscription 4 Andhau stone inscription of the time of Rudradaman Saka Year 52 130 CE The inscription reads In the year fifty two 50 2 on the second day of the dark half of Phaguna of the reign of the king Rudradaman son of Jayadaman who was the grandson of the king Caṣṭana son of Ysamotika this staff was raised in memory of Rishabhadeva son of Sihila of the Opasati gotra by his brother Madana son of Sihila 10 Genealogical stone inscription of Rudradaman Ghsamotika his son rajan mahakshatrapa svamin Caṣṭana his son rajan svamin Jayadaman and his son rajan svamin Rudradaman Khavada Kutch district 11 Other details Edit The Junagadh rock contains inscriptions by Ashoka fourteen of the Edicts of Ashoka Rudradaman I and Skandagupta A portion of the Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman The Sanskrit Junagadh inscription dated 150 CE 12 credits Rudradaman I with supporting the cultural arts and Sanskrit literature and repairing the dam built by the Mauryans He in fact repaired the embankments of the lake Sudarsana which was constructed by the Mauryas for checking floods Rudradaman is also known as the king who was ruling when the Greek writer Yavanesvara translated the Yavanajataka from Greek to Sanskrit which influenced astrology in India 12 While most of the scholars following Rapson believe that Rudradaman ruled from Ujjain there is no such evidence to support this In fact there is evidence to prove the contrary citation needed Jain sources mention that after Nahapana 40 years and Gardabhilas 15 years Sakas will rule Ujjain but for only four years Caṣṭana no doubt has ruled Ujjain but he must have ruled it only for four years His son Jayadaman a Kshatrapa as against Caṣṭana being a Mahaksatrapa was an ineffectual king and lost most of the territory won by Caṣṭana This must have included all important Ujjain as well Natural History of Claudius Ptolemy in 160 CE record Caṣṭana as the king of Avanti while it is known that it is Rudradaman who was ruling between 130 and 150 CE Ptolemy was obviously referring only to the last best known ruler and if Rudradaman was ruling Avanti he would have mentioned him since he was certainly well known through his conquests Truly speaking Rudradaman made no reference to Avanti He said he conquered Eastern and Western Akaravanti Eastern Malwa Western Akaravanti being land lying east to Bhopal which does not include any western part of Malwa or Avanti Akaravanti earlier called as Sudarsana comprised only Eastern Malwa Western Akaravanti does not refer to Avanti Notes Edit Page 9 Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Volume 7 Asiatic Society of Bombay Publisher The Society 1867 Original from Harvard University Digitized 14 Jun 2008 a b c d Singh Upinder 2008 A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century Pearson Education India p 381 ISBN 9788131716779 Rapson a b c Source Projectsouthasia sdstate edu Archived from the original on 23 February 2009 Retrieved 28 December 2008 Rapson Indian coins of the British Museum p lx Rapson Edward James 1967 Catalogue Of The Indian Coins In The British Museum p 78 Rosenfield The dynastic art of the Kushans p132 Burgess James Buhler Georg 1883 Report on the Elura cave temples and the Brahmanical and Jaina caves in western India completing the results of the fifth sixth and seventh seasons operations of the Archaeological survey 1877 78 1878 79 1879 80 Supplementary to the volume on The cave temples of India London Trubner amp Co p 78 Sircar Dineschandra 1971 Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India Motilal Banarsidass Publ p 228 ISBN 9788120806900 Thomas F w 1921 Epigraphia Indica Vol 16 p 24 Indian Archaeology 1960 61 a Review p 44 item 22 a b Source Groups mcs st and ac uk Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 Retrieved 28 December 2008 References EditTodd James The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan Rajputana Publications 1942 Michell George PRINCELY RAJASTHAN Rajput Palaces and Mansions Oriental Books 1992 Rosenfield The dynastic art of the Kushans Divatia N B 1993 Gujarati Language and Literature Asian Educational Services ISBN 81 206 0648 5 Buddhist critical spirituality Prajna and Sunyata by Shōhei Ichimura Motilal Banarsidass Publishers 2001 ISBN 81 208 1798 2External links EditCoins of the Western Satraps Coins of Rudradaman IPreceded byJayadaman Western Satrapc 130 150 Succeeded byDamajadasri I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rudradaman I amp oldid 1149692161, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
