4th May 2022 | Indo- Greek Art and Architecture – Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravathi Schools; Social and Cultural condition under the Mauryan, Satavahanas and Guptas | Laex Secure

Syllabus- Indo- Greek Art and Architecture – Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravathi Schools; Social and Cultural condition under the Mauryan, Satavahanas and Guptas.

Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10

Mains Questions of the day- 

1. Compare Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati Schools of Art. 

Introduction: –

Write briefly about the time period and evolution of the 3 schools of sculpture.  

Body: –

Write about similarities and differences among the 3 art schools. 

Conclusion: –

These schools of art enriched the composite culture and heritage of India. 

Content: 

Feature	Gandhara	Mathura	Amaravati
Origin	Hellenistic Greco-Bactrian kingdom (250 BC- 130 BC)	Post Maurya period (mainly during Shunga period). Reached its peak during the Gupta period (AD 325 to 600)	Evolved and flourished for nearly six centuries commencing from 200-100 BC
Outside Influence	Greek influence. Also called Indo Greek Art	No outside influence – indigenous	No outside influence – indigenous
Religious Influence	Mainly Biddhist	All three – Hinduism, Jain, Buddhist	Mainly Buddhist.
Promoted By	Kushana Dynasty	Kushana Dynasty	Satavahanas, Ikshvakus
Stone Used	Grey Sandstone/Bluishgrey sandstone	Spotted Red Sandstone	White marbles.
Flourished Areas	Northwest Frontier	Mathura(U.P)	Krishna Godavari lower valley.

2.Write about the administrative system of satavahanas. 

Introduction: – 

Write briefly about the timeline of Satavahana Empire

Body: –

Write briefly about the administration of Satavahana Empire by stating the sources. 

Conclusion: –

Satavahanas followed the principles of Kautililya’s good governance and from central administration to the rural administration, rulers of satavahana dynasty had taken care to protect the interests of the people.

Content: –

• According to Puranas, the Satavahanas are Andhras and they ruled Deccan region. 
• They ruled for a period of 450 years from 230 B.C. to 220 A.D.
• The satavahana Kingdom mainly comprises of the present-day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. At different times, their rule extended to parts of modern Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.
• The dynasty had different capital cities at different times. Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota) are satavahana capitals.
• Initially, satavahanas are feudatories to the Mauryan dynasty. With the fall of the Maurya Empire, taking this as an advantage Simuka declared his independence. 

Sources: 

The satavahana coins, inscriptions, Iiterature and various archaeological evidences are the rich source of our knowledge about their administrative system.

King,the highest authority: 

• The satavahana administration was modeled on the lines of Mauryan administration. 
• The King or Rajan was the highest authority in the government and his office was hereditary. 
• Satavahana rulers did not believe in divine rights of a king and they carried administration in accordance with the directives of the Dharma Shastras and the social customs. 
• The king himself led his armies in the battle field and was commander-in-chief of his force

Council of Ministers: 

The council of ministers were existed to aid and advise the king to carry out the day to day administration.

Officers: 

• The highest official in a province was ‘Amatya’ or minister. 
• His office was not hereditary. 
• A village was administered by a ‘Gramika. 
• The most important officials were Senapati, ‘Mahabhoja’, ‘Koshadhyaksha’, ‘Rajadoof, ‘Amatya’. ‘Uparakshita’ was charged with the duty of building caves etc. for the monks. 
• The Monks and Brahmanas were held in high positions and they often preached high standards of conduct. 
• They were beyond the ordinary laws of the Government.

Good governance system: 

• Good governance system was clearly evident from the fact that the people were participated in decision making process and their opinions were respectable at every level. 
• Public grievances were well heard and there was an effective mechanism of redressal of their complaints. 
• The Satavahana kings treated their people as their own children and always looked after their welfare

Feudal in character: 

• The Satavahana Empire was feudal in character. 
• They had divided their empire among a number of feudal chiefs who managed the land revenue system and looked after the administration. 
• There were three grades of feudatories -the “Raja, the “Mahabhoja and the “Maharathi or “Senapati”. 
• The ‘Raja belonged to the highest grade. He had the right to impose taxes and can print their coins. 
• Thus the feudatories had given special status in their administration. Maharathi can donate villages.
• As per Nanaghat inscription, Satavahanas had matrimonial relations with feudatories.

Division of Kingdom: 

The satavahana kingdom was divided into three units namely: –

• Janapadas were headed by princes 
• Aaharas or Vishayas were headed by Amatyas and 
• Gramas or Villages which were headed by Gramika.

Local Administration: 

• The Satavahana-era inscriptions mentioned three types of settlements: –

• nagara (town or city), 
• nigama (market town) and 
• gama (village).

• The towns were administered by a body called the “Nagarsabha’.
•  Bhattiprolu inscription mentioned about Nigamasabhas refers to a market town which shows the existence of municipal administration. 
• The Gama or Village was an important unit was headed by Gramika. 
• Gram Sabhas or village councils assisted Gramika in village administration.

Military Administration: 

• The Satavahanas maintained a strong and efficient army. 
• The four branches of army include: – 

• Infantry 
• Cavalry 
• Elephant force and 
• Chariot force. 

• Their infantry (foot soldiers) was the backbone of the army. 
• The soldiers used swords, spears, axes and armours as weapons of war.
• Although Mahasenapathi was head of the army, the kings themselves would lead the army in battlefields.
• Kataka was the permanent military base and Skandavara was temporary military camp.
• A regiment posted in each village for maintaining peace and order which was headed by gaulmika.

Prelims Questions of the day: –

1. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

1. Nanghat inscription explains about Satakarni– I
2. Nasik inscription explains about the victories of Gautamiputra Satakarni
3. Land grants were first started by Ikshvakus.
4. None of the above 

Answer: C

Explanation: –

• Nanghat inscription issued by Naganika explains about Satakarni – I. 
• Nasik inscription issued by Gautami Balasri explains about the victories of Gautamiputra Satakarni. 
• Land grants were first started by Satavahanas.

2. Who is the great king of Vishnukundins ?

1. Madhava Varma – i
2. Madhava Varma – II
3. Govinda Varma
4. Indra Varma

Answer: B

Explanation: 

The reign of Madhav Varma II who ruled for nearly half a century is considered as the golden age in the history of the Vishnukundins.

3. What was the official language of Satavahanas?

1. Prakrit 
2. Sanskrit
3. Telugu 
4. Hindu

Answer: A

Explanation: 

The Satavahanas patronized Prakrit language instead of Sanskrit.

4. Which of the following Satavahana ruler is contemporary to Acharya Nagarjuna?
A. Kuntala satakarni
B. Yajnasri satakarni
C. Gautamiputra satakarni
D. Shiva satakarni

Answer: B
Explanation: 

Some scholars believe that Nagarjuna was an advisor to a king of the Satavahana dynasty been Yajnasri Satakarni.

5.During which of the following dynasty, Hindu temple construction was started?

1. Satavahanas
2. Ikshvakas
3. Vishnu kundins
4. Kakatiyas

Answer: B
Explanation: 

• 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 belong 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.

6.During which of the following ruler regime Matsyapuranam was compiled?

1. Gouthamiputra Satakarni
2. Yajana Sri Satkarni
3. Pulomavi-II
4. Pulomavi-III

Answer: B

Explanation: 

• Matsya puranam was compiled during Yagnasri Satakarni period. 
• It is a very important source of information about Satavahas. 
• According to this purana, there were 30 satavahana rules

7. Which of the following work is written by Nagarjuna?

1. Suhrulekha 
2. Prajnaparamita
3. Dvadasanikaya sastram 
4. All the above

Answer: A. 

Explanation: 

• Nagarjuna is widely considered as one of the most important Buddhist philosophers of ancient India & founder of Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism. 
• His important works include – Ratnavali, Suhrulekha, Sunyasaptasati and Mulamadhyamaka karika

8.Which of the following is/are important Buddhist sites during Satavahana regime?

1. Nagaarjunakonda
2. Amravti
3. Nasik
4. All the above 

Answer: D
Explanation:

• The Satavahanas originally seem to have been a tribe of the Deccan. They, however, were so brahmanized that they claimed to be Brahmanas. The most famous Satavahana king Gautamiputra claimed to be a Brahman and thought it his duty to uphold the four-fold varna system.
• The Satavahanas were the first rulers to make land grants to the Brahmans and there are also instances of grants made to Buddhist monks, especially to Mahayana Buddhists.
• Nagarjunakonda and Amravati in Andhra Pradesh and Nasik and Junar in Maharashtra became important Buddhist sites under the Satavahanas and their successors, the Ikshvakus.
• The artisans and merchants formed an important class of society due to flourishing trade and commerce.

• Merchants took pride in naming themselves after the towns to which they belonged.
• Among the artisans, the Gandhikas (perfumers) are mentioned as donors and later the term came to be used for all kinds of shopkeepers. The title ‘Gandhi’ is derived from this ancient term Gandhika.
• It was customary for their king to be named after his mother, (Gautamiputra and Vashishthiputra) which indicates that the women occupied an important position in the society.

9. Which of the following king called as “Dakshinapatha Parmeshwar”?

1. Satakarni I
2. Pulomavi II
3. Hala
4. Yajana Sri

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Pulakeshin II, the greatest ruler among the Badami Chalukyas was called as “Dakshinapatha Parmeshwar”.
• This title he took after defeating Harshavardhana, the Pushyabhuti king who ruled the North during his time.
• Both, were probably the greatest king of their eras.

10.In which of the following district Bhadrakali Lake is located?

1. Karimnagar
2. Warangal
3. Nalgonda 
4. Nizamabad

Answer: B

Explanation: –

• Bhadrakali Lake was built by Ganapati Deva of Kakatiya dynasty. 
• The lake is situated near the famous Bhadrakali Temple.
• Bhadrakali Temple is one of the oldest temples for Goddess Bhadrakali, situated on a hilltop between the two cities of Hanamkonda and Warangal.