The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.60

c7.60

With the decay of the kingdom of Magadha the Āndhras had been growing in strength. Their coins have been found in many places, on the West as far as Nasik; and an inscription bearing the name of the family proves that in Eastern Mālwa, Āndhra rule had succeeded that of the Sungas about 50 B.C. In later years they made Vengi near the Godavari river their capital. Their kings bear the family name Śātakarṇi or Sātavāhana. They were enthusiastic followers of the religion of Buddha, and erected, in the neighbourhood of the Krishna river a number of great stupas built to enshrine the relics of their honoured teacher. The most elaborate of these was the well-known stūpa at Amarāvati, a huge dome encrusted with sculptured marbles, and having round it marble rails and gateways. The art of this period shews certain traces of Greek and Persian influence.