The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s2.21

v1.c7.s2.21

It is true that no inscription or coin calls the Sātavāhanas Andhras. But it should be clearly borne in mind that in those days the custom was merely to note the family name in inscriptions, as is demonstrated by the records of the Śālaṅkāyanas, Bṛhatphalāyanas, Viṣṇukuṇḍins, Pallavas, Gaṅgas, Kadambas, Cālukyas, Vākāṭakas, &c. None of these dynasties made any reference to their community, tribe, or race. The same is the case with regard to the records mentioning Nahapāna and Rudradāman. The former is called a Khakharāṭa (Kshaharāṭa) and the latter a Karddamaka. This custom had such a strong grip that the inscriptions of even the latest Sātavāhana princes discovered in the Andhra area do not call them Andhras although their rule was confined only to the Andhra districts. When the Purāṇas call them Andhras, it can be reasonably assumed that they gave only the community or tribal (*jāti*) names of kings who actually belonged to the family (*kula*) of the Sātavāhanas.