The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s6.36

v1.c7.s6.36

The story of Sātakarṇi’s successes in East Malwa is obtained from the evidence of his coins and of an inscription on the Sāñchī gateway. Western India produced certain potin and copper coins, bearing part of the legend Raño Sātakaṇisa. They are square in form and bear close resemblance to the coins of Eraṇ (East Malwa).² The Bhilsā Tope inscription is inscribed on the south gateway at Sāñchī. It records the donation of a Vāśiṣṭhīputra Ānanda, the foreman of the artisans of Siri Sātakaṇi. Dr. Bühler and General Cunningham believed that the Sātakaṇi of this inscription and of the Nānāghāṭ record were identical.³ R. P. Chanda questions Dr. Bühler’s palaeographical judgement in this case. As has already been observed,⁴ chronological exactitude is not obtainable on the basis of palaeography alone. Mr. Chanda, however, agrees in identifying Siri Sātakaṇi of this Sāñchī inscription with No. 6 of the Matsya list, who is no other than Sātakarṇi (II).⁵ ‘The conquest of East Malwa marks the north-eastern limit to which the progress of the Andhra power can be traced from the evidence of inscriptions and coins.’⁶