[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v2.c40.62 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c40.62 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c40.62 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c40.62](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c40.62) A time interval has again to be assumed between the Megalithic culture and the early historical phase commencing in about A.D. 200. Indeed the written history of Nagarjunakonda is ushered in at the time of the later Sātavāhanas whose archaeological vestiges are represented by coins of Gautamī-putra Sātakarṇi, Pulumāvi, Yajña Sātakarṇi, etc., and the pillar-inscription, perhaps coming from one of the earliest Buddhist establishments of the valley, of Gautamīputra Vijaya Sātakarṇi, dated in his 6th regnal year. The name Vijayapurī, which became later the capital of the Ikṣvākus, was after Vijaya Sātakarṇi, who might have been the real founder of the city. It was the Ikṣvāku king Vāsiṣṭhīputra Cāṁtamūla who had snatched a portion of the kingdom of the tottering Sātavāhanas sometime in the second quarter of the 3rd century. So far the names of the four Ikṣvāku rulers—Vāsiṣṭhīputra Cāṁtamūla, Māṭharīputra Vīrapuruṣadatta, Vāsiṣṭhīputra Ehuvala Cāṁtamūla and Vāsiṣṭhīputra Rudrapuruṣadatta—are known from epigraphs, which, in addition to their coins, are the main sources of their dynastic history. These kings, who were worshippers of Mahāsena, though many of their queens and princesses were patrons of Buddhism, ruled for about 100 years or so. Significantly no inscription of Vāsiṣṭhīputra Cāṁtamūla, except his memorial pillar set up in the reign of his son, came from Nagarjunakonda. The fact that his inscriptions were discovered at Kesanapalli and Rentala may indicate that Nagarjunakonda came under his sway at a later part of his rule and he might have wrested the control of Nagarjunakonda from Vijaya Sātakarṇi. An inscription from the Aṣṭabhujasvāmin temple, Site 29, provides the name of another king, Vāsiṣṭhīputra Vasuṣeṇa, but he belonged to the Ābhīra dynasty of the Nasik region; perhaps this king extended his territory over this region only for a brief period in \*c.\* 278. It is worth noting that the Ikṣvākus had throughout matrimonial connections with the Śakas of Ujjain. - [Previous: v2.c40.61](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c40.61) - [Next: v2.c40.63](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c40.63) - [Up: v2.c40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c40) ## Linked texts (2) - [Rentala](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.rentala) - [Kesanapalli](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kesanapalli) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c40.62](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c40.62) · Pramāṇa