Andhra Ikshvakus - Andhra Praja Rama

      
         ANDHRA IKSHVAKU DYNASTY 

The Andhra Ikshvaku (IAST: Ikṣvāku) dynasty ruled in the eastern Krishna River valley of India, from their capital at Vijayapuri (modern Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh) during approximately 3rd and 4th centuries CE. The Ikshvakus are also known as the Andhra Ikshvakus or Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri

The Ikshvaku kings were Shaivites and performed Vedic rites, but Buddhism also flourished during their reign. Several Ikshvaku queens and princes contributed to the construction of the Buddhist monuments at present-day Nagarjunakonda. 

     Andhra Ikshvaku Solider Sculptures

The Ikshvakus ruled parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Their inscriptions have been discovered at Nagarjunakonda, Jaggayyapeta, Kottampalugu, Gurazala, Rentala, and Uppugunduru.

The Ikshvaku kings are known to have performed various Vedic sacrifices. Vasishthiputra Chamtamula performed the Agnishtoma, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha sacrifices. The reign of his grandson Ehuvala Chamtamula saw the rise of Brahmanism, and the construction of several shrines, such as those of Nodagishvara-svamin, Pushpa-bhadra-svamin, and Sarva-deva. The shrine of Sarva-deva ("all gods") was commissioned by his commander Elishri (Eliśrī) during his 11th regnal year. Six or seven versions of an inscription written in metrical Sanskrit were inscribed on its pillars. Prince Haritiputra Virapurushadatta commissioned the Pushpabhadra-savmin temple during the 14th regnal year of Ehuvala. The shrine of Nodagishvara-svamin was also built during Ehuvala's reign, and received a permanent endowment for its maintenance.

Buddhism also flourished in Ikshvaku kingdom, and several princes and queens contributed to the construction of the Buddhist shrines. Chamtashri, the sister of Vasishthiputra Chamtamula, generously donated towards the construction of a mahachaitya ("great chaitya"), which was built during the 6th regnal year of her son-in-law Virapurushadatta, under the supervision of Ananda. A reliquary containing the tooth of Gautama Buddha (according to a local inscription) has been discovered among the ruins of the mahachaitya. According to the Buddhist tradition, the relics were brought by Mahadeva, a missionary sent by the 3rd century BCE Mauryan empire Ashoka to propagate Buddhism.

Inscriptions dated to the regnal years 6, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 24 of Virapurushadatta's rule record the construction of Buddhist monuments by royal ladies and commoners. During the reign of Ehuvala Chamtamula, Mahadevi Bhattideva commissioned a monastery for the teachers of the Bhaushrutiya (Bhauśrutīya) Buddhist sect. Mahadevi Kodabalishri (Kodabaliśrī) commissioned a monastery for the leaders of the Mahishasaka (Mahiśāsaka) sect. Chandrashri (Candraśrī), an upasika performed many religious activities in favour of the Apara-mahavina-seliya sect. A stupa (now termed as Stupa No. 9 at Nagarjunakonda) was renovated during Ehuvala's reign. Kumara-nandin, a merchant, installed an image of Buddha with a Sanskrit inscription during the same period.

 
Inscriptions of Andhra Ikshvaku Dynasty 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ancient History of Maritime Andhra Desa

Image
ANCIENT HISTORY OF MARITIME ANDHRADESA Andhra Desa located on the central part of the East Coast of India has about 600 km long coastline and a long maritime history. Andhra Pradesh with its navigable rivers, with convenient anchoring and landing facilities, served sailors for better oceanic trade through the ages. Various dynasties have ruled over different parts of Andhra Pradesh during different periods of bygone history. The geographical area of Andhra was frequently divided into different regions namely Asmaka, Mahishaka, Kalinga, Trilinga and Andhra . During different periods of history, the people of Andhra established their contacts with other parts of India and also across the oceans. The expansion of Indian religions to the sea locked lands of the Southeast Asian countries and Far East was attested through archaeological findings, art objects, epigraphs and numismatic sources. Single mast ship motif punch marked coins, reported all along the Andhra coast belonging
Read more

Ancient Names of Telugus

Image
ANCIENT NAMES OF TELUGUS Telugu language, land and people have many names. Andhra, Aandhra, Tenumgu, Tenungu, Telugu, Telumgu, Telungu, Trilinga, Vadagu, Vaduga, and Gentoo are names by which Telugu people and their language are known. US Calling Ourself: Tenumgu, Tenungu, Telugu, Telumgu, Telungu and Trilinga are names used in Telugu literature. Aryans (Sanskrit Form): Andhra and Aandhra are Sanskrit names for Telugu. Sangam Literature (Tamil Form) :  Vadagu, Vadugars, Vadugar and Vaduga are Tamil names for Telugu.  Portuguse:  Gentoo is a Portuguese name for Telugu people and their language. Andhra and Aandhra are ancient names used in Sanskrit literature to denote Telugu tribe/race/nationality/caste/people (hereinafter Nationality or Nationalities). According to Aitareya Brahmana composed in 600 BC, sage Viswamitra, a Kshatriya-an Aryan warrior tribal, adopted Brahmin Sunasyepa. However, fifty of Viswamitra's sons objected and didn't accept Sunasyepa as thei
Read more

Ancient Iron Age Period of Telugu Region Dates Back 4,000 Years Ago

Image
“Discovery of Ancient Telugu Daggers May Push Back Start of Iron Age by Thousands of Years” The Telugu Region lying in the Central Deccan area has a Rich Tradition of Iron and Steel Production since very early period. It is Dates Back Years to 4,000 Years Ago in the Telugu Region. The region has several ironrich mineral zones, which must have been exploited by the early communities for producing iron and steel. There have been studies on the Iron Production in the Telugu Region right from 1832, when H.W. Voysey published an article in the Asiatic Society of Bengal on the process of iron production at a village known as Konasamudram. Earlier studies of iron and steel production in Telangana including a survey of near about 250 sites in Northern Telengana revealed that at least 183 sites were associated with metal working (Juleff et al. 2014: 1030-1037).  Iron ore is available in two types of mineral formations, i.e. the magnetite and laterite. Both the minerals
Read more