Ancient History of Maritime Andhra Desa
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 to the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, further embodies to this fact. The Bhattiprolu and Amaravati inscriptions furnish the names of the pre-Satavahana rulers and refer names of the organised bodies for industries and trade revealing a growing economic activity in agriculture, mining and industries (Buhler 1984 and Chanda 1982). Major and minor ports came to limelight right from the early periods of history and continued till the modern period. The finding of Rouletted ware, Northern Black Polished ware, silver Punch marked coins, Roman coins, Kharosthi scripts, semi-precious stone beads, etc along the Bengal, Orissa, Andhra and Tamil Nadu coast indicate that a network of internal trade was existing about 2000 years ago and in this trade, ports played a vital role. Although, Pliny, Ptolemy, Periplus and Sanskrit, Prakrit and Telugu literature also mention the names of the ports that flour ished from the early to medieval periods along Andhra coast. However, only some places like Dantapura, Kalingapatnam, Pithunda, Ghantasala, Amaravati, Motupalli, Masulipatnam and Kottapatnam have been identified with corroborating archaeological evidence as ports. Locations of some other ports also have been identified, whereas some ports mentioned in literature, cannot be identified today due to a lack of substantial evidence.
Epigraphy and Numismatic evidences
The value of oceanic trade was well understood by the rulers of Andhra, which can be recalled from the ship motif coins issued by the Satavahanas, Salankayanas and Pallavas. These coins are found all along the coast of Andhra. The ship type coins issued by the Satavahana king Vasisthiputra Pulumavi, the son of Gautamiputra Satakarni, are classic examples that indicate the importance of marine trade. The circular lead coins depict both double mast and single mast ships anchored in mid sea. Gautamiputra. Yajna Sri and his successor continued the same type of coin more prominently and have been discovered from many sites along Southeast coast of India. A unique coin now in the British Museum shows the device very clearly and what is more interesting is the portrayal of cargo vessels approaching the anchored ship. The Salankayana king Vijaya Devavarman who succeeded the Satavahanas in the Vengi country issued the double mast ship lead coins. The Salankayanas were also powerful having trade contacts with Southeast Asian countries and furthered the cause of Buddhism as well as Brahmanical religion beyond the shores (Sarma 1992).
The contact of the Ikshvakus with Sri Lanka was so extensive that a monastery was built for the accommodation of monks of Sri Lanka at Nagarjunakonda. The Ikshvakus had maintained con tacts with Southeast Asian countries followed by the Chalukyas. Gold coins of Saktivarman of the Vengi Chalukya family were found in Arakan, Siam and Burma. There was a lull in these contacts after the downfall of the Chalukyas for sometime and the same was revived under the rule of the Kakatiyas who renovated the ports and made them functional. This continued even during the rule of the Reddys and the Vijayanagars.The other evidences are the terracotta sealing with ship symbol occurs in Central Thailand. Bronze coins with ship motif with a cow or bull on the reverse were reported from Klong Thom and Khuan Lukpad, which were probably in circulation among the merchant class (Higham 1989). A stone seal found at Nakorn Pathom shows a two masted ship. A carnelian seal inscribed in the south Indian characters of the 5th century AD contains the name of Vishnuvarma who was either a king or a trader.
The inscriptions of 1st and 2nd century AD of Andhra Pradesh mention master mariners resided at Mahanagaparvata and Ghantasala. The Indo-Roman trade of this period is well known and the port towns of Andhra were humming with activity. The script of inscriptions found at Ligor, Malay Peninsula and the Province Wellesley resemble the script of early Pallava (Gerini 1974). The earliest inscriptions are found from Kutie estuary of Borneo and palaeographically these inscriptions can be datable to the end of 4th century AD (Nilakantha Sastri 1949). Even the Tailang alphabet is identical with the Vengi alphabets. The Burmese traditions indicate that the Salankayanas of Vengi were responsible for the spread of Buddhism to Burma (Ayyer 1987).
During the Period of Vishnukundians,
Madhava Varma II’s title-Trisamdradhipati.
This Indicates that Madhava Varma II Have Navy in the Kingdom, It's Secures the East Coast of Andhra Desa.
Internal trade was carried on in the places where the coins were found.
Internal trade ports – Bejawada, Amaravathi, Motupalli, Ghantasala, Koduru, Alampuram-Kudalisangham and others on the banks of river Krishna. From these ports – Now and then foreign trade.
External trade has grown after the occupation of Vengi from the Salankayanas and the kingdom of Kalinga. Ship mark on the coins. All these indicate importance of foreign trade.
From eastern coast foreign trade with Burma, Siam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Ceylone, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Malaya, Arkan and western countries, such as Egypt, Rome, Greece etc.
Motupalli, and Kodur – Eastern ports.
At Kudalisanghameshwaram near Alampur, a gold coins of Roman Emperor Constantine (306 A.D. – 337 A.D.) was found. This coin was found along with some other coins.
Krishna –Thungabhadra doab region was centre for foreign trade and commerce even before the Vishnukunds and this continued even during the Vishnukund period.
According to Fa-Hien, during the beginning decades of the 5th century A.D., shells were also used as currency in the Vishnukund kingdom.
Some early Sanskrit inscriptions have been recorded in western Java. According to Burnell (1878) and Rawlinson (1916) the script resembles the ancient Telugu or Vengi script. On palaeographic grounds the script can be placed in the middle of the 5th century AD. These inscrip tions suggest that the successors of Purnavarma issued to commemorate his valour. Taking into account all the epigraphical details, it can be surmised that Purnavarma might have been a descen dant of the Vengi rulers.
The Motupalli pillar inscription of Ganapatideva AD 1244-45 assures safety to traders (abhaya sasana) arriving from all continents (Svadesi and Paradesis) risking the sea voyage and its hazards like storm attacks and shipwrecks. The levies (usually 1:30) on the items of import and export have also been listed with great details and speak of the flourishing international trade from Motupalli port, which was provided with warehouses. Besides the mention of several continents, islands, foreign countries and cities specific mention of Chini (China) is noteworthy.
Another inscription from Motupalli of Annapottu Reddi AD 1358 mention state is applicable for the merchants on the sea and shore towns. The merchants c in any part of Motupalli. The levy was not applicable for foreigners. Foreigners merchandise to whomsoever they like and buy articles of their choice. The cloth for w to be levied. But for other items of merchandise the duty was to be levied as before. This was the procedure followed in the place for security to persons in distress (Srinivasan 1990).
Art Evidences
In ancient times, long distance trade was not possible without halting at intermediate places for want of water and food. Sailors voyaging from Tamralipti, Palur, Kalingapatnam, etc. to foreign countries used Nicobar Island as halting station. Some times ships used to go to Java directly then to Ceylon and other ports on the east coast of India. Sailors, merchants, artists, sculptors and mis sionaries come from different parts to the nearest port and then sail to Southeast Asian and Far East countries and follow different sea routes (Fig. 3). The artists and sculptors carry their ideas and innovations and in return they bring some new ideas, which can be gleaned from the art evidences of Andhra.
The cultural and religious contacts of Java and Andhra can be traced from the early centuries of Christian era. Traces of the early Buddhism having Andhra influence has been found in various places of Southeast Asia. The contact of Andhra with Borneo can be traced through inscriptions and art. The stone images of Buddha found at Pong Tuk of Siam (Thailand), Bangoen (Borneo), Palembang (Sumatra) and the bronze images of Buddha found at Pong Tuk and Bangoen are in the Amaravati style. The bronze sculpture of Buddha found at Sawan Kolak clearly resembles that of the sculpture from Budhani near Amaravati (Gerini 1974). Buddha images of Amaravati style have been found at Jamber in Eastern Java.
The excavations at Pong Tuk on the right bank of the river Mekong or Kanburi in the prov ince of Ratburi show the remains of Indian culture. Prominent among these finds is an exquisite bronze sculpture of Buddha, of the early Amaravati School of 2nd century AD. Remains of two structures having circular and square plans have been unearthed resembling the early structures at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, built under the influence of Amaravati art and architecture (Nilakantha Sastri 1978). The Amaravati School of art influenced even the Buddha images of Sri Lanka.
A number of Sanskrit inscriptions datable to 3rd-4th centuries AD have been noticed at Annam. A bronze Buddha statue of a metre in height was found at Dong-duong, was modelled on the Amaravati style of art standing with the right hand in chinmudra and left in kataka posture with the robe draping the entire body only leaving the right shoulder bare and falling in a straight fold at the back (Nilakanta Sastri, 1949). The study shows that during early centuries of Christian era Buddhism had a strong hold along the east coast of India. The Buddhist monks and mariners together jointly carried out in spreading the Indian culture to other parts of the world."
Maritime History of Telugus That Shows How are in Trading In Ancient Times
References :
1)Maritime History of Andhra Pradesh and Prospects for Marine Archaeological Research
2)Nilakantha Sastri, K.A., 1949.
3)South Indian influences in the Far East, Bombay: Hind Kitabs Ltd. Nilakantha Sastri, K.A., 1978.
4)South India and Southeast Asia, Mysore. Geetha Publications.
5)Raghavachary, K., 1972-73.
6)Dharanikota and its western contacts. Quarterly Review of Historical Studies,Vol. XII (1): 167-170.
7)Rao, H.D., 2002.
8)Kalingapatnam-Its importance on the History and Archaeology, District Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), in Puraratna, Emerging Trends in Archaeology, Art, Anthropology, Conservation, and History (C. Margabandhu, A.K. Sharma and R.S. Bisht Eds.), Pp. 278-283. New Delhi: Agam Kala Prakashan.
Rao, K.P., 1994. Kottapatnam,
10) An early sea-port in southern Andhra Pradesh. Proceedings of Indian His tory Congress, 54th Session, Mysore: 829-831.
Rao, K.P., 2001.
11)Early trade and contacts between South India and Southeast Asia (300 BC-AD 200). East and West, Vol. 51 (3-4): 386-394.
Rao, R.S., 1971 72.
12)The Historical Geography of Kalinga. Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society, Vol. XXXII, No. (I IV): 2...
13)Maritime History of Andhra Desa, Best Book
Comments
Post a Comment