Ikshvaku Dynasty

Ikshvakus came into force after the down fall of Satavahana dynasty.

Puranas refer them as Sriparvateeya Andhras who held power around

Nagarjuna Konda region. Founder of Ikshvaku dynasty is vasishtiputra

Santamula-I. A total 7 kings belongs to Ikshvakus dynasty ruled for 100

years. Four of them were mentioned in various inscriptions and ruled for 68
years. Later 3 more kings ruled for 30 more years whose names are
unavailable.

According to Alluri Inscription of Veerapurusha Datta Ikshvakus used to

be subordinates of Satavahanas.

They came into force by making Sri Parvatha ( ) as capital.

Since they belong to Sri Parvatha region Puranas call them as

Sriparvateeya Andhras.

They refer themselves as a branch of the celebrated dynasty of

Ayodhya to which lord Sri Rama belonged.

Birth Place of Ikshvakus:

There is difference in opinion among the historians about the birth place of
Ikshvakus.

According to a Historian called Rapsan Bular (

belongs to North India.

Another historian named Vogel (

south India.

) Ikshvakus

) they belong to kanada region of

According to Gopala Chary they belong to Tamil Nadu.

Prominent Historians like Burgen, Caldwell argue that a branch of the

ancient iskhvakus of north India came to South and founded another

kingdom there.

According to a Jain work called Dharmamrutham Karnataka reports

that an Ikshvaku prince founded a kingdom at the mouth of river
Krishna with Pratipalapura as its capital.

According to Nagarjuna Konda Inscription Veerapurusha Datta belongs

to lord Buddha Dynasty.

Important Inscriptions of Ikshvaku Dynasty:

Nagarjuna Konda Inscription

Jaggayyapet Inscription

Ramireddy Palli Inscription

Amravati Inscription

Political background:

Vasishtiputra Santamula (180-193 A.D):

He is the earliest know king of Ikshvaku Dynasty.

He is the founder if Ikshvaku Dynasty. He came into prominence in the

second quarter of 3rd century A.D

He followed Hindu Religion but performed vedic sacrifices like

Rajasuya.

He performed Yagas like Aswamedha Yaga, Rajasuya Yaga and

Vajapeya.

He was married to a Brahmin lady named Matari Devi.

vasishtiputra Santamula has two sisters Santisri and Harmyasri.

His elder sister Santisri followed Buddhism and constructed Maha

Chaitya at Nagarjuna Konda.

He worked for the development of Agriculture by donating land and

ploughs.

vasishtiputra Santamula donated lakhs of cows and land and gold for
Brahmins and got a title called Mahadanapati.

His Inscriptions are found in Panigiri, Dachepalli, Rentala.

Veerapurusha Datta (193-213 A.D):

His rule started in the third quarter of the 3rd

He followed and Patronised Buddhism and give it back the fame it lost
during his fathers reign.

He is known as southern Ashoka.

Veerapurusha Datta is the only Ikshvaku king who adopted Buddhism.

In his time Nagarjuna Konda used to be great pilgrimage for

Buddhism.

In his period only Sri Parvata University started.

Sri Parvata Unvercity is the Indias first Buddhist University.

Veerapurusha Datta married to three daughters of his parental aunts

(Santisri and Harmyasri).

His first queen is Batti Mahadevi (

Rudra Battakari ( ).

) and 2nd queen is

Ikshvaku Kings did not try to encourage Buddhism, their queens

donated vigorously to the Buddhist.

Important Inscriptions of Veerapurusha Datta:

1. Alluri Inscription.

2. Nagarjuna Konda Inscription.

3. Amravati Inscription.

4. Uppugundur Inscription.
5. Jaggayyapet Inscription

Note: oldest university in India is Takshashila (

Ehubala Santamula (213-237 A.D):

).

He is the third and last independent ruler of Ikshvaku Dynasty.

He ruled for 24 Years.

He is the son of Veerapurusha Datta and Batti Mahadevi.

The Inscriptions of his age are found in Nagarjuna Konda.

Method of writing inscriptions was changed to Sanskrit Instead of

Prakrit in his period only.

Most number of Hindu temples were constructed during his reign.

Ehubala Santamula was the first king who constructed Hindu temples
in Southern India.

Ehubala Santamula has a sister named Konda Siri she constructed

and donated Viharas for Buddhist.

Temples Constructed by Ehubala Santamula:

1. Pushpabhadra Narayanaswamy (
2. Nandikeswara (
3. Kartikeya (

4. Navagraha ()
5. Hariti Temple.

6. Ashtabuja Narayanaswamy (

In his reign of 11 years, his Prime Minister Elisiri constructed a

Shaiva Temple named swarna devalaya. And laid an Inscription
there described himself about his victories in many wars.

Rudrapurusha Datta

(237-248A.D):

Ehubala Santamula was succeeded by his own son Rudrapurusha

Datta.

During his ascension to throne, Pallava king Simhavarma invaded the

Ikshvaku Kingdom.

Milavolu Inscription issued my Shivaskanda Varma Pallava king says

about the downfall of Ikshvaku Dynasty.

Ikshvaku Culture:

The 100 year period of Ikshvaku Dynasty is considered as a turning

point in the cultural and religious development of the Region.
Ikshvaku Dynasty supported both Vedic and Buddhist faiths.

They followed Prakrit Language their Official for quite some of time.

Ikshvaku Dynasty is first south Indian Dynasty who worked for the
development of Sanskrit.

Ehubala Santamula is the first south Indian king to issue Inscriptions in

Sanskrit.

Students used to come from all over Asia to Nagarjuna Konda

University to get trained as the Propagators of Buddhist faith.

Religion:

In Ikshvaku dynasty Kings used to follow Brahmin and queens used to

follow Buddhism.

Vasishtiputra Santamula donated land and gold and cows to Brahmins.

Viiragal ( ) (Special Protection Force who lives and dies for king)
started with Ikshvaku Dynasty. And they used to plant Statues in the
memory of those great soldiers.

They are the first Dynasty in south India to construct Hindu temples.

Buddhism:

Buddhism is flourished during Ikshvaku Dynasty.

Veerapurusha Datta is known as southern Ashoka for his contribution

in the development of Buddhism.

Many Buddhist Stupas and Viharas were built in and around

jaggayyapeta, Bhattiprolu, Chinna Ganjam, and other places. The
Maha Chaitya was renovated at the Nagarguna Konda.

Sri parvata University is first Buddhist University in India Constructed in

Nagarguna Konda by Veerapurusha Datta.

Queens of Ikshvaku Dynasty donated vigorously to the Buddhist.

Economy:

Ikshvaku Dynasty worked for the development of Agriculture by

donating Land and Ploughs.

According to Nagarjuna Konda Inscription vasishtiputra Santamula

donated ploughs regularly.

During the time of Ikshvaku Dynasty trade used to happen with Rome
in large quantity.

In recent excavations Romans golden coins are found out in Nagarjuna

Konda this show the life style and trade during Ikshvaku Dynasty.
Handlooms association leader is known as Uliki Pramuka.

According to Inscription of Visha Vatti it is known that Professional

Taxes are issued to people.