Simuka
| Simuka | |
|---|---|
| Founder of Satavahana dynasty | |
| Reign | 1st century BCE |
| Successor | Kanha |
| Issue | Satakarni |
| Dynasty | Satavahana |
| Satavahana Kings (271 BCE – 220 CE) | |
| Simuka | (1st century BCE) |
| Kanha | (1st century BCE/CE) |
| Satakarni | (1st-2nd century CE) |
| Sivasvati | (1st century CE) |
| Gautamiputra Satakarni | (1st-2nd century CE) |
| Vasishthiputra Pulumavi | (2nd century CE) |
| Vashishtiputra Satakarni | (2nd century CE) |
| Shivaskanda Satakarni | (2nd century CE) |
| Yajna Sri Satakarni | (2nd century CE) |
| Vijaya | (2nd century CE) |
Simuka was an Indian king belonging to the Satavahana dynasty. He is mentioned as the first king in a list of royals in a Satavahana inscription at Nanaghat. In the Puranas, the name of the first Andhra (Satavahana) king is variously spelt as Sishuka, Sindhuka, Chhismaka, Shipraka etc. These are believed to be corrupted spellings of "Simuka", resulting from copying and re-copying of manuscripts.
Based on available evidence, Simuka cannot be dated with certainty. According to one theory, he lived in 3rd century BCE; according to another theory, he lived in the first century BCE.
Simuka is mentioned as the first king in a list of royals in a Satavahana inscription at Naneghat. The various Puranas have different names for the founder of the Andhra dynasty: Shishuka in Matsya Purana, Sipraka in Vishnu Purana, Sindhuka in Vayu Purana, Chhesmaka in Brahmanda Purana, and Shudraka or Suraka in Kumarika Khanda of Skanda Purana. These are believed to be corrupted spellings of Simuka, resulting from copying and re-copying of manuscripts.
The Matsya and Vayu Puranas mention that the first Andhra king overthrew the Kanva king Susharman (c. 40–30 BCE). Based on identification of Simuka with this king, some scholars believe that Simuka's reign started in 30 BCE. Scholars supporting this theory include D. C. Sircar, H. C. Raychaudhuri and others.
The Matsya Purana mentions that the Andhra dynasty ruled for 450 years. It is known that the Satavahana rule continued till the beginning of the early 3rd century. Therefore, the beginning of the Satavahana rule can be dated to 3rd century BCE. In addition, Indica by Megasthenes (350 – 290 BCE) mentions a powerful tribe named "Andarae", whose king maintained an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants. If Andarae is identified with the Andhras, this can be considered additional evidence of Satavahana rule starting in 3rd century BCE. According to this theory, Simuka was an immediate successor of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (304–232 BCE). According to these scholars, the Kanva ruler Susharman was overthrown by a successor of Simuka. The Brahmanda Purana states: "the four Kanvas will rule the earth for 45 years; then (it) will again go to the Andhras". This indicates Satavahanas had been in power before the Kanvas subjugated them; the Kanva rule was ultimately overthrown by a Satavahana king. Scholars supporting this theory include A. S. Altekar, K. P. Jayaswal, V. A. Smith and others.
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