The Sakas in the Post Mauryan Period

The Sakas, also known as the Scythians, were a Central Asian tribe that migrated to India through the Bolan Pass. 

• Initially settling in the lower Indus region, they played a significant role in shaping the history of the Indian subcontinent.
•  Their incursions marked the decline of Indo-Greek influence in Bactria, but they were themselves displaced by another Central Asian tribe, the Yueh-Chi.
•  The Sakas gradually expanded their dominance across northern and northwestern India, overthrowing local rulers and establishing a long-lasting rule.

Origins and Branches of the Sakas

• The Sakas entered India through the Bolan Pass, possibly settling first in the lower Indus region.
• Pushed out of their Bactrian homeland by the Yueh-Chi, the Sakas spread their influence over India, replacing the Indo-Greek rulers.
• They ruled through multiple branches, each dominating different regions:
  • Afghanistan Branch: Established their rule in parts of modern Afghanistan.
  • Punjab Branch: Based in Taxila, this branch controlled the Punjab region.
  • Mathura Branch: Centered in Mathura, they exercised authority over northern India.
  • Western and Central India Branch: This branch ruled over Gujarat, Saurashtra, Malwa, and surrounding regions until the 4th century CE.

Titles and Administrative Practices of Sakas

The Saka kings used the title “Kshatrap”, which was derived from the Persian Satrap system.

• They also adopted titles like Maharaja (great king) and Rajadhiraja (king of kings), borrowing these designations from the Indo-Greeks.
• The first Kshatrap king of Mathura, Rajul, is mentioned in the Mora inscription near Mathura, written in Brahmi script.

Notable Saka Rulers

• Maues (Moga): Considered the founder of Saka rule in India during the 1st century BCE. His kingdom spanned both sides of the Indus River, from Pushkalavati (west) to Taxila (east).
• Azes I: Succeeded Maues and conquered northern India, defeating the last Indo-Greek ruler, Hippostratos.
• Azilises and Azes II: Azilises introduced coins featuring the Indian deity Abhishekha Lakshmi, reflecting the Sakas’ assimilation of Indian cultural elements.
• Rudradaman I (130–152 CE): The most renowned Saka ruler of western India, who ruled over regions like Sindh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Konkan, the Narmada Valley, Malwa, Kathiawar, and parts of the Western Deccan. His achievements are commemorated in the Junagadh Inscription (150 CE), the first major inscription written in Sanskrit. The inscription highlights Rudradaman’s repair of the Mauryan-era Sudarsana Lake dam in Kathiawar, showcasing his administrative and engineering accomplishments. Rudradaman’s patronage of Sanskrit reflected the cultural integration of the Sakas.

Governance Under the Sakas

The Sakas, along with the Parthians, introduced the Satrap system of governance in India, inspired by the Achaemenid and Seleucid systems in Iran.

• The kingdom was divided into provinces, each headed by a military governor:
• • • Mahasatrap: The great Satrap overseeing larger territories.
    • Satrapas: Governors of smaller provinces.
  • Satraps enjoyed significant autonomy, issuing their own coins and inscriptions, which demonstrated a decentralized system of governance.

• Western Kshatrapas: A branch of the Sakas, known as the Western Kshatrapas, ruled Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Malwa during the post-Mauryan period. They retained power for about four centuries, leaving an enduring impact on the region.

Defeat of Sakas by Vikramaditya

• In 57–58 BCE, a king of Ujjain defeated the Sakas and assumed the title Vikramaditya.
• To commemorate this victory, the Vikram Samvat era was established in 57 BCE, marking a significant historical milestone.
• The title Vikramaditya became prestigious, with about 14 rulers in Indian history adopting it subsequently.

Contributions of the Sakas

• Cultural Integration: The Sakas assimilated Indian traditions, as evident in their adoption of titles, deities on coins, and patronage of Sanskrit literature.
• Political Administration: The Satrap system introduced by the Sakas provided a framework for decentralized governance, influencing subsequent Indian rulers.
• Economic Contributions: The Saka rulers issued coins with Indian symbols and deities, facilitating trade and cultural exchange.
• Engineering Feats: The repair of the Sudarsana Lake dam by Rudradaman I reflects their contributions to infrastructure development.
• Cultural Patronage: The Junagadh inscription highlights the Sakas’ promotion of Sanskrit, integrating Indian cultural elements into their rule. The legacy of the Sakas continues to be remembered, particularly through the Vikram Samvat era, which celebrates their eventual defeat and integration into Indian history.