THE SAKAS OF WESTERN INDIA

A Chronicle of the Kshaharata Dynasty
“Kings, Nahapana, and Karadamaka Legacy”
The Kshaharata family was a prominent dynasty that ruled in western India, particularly during the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The most famous ruler of this dynasty was Nahapana.
Nahapana was founder of one of the two major Saka Satrap dynasties in north-western India, the Kshaharatas (“Satraps”)
He is well-known for his association with the Western Kshatrapas, who were a group of Indo-Scythian rulers.
Nahapana is noted for his reign in the region of Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra. He was a significant figure during the decline of the Satavahana Empire and took control of their western territories. Nahapana’s rule is primarily associated with his military campaigns and coinage.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Nahapana’s reign is his coinage. His coins featured a variety of designs, including depictions of his portrait, scenes of rulers sacrificing at altars, and Brahmi inscriptions. These coins provide valuable historical and artistic insights into the culture of the time.
Nahapana’s rule marked a period of regional fragmentation in western India, with various dynasties and rulers vying for control. The Kshaharata family’s influence extended for a considerable duration, making them a noteworthy dynasty in the history of western India during the early centuries of the Common Era.
Between 35 and 415 CE, the Indo-Scythian (Saka) Western Satraps, also known as Western Kshatrapas (Brahmi: Mahakatrapa, “Great Satraps”), ruled over the western and central regions of India, which included the modern-day states of Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The Kushans, who dominated the northern region of the Indian subcontinent, and the Western Satraps coexisted at the same time and may have been vassals of each other. Additionally, they lived at the same time as the Satavahana (Andhra), who ruled throughout Central India. Modern historiography refers to them as “Western Satraps” to distinguish them from the “Northern Satraps,” who ruled over Punjab and Mathura until the second century CE. After the Satavahana dynasty’s Emperor Gautamiputra Satakarni overthrew the Saka emperors in the second century CE, the influence of the Western Satraps began to wane. Following this, the Saka kingdom recovered, but in the fourth century CE Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire finally destroyed it. Following their defeat by the Abhiras/Ahirs, the Western Satraps saw a sharp fall in the second part of the third century. Over the course of nearly 350 years, there were 27 separate Western Satrap kings. Inscribed in Brahmi script, the Western Satrap kings were referred to as Mahkhatapa (Great Satrap), as seen in this dedicatory inscription by Prime Minister Ayama in the name of his king Nahapana, found in the Manmodi Caves around 100 CE. Additionally, Nahapana was given the dual titles of Rao (“King”) and Smi (“Lord”). They are referred to as “Western Satraps” in contrast to the “Northern Satraps” who ruled over the region of Mathura and East Punjab under the Kushans, including Rajuvula and his successors, the “Great Satrap” Kharapallana and the “Satrap” Vanaspara.
Ptolemy nevertheless referred to them as “Indo-Scythians” in his “Geographia” from the second century, despite the fact that they referred to themselves as “Satraps” on their coins, giving rise to their present moniker of “Western Satraps. The words “Katrapa” and “Satrap” share a common ancestor: which means viceroy or governor of a province.
The ruling Satrap was given the title of Mahakatrapa, or the “Great Satrap,” while the heir apparent was given the title of katrapa. Indians often referred to the western Kshatrapas as Sakas. The term “Kaharta,” used to refer to the Western Satraps, is derived from the Saka term “xarapati,” which means “lord of the country” and was probably the Saka equivalent of the Indian title “Katrapa,” which had been taken from the Iranian Median language.
The Saka language, sometimes known as Khotanese since it was first recorded in the Tarim Basin, was spoken by the Saka people in Western India.
The Western Satraps Kshaharata dynasty ruled for a short period. They were also called Chaharada, Khaharata or Khakhar
Abhiraka was the earliest Kshaharata who was succeeded by Bhumaka, father of Nahapana. He only used a title of Satrap, his coins. Nahapana was a very powerful ruler, who occupied satavahanas empire, of in western and central India. His empire extended to malawa region, southern Gujrat, Nasik, Pune Northern Konkan, Bharuch, and Sopara. Kushan empire was in the northern region of his empire while Baluchistan was ruled by Paratarajas.
Nahapanas daughter Dakshamitra, was married to a Saka warrior, Ushavadata, who was subsequently appointed as
viceroy by Nahapana, and ruled the southern part of his empire.
During 120 CE, the Western Satraps are allied with Uttamabhadras, against Malavas, whom they subsequently defeated.