User:Bksatyanarayana

This is regarding the etymology and origin of the name Satavahana .Actually it appears to be purely a Sanskrit name which means a person who is in charge of hundred vehicles or chariots( of the Mauryan kingdom), which is similar to the word -CENTURION-OF THE ROMAN OR EVEN GREEK ARMY- It looks as if the Mauryan army was divided into various divisions or battalions in the Greek model after the departure of the great Alexander.It was reported that a great army was waiting to face Alexander on the banks of the river Ganga.But since Alexander decided to go back without facing this great army of Magadh, as a result many commanders of the infantry,cavalry and elephant battalions might have been relieved.These commanders came down south in search of greener pastures.Satavahana dynasty is one such.There is also a peculiar style of naming them.The name of every king starts with the name of the mother first,for eg. Gautami putra Satakarni,Vaasishti putra Pulamayi etc.which does not apeear to be style of naming an Andhra King.When emperor Ashoka invaded the south,he did not fight with them because they had been the vassals of the Mauryan Empire from the time of his grand-father.