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The Āndhras were an ancient non-Aryan tribe of south-central Indian subcontinent, whose existence is attested during the Iron Age. Andhras were mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Aitareya Brahmana, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas.The Eastern Deccan region originally inhabited by Andhras was called Andhradesa. The modern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, derives its name from this historic tribe and region.

Andhras were mentioned in Aitareya Brahmana of the Rigveda (c. 500 BCE) as descendants of Sage Vishvamitra. In the Mahabharata the infantry of Satyaki was composed of a tribe called Andhras, known for their long hair, tall stature, sweet language, and mighty prowess. They lived along the banks of the Godavari river. Andhra communities were also mentioned in the Bhagavata Vayu, Skanda, Markandeya and Matsya Purana. Buddhist references to Andhras are also found.

Greek historian Megasthenes reported in his Indica (c. 310 BCE) that Andhras were living in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas, and were famous for their military strength which was second only to Mauryans in all of India. They had 30 fortified towns along the Godavari River and an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants. They were also mentioned at the time of the death of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 232 BCE. The Satavahanas were referred to as the Andhras, Andhra-bhṛtyas or Andhra-jatiyas in the Puranas.

Location

Andhras lived around the deltas of the Godāvarī and Kṛṣṇa rivers. The political centre of the Andhras was Andhapura or Dhaññakaḍa.

History

The entire region of Andhra contains a profusion of curious historical artifacts, rock art, stone age tools that describe the growth patterns in the region. One of he earliest description of the people belonging to the present Andhra region though comes from the Buddhist sculptures at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. The locals here are depicted as having the heads of snakes. This is, as is common in those times, a symbolic representation. Also, the region was also referred to as Nagadesa and its kings as Nagas.

Andhras in Hindu scriptures

Aitareya Brahmana of the Rigveda

According to Aitareya Brahmana of the Rigveda, sage Vishvamitra had hundred sons, fifty of them were older than Madhuchhanda, and fifty were younger than him. The older ones were not pleased with (the installation of Sunahsepa to the primogeniture). Visvamitra then pronounced against them the curse, “ You shall have the lowest castes for your descendants. ” Therefore are many of the most degraded classes of men, the rabble for the most part, such as the Andhras, Pundras, Sabaras, Palindas, and Mutibas, descendants of Visvamitra...” All these tribes are referred to as dasyus or non-aryans living on the fringes of Aryan settlements.

Aitareya Brahmana is generally not taken as a basis as it evolved and grew for over 2500 years with many additions throughout the time, till it is canonized in the medieval times.

The Ramayana

The Ramayana, connects the tribe with the Godavari region.

Nadlm Godavarlm caiva sarvamevanupa^yatah
Tathaivandhramsca PundramSca cotan Pandramscaveratan
— Ram. Kish. Kan. 41 chap. 12.

The Mahabharata

In the Mahabharata, the infantry of the Yadava chieftain Satyaki was composed of a tribe called Andhras, known for their long hair, tall stature, sweet language, and mighty prowess. They lived along the banks of the Godavari river. Andhras and Kalingas supported the Kauravas during the Mahabharata war. Sahadeva defeated the kingdoms of Pandya, Andhra, Kalinga, Dravida, Odra and Chera while performing the Rajasuya yajna.

Puranas

• Srimada Bhagavatam refer to Andhras, Pundras, Sabaras, Palindas, and Mutibas as Mleccha.
• Markandeya Purana refers to a tribe called the Andhrarakas along with the Maulikas, Asmakas, Bhogavardhanas, Naisikas, Kuntalas etc., as people inhabiting the Southern region.

Andhras are also mentioned in the Vayu, Skanda and Matsya Purana. Buddhist references to Andhras are also found.

Early history

Megasthenes reported in his Indica (c. 303 BCE) that Andhras were living in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas and were famous for their military strength which was second only to Mauryans in all of India. They had 30 fortified towns along the Godavari River and an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants. Indica states that Andhra was a great and powerful nation settled originally in the Deccan between the lower Godavari and Krishna region, and had spread their sway towards the north as far as tho upper course of tho Narmada, before the time of Megasthenes. The earliest epigraphic mention of the Andhra people is made in the Edicts of Ashoka, Andhras along with Pulindas were mentioned as border people. Andhras were also mentioned at the time of the death of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 232 BCE. The Satavahanas were referred to as the Andhras, Andhra-bhṛtyas or Andhra-jatiyas in the Puranas.

9. hidā laja viśavashi Yona Kambojeshu Nabhaka Nabhapamtishu Bhoja Pitinikyeshu
10. Adha Paladeshu shavata Devānampiyashā dhammanushathi anuvatamti yata pi dutā
— Ashoka, Rock Edict 13 , Kalsi Rock, South Portion

Translation : Likewise here in the king's (Ashoka ) territory, among the Yonas and Kambojas, among the Nabhakas and Nabhapamkits, among the Bhojas and the Pitinikas, among the Andhras and the Pulinda, everywhere (people) are conforming to Ashoka instruction in morality.

The first major Andhra polity were the Satavahanas, also referred to as the Andhras (also Andhra-bhṛtyas or Andhra-jatiyas), which ruled over the entire Deccan plateau and established trade relations with the Roman Empire. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the late second century BCE and lasted until the early third century CE, although some assign the beginning of their rule to as early as the 3rd century BCE based on the Puranas. Various Puranas give different lists of the Satavahana rulers. The first king of the Andhra-Bhrityas is also known as Shudraka or Suraka in the Kumarika Khanda of Skanda Purana. The Matsya Purana states that 30 Andhra kings ruled for 460 years, but some of its manuscripts name only 19 kings whose reigns add up to 448.5 years. TheVayu Purana also mentions that there were 30 Andhra kings.

The word Andhras was observed from Udyotana's description of "those with beautiful bodies, who love women and war alike, and are great consumers of food" in 779 CE. The references to Andhra also comes from the Jataka tales and the Pallava inscriptions as Andhapatham and Andhakas, referring to the region and its people respectively.

References in Mahabharata

Andhra mentioned as an ancient times

• Mbh 6.9

....the Angas, the Vangas, the Kalingas, the Yakrillomans; the Mallas, the Suddellas, the Pranradas, the Mahikas, the Sasikas; the Valhikas, the Vatadhanas, the Abhiras or Ahirs, the Kalajoshakas; the Aparantas, the Parantas, the Pahnabhas, the Charmamandalas; the Atavisikharas, the Mahabhutas, O sire; the Upavrittas, the Anupavrittas, the Surashatras, Kekayas; the Kutas, the Maheyas, the Kakshas, the Samudranishkutas; the Andhras........

Pandava Sahadeva's conquests

• Mbh 2.30

Sahadeva brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the Paundrayas, Andhras, Kalingas, Dravidas, Udrakeralas, Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the Yavanas.

Karna's conquests

• Mbh 7.4

The Utpalas, the Mekalas, the Paundras, the Kalingas, the Andhras, the Nishadas, the Trigartas, and the Valhikas, were all vanquished by Karna.

Vasudeva Krishna, the slayer of Chanura of Andhra kingdom

Vasudeva Krishna is mentioned as the slayer of Chanura of the Andhra country. (13,149)

Arjuna's conquests after the Kurukshetra War

In southern regions, battle took place between Arjuna and the Dravidas and Andhras and the fierce Mahishakas and the hillmen of Kolwa. Subjugating those tribes without having to accomplish any fierce feats, Arjuna proceeded to the country of the Surashtras, his footsteps guided by the horse. (14,83)

Andhras present in Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice

• Mbh 2.33

King Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha accompanied by all Mlechcha tribes inhabiting the marshy regions on the sea-shore; and many mountain kings, and king Vrihadvala; and Vasudeva the king of the Paundrayas, and the kings of Vanga and Kalinga; and Akastha and Kuntala and the kings of the Malavas and the Andhrakas; and the Dravidas and the Singhalas and the king of Kashmira, and king Kuntibhoja of great energy and king Gauravahana, and all the other heroic kings of Valhika; and Virata with his two sons, and Mavella endued with great might; and various kings and princes ruling in various countries attended Pandava king Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice.

Andhras as the allies of the Pandavas

• Mbh 5.140

The Dravidas, with the Kuntalas, the Andhras, and the Talacharas, and the Shuchupas, and the Venupas were mentioned as allies of the Pandavas, in the conversation of Vasudeva Krishna and Karna.

Andhras as the allies of Kauravas

• Mbh 5.161, 5.162

The message sent by Duryodhana to the Pandava:-

The Kamvojas, the Sakas, the Khasas, the Salwas, the Matsyas, the Kurus of the middle country, the Mlechchhas, the Pulindas, the Dravidas, the Andhras, and the Kanchis --- these tribes protect my army.

Andhras in Kurukshetra War

On the side of the Pandavas

• Mbh 8.12

Decked with ornaments, possessed of red teeth, endued with the prowess of infuriate elephants, attired in robes of diverse colours, smeared with powdered scents, armed with swords and nooses, capable of restraining mighty elephants, companions in death, and never deserting one another, equipped with quivers, bearing bows adorned with long locks, and agreeable in speech were the combatants of the infantry files led by Satyaki, belonging to the Talavana tribe, endued with fierce forms and great energy. (The Pandyas, Cholas, Keralas and Dravidas followed Dhrishtadyumna, Sikhandin, Chekitana and the sons of Draupadi.) It appears that the Andhakas fought along with Satyaki are Yadavas. Yadavas are of 5 different races i.e. Yadu, Vrushni, Mushti, Bhoja and Andhakas. However, Andhras are different. According to Bhagavatha purana, Andhras are the decedents of King Bali means. Andhras are six such Anga, Vanga, Kalings, Simha, Pundra and Andhras. So Andhras are different from Andhakas. Andhras are eastern where as Andhakas are western yadavas. The clarification is sufficient to distinguish Andhakas from Andhras. The Chanura is also one of Andhakas and not of Andhras.

On the side of the Kauravas

• Mbh 8.73

Of terrible deeds and exceedingly fierce, the Tusharas, the Yavanas, the Khasas, the Darvabhisaras, the Daradas, the Sakas, the Kamathas, the Ramathas, the Tanganas, the Andhrakas, the Pulindas, the Kiratas of fierce prowess, the Mlecchas, the Mountaineers, and the races hailing from the sea-side, all endued with great wrath and great might, delighting in battle and armed with maces, these all—united with the Kurus and fighting wrathfully for Duryodhana’s sake.

See also

• History of Andhra Pradesh
• Kingdoms of Ancient India

References

1. Akira Shimada (9 November 2012). Early Buddhist Architecture in Context. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-23283-9. In the Aitareya Brahmaņa (VII, 18), the Andhras were mentioned together with the Pundras, Sabaras, Pulindas and Mūtibas as dasyu (non-Aryan tribes) living on the borders of the land
2. Gopalachari. K. (1941). Early History Of The Andhra Country. p. 15.
3. ^ Śrīhari, R. (1 January 1987). Proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Conference: Fourth session, Nagarjuna University, Guntur, 3rd to 5th March 1984. The Conference.
4. ^ V. D., Mahajan (2016). Ancient India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 297. ISBN 978-93-5253-132-5.
5. "Andhra Pradesh - MSN Encarta". Archived from the original on 28 October 2009.
6. "Rock art sites in Andhra pradesh".
7. Ganvir, Shrikant (2010). "Representation of Naga in the Buddhist Art of Amaravati: A Sculptural Analysis". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 71: 1063–1071. JSTOR 44147573.
8. Martin Haug (1922). Aitareya Brahmana Of The Rigveda. p. 175.
9. Bhandarkar, D. R. (1919). Lectures on the Ancient History of India on the period from 650 to 325 B.C. University of Calcutta, Calcutta. p. 14.
10. F. Eden Pargiter (1904). Markandeya Purana. p. 360.
11. Journal of Indian History. University of Kerala. 1 January 1949.
12. Datta, Manmathanatha (1 January 1897). A Prose English Translation of the Mahabharata: (tr. Literally from the Original Sanskrit Text). H.C. Dass.
13. Mccrindle, J. W. Ancient India As Described By Megasthenes And Arrian by Mccrindle, J. W. p. 147.
14. "Andhra Pradesh - MSN Encarta". Archived from the original on 28 October 2009.
15. Wolpert, Stanley A. (1989). A new history of India (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 75, 76. ISBN 978-0-19-505636-5. Apparently originating somewhere between the peninsular rivers Godavari and Krishna, homeland of the Dravidian Telugu-speaking peoples whose descendants now live in a state called Andhra, the great Andhra dynasty spread across much of south and central India from the second century BC till the second century AD.
16. Kr̥shṇājī Pāṇḍuraṅga Kulakarṇī (1927). Sanskrit Drama & Dramatists: Their Chronology, Mind and Art.
17. Madhukar Keshav, Dhavalikar (1996). "Sātavāhana Chronology: A Re-examination". Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. 77 (1/4): 133–140. JSTOR 41702166.
18. Verma, C.B.; Varma, C.B. (2002). "The Prakrit Bloom". Indian Literature. 46 (1): 139–149. JSTOR 23344538.
19. Parallels for Ja 512#4 Kumbhajātaka (Ja v 14): Kv 1.1#355-#356 (Kv 1) Retrieved from https://suttacentral.net/ja512/en/francis on Wed 3 Mar 2021 13:08:55 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time).

External links

• Andhras- The world's oldest tribe

• Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

• Kingdoms in the Mahabharata
• History of Andhra Pradesh
• Ancient peoples of India