Ancient Sanskrit texts, such as
Rigveda,
Atharvaveda, and
Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana, mention a legendary king named
Ikshvaku (literally, "gourd"). The
Atharvaveda and
Brahmanas associate the Ikshvakus with non-Aryan people, distinct from the
Aryans who composed the hymns of the four
Vedas.
F. E. Pargiter has equated the ancient Ikshvakus with the
Dravidians. Later texts, such as the
Ramayana and the
Puranas, connect the
dynasty of Ikshvaku's descendants to
Ayodhya, the capital of the
Kosala Kingdom in northern India. A record of the Vijayapuri king Ehuvala Chamtamula traces his ancestry to the legendary Ikshvakus. The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri seem to be same as the "Shriparvatiya Andhras" mentioned in the
Matsya Purana.
Chamtamula Ayaka pillar inscription of the time of Vira-Purushadatta (250-275 CE) The dynasty's founder Vasishthiputra Chamtamula (
IAST: Vāsiṣṭhīputra Cāṃtamūla; also transliterated Chantamula) rose to power after the decline of the
Satavahana power. He is attested by the Rentala and Kesanapalli inscriptions. The Rentala inscription, dated to his 5th regnal year, calls him "
Siri Cāṃtamūla". The 4-line Kesanapalli inscription, dated to his 13th regnal year, and inscribed on the pillar of a Buddhist
stupa, names him as the founder of the Ikshvaku dynasty. No information is available about Chamtamula's parents, except that his father had multiple wives and daughters. Chamtamula had two
uterine brothers, named Chamtasri (
IAST: Cāṃtaśrī) and Hammasri (IAST: Hammaśrī). Chamtasri, who married Mahatalavara Skandashri of Pukiya family (he is Commander-in-chief and a feudatory), played an important role in the construction of a Buddhist
mahachaitya. The records of the later Ikshvaku kings describe Chamtamula as a great performer of the
Vedic sacrifices such as Agnishtoma, Vajapeya and
Ashvamedha. These descriptions are corroborated by archaeological discoveries, including those of Chamtamula's Ashvamedha-type coins, a tank used for the Avabhritha ceremony, the
kurma-chiti (a tortoise-shaped sacrificial altar), and the skeleton of a horse. An inscription of the later Ikshvaku king Ehuvala Chamtamula states that Vasishthiputra Chamtamula won many battles with his valour. Chamtamula had many wives. His daughter Adavi Chamtisri (IAST: Cāṃtiśrī) married
Mahasenapati Mahatalavara Dandanayaka Khamdavishakha (IAST: Khamḍaviśāakha) of the Dhanaka family. He was succeeded by his son Virapurushadatta. An inscription dated to the 20th regnal year of Virapurushadatta mentions Chamtamula's death, which can be interpreted in various ways. It is possible that Chamtamula lived up to this time, having given up the throne at an earlier date; alternatively, it is possible that the inscription merely commemorates his death anniversary.
Virapurushadatta " soldier,
Nagarjunakonda Palace site. Mathari-putra Vira-purusha-datta (
IAST: Māṭharīputra Vīrapuruṣadatta) ruled for at least 24 years, as he is attested by an inscription dated to his 24th regnal year. He had multiple wives, including three daughters of his paternal aunts (Chamtasri and Hammasri). He also married Rudradhara-bhattarika, the daughter of the ruler of
Ujjain (
Uj(e)nika mahara(ja) balika), possibly the
Indo-Scythian Western Kshatrapa king
Rudrasena II.
Scythian influence can also be noticed in the Palace of
Nagarjunakonda, especially through the reliefs of Scythian soldiers wearing caps and coats. His daughter Kodabalishri (IAST: Kodabaliśrī) married the ruler of the Vanavasa country (possibly the
Chutu ruler of modern
Banavasi). He had two sons, Eli Ehavuladasa (whose mother was Yakhilinika) and Evuvala Chamtamula (whose mother was Khamduvula, and who succeeded him on the throne).
Ehuvala Chamtamula Vasishthi-putra Ehuvala Chamtamula (
IAST: Vasiṣṭhīputra Ehuvala Cāṃtamūla) also ruled for at least 24 years, and is attested by inscriptions dated to the regnal years 2, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16 and 24. The Ikshvaku kingdom reached its zenith during his reign. Several Hindu and Buddhist shrines were constructed during his reign. His Patagandigudem inscription is the oldest known
copper-plate charter from the
Indian subcontinent. The Ikshvaku kingdom seems to have suffered multiple foreign invasions during Ehuvala's reign. The Sarvadeva temple inscription credits his commander Anikke with victories on the battlefield. The memorial pillar of his general
Mahasenapati Chamtapula, a Kulahaka chief, also alludes to battle victories. Hariti-putra Virapurushadatta, the son of Ehuvala and queen Kapanashri (Kapanaśrī), bore the titles of an
heir apparent:
Maharaja Kumara and
Mahasenapati. However, he did not ascend the throne, probably because he died before his father. Ehuvala was succeeded by Rudrapurushadatta, who was his son from Vammabhatta, the daughter of a
Mahakshatrapa (the
Western Kshatrapa ruler). The
Shakas (the Western Kshatrapas) appear to have greatly influenced the Ikshvaku kingdom during Ehuvala's rule. Some of the inscriptions issued during this period use the Shaka title
svamin for the king. An inscription to commemorate Vammabhatta, issued during the 11th regnal year of his son Rudrapurushadatta uses this title
svamin for all the preceding kings.
Rudrapurushadatta Vasishthi-putra Rudra-purusha-datta (
IAST: Vasiṣṭhīputra Rudrapuruṣadatta) is attested by two inscriptions. The
Gurazala inscription, dated to his 4th regnal year, records a land grant to the deity Halampura-svamin by Nodu Keshri, for the increase of Keshri's life. The
Nagarjunakonda inscription, dated to the 11th regnal year, records the erection of a pillar to commemorate the king's mother Vammabhatta. According to American academic
Richard Salomon "a
Nagarjunakonda memorial pillar inscription of the time of King Rudrapurusadatta attests to a marital alliance between the
Western Ksatrapas and the Iksvaku rulers of Nagarjunakonda".
Decline An inscription dated to the 30th regnal year of the
Abhira king
Vashishthi-putra Vasusena has been discovered at the ruined Ashtabhuja-svamin temple in Nagarjunakonda. This has led to speculation that the Abhiras, who ruled the region around
Nashik, invaded and occupied the Ikshvaku kingdom. However, this cannot be said with certainty. By the mid-4th century, the
Pallavas had gained controlled of the former Ikshvaku territory, and the Ikshvaku rulers may have been reduced to vassal status. == Rulers ==