Shaka
The people who belonged to the Scythian tribe of Central Asia were called Sakas in India. They invaded India at various times and established five independent kingdoms.
1. Kapisa Kingdom : It was founded with Kapisa in Afghanistan as its capital.
2. Taxila Kingdom: Another Saka Kingdom was established with Taxila in Pakistan as its capital. They struck coins with the images of Buddha, Shiva and Abhisheka Lakshmi engraved on them. Moga, a king of this dynasty took the title of 'Maharaja Mahatma'.
3. Mathura Kingdom: The third Saka kingdom in India was established with Mathura in Uttar Pradesh as its capital. The founder of this kingdom, Ranjuvulu took the title of Apratihatachakra.
4. Ujjain Kingdom: The Kardamaka Saka dynasty ruled over Malwa and Gujarat with Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh as their capital. This was the most important of all the five Saka kingdoms founded in India. Chastana was the founder of this dynasty.
- Rudradaman was the greatest ruler of Kardamaka dynasty. He ruled between A.D.130-A.D.150. His Junagarh / Girnar inscription is the earliest Sanskrit inscription in India. It provides the history of the Sudarsana lake located in Junagadh (Gujarat). According to this inscription, Sudarsana lake was built during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya and was repaired during the reign of Asoka. Further, the inscription says that Rudradaman got the lake rebuilt when it was destroyed in the floods. This inscription also reveals his victories and his matrimonial alliances with Satavahanas.
5. Saka Kingdom of Deccan: The fifth Saka dynasty ruled over Deccan with Mandasore as its capital. This dynasty is called the Kshaharata dynasty.
- Bhumaka - Founder of the Kshaharata dynasty.
- Nahapana - He was the greatest of all Kshaharata kings. He was referred as Mambaras in Greek records. The following pieces of evidences show that the Satavahana king Gautamiputra Shatakarni killed Nahapana and occupied his kingdom.
