Telangana is one of the 16 mahājanapadas

[Seshadri Sridharan]

*Telangana is one of the 16 mahājanapadas*

*Asmaka region (present day Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts of Telangana) with Bodan as capital was one of the 16 mahājanapadas(Kosala,Kashi, Anga,Vajji, Malla,Chedi,Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Asmaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja) that flourished in the 6th century BCE*

The adventurous epigraphical survey conducted by ASI in Gundaram reserve forest region revealed the mystery of an early Sātavahana site which yielded 11 inscriptions datable between 1st century BCE to 5th century CE. Out of the 11 inscriptions 10 are of the Sātavahana period. In *one inscription Kumāra Hakisiri, son of Sātakarni I and Naganika was mentioned as the ruler of Asmaka rājya. This finding clearly indicates that Telangana is a part of Asmaka rājya which is one of the 16 mahājanapadas.* The *above video* shows the Sātavahana inscription which revealed the religious patronage of Sātavahanas towards Buddhism by providing shelter to the monks and making several gifts to them.

*Now a question arises here that what is the political condition of Andhra region in 6th century BCE, when Telangana was one of the parts of Asmaka, a mahājanapada.Till date we don't have any such epigraphical findings which could solve this question.Need special attention and further research to fill the gaps*

*Happy New Year 2026*

*Director(Epigraphy),Archaeological Survey of India*

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=939968655368265