Mahisha Saka Chutu Dynasty

c. 181 AD - 310 AD : Mahisha Saka Chutu Dynasty ( c.181 - 310 AD)

Capital : Kondapur, Telangana State. Banavasi or Vanavasi in present-day Karnataka state.

Founder : Rano Chutukulananda

Langauges : Prakrit

Religion : Budhism

Emblem : Chutu inscriptions contain the emblem of the cobra hood implying Chutu meant the "cobra crest"

Chutus were originally Sakas and that they became feudataries of Satavahana after Gautamiputra Satakarni occupied extensive territories from Nahapana. One member of the Chutu family was appointed Mahasenapati in the Kondapur region and another was appointed to govern Gautamiputra's new acquired city of Banavasi. Chutu family became the masters of Kuntala

Chutus rose to power in the Kuntala region after the fall of the Satavahanas. Some scholars consider Chutu - kula to be a branch of the Satavahana - kula merely on the strength of a common surname. After the demise of Satavahana emperor Gautami-putra Yajna Satakarni in 181 CE, the old dynasty (Satavahanas) lost control of the western provinces, which passed into the hands of another family of Satakarnis, the Chutu-kula. 

Mahisha Saka dynasty comprised the southern part of the former Hyderabad State , which was called Mahishaka in ancient times. Mahishaka dynasty proves that the area was ancient Mahishamandala.

After the Satavahanas, the district passed under the sway of the Mahisha dynasty. Though as many as eighteen rulers ruled this district for a period of 383 years, only two rulers Mana and Yasa proved to be powerful. Mana broke the domination of the Satavahanas, assumed the title of ‘Rajan’ and reigned the kingdom to its splendor. He enjoyed the privilege of striking his own coins. One of his lead coins exhibited the characteristics of the coins belonging to the close of 2nd or beginning of the 3rd century. The rule of this dynasty came to an end with the rise of Chalukyas of Badami

Sadakana Kalalaya Maharathi

Coins resemble the rule of Gautamiputra Satakarni

Mahasenapathi Sumahagamaka

Coins from Kondapur excavations

Maharathi Sadakana Chutu Krishna

Coins discovered at Chandravalli and Kondapur bear the legend "Maharathi Sadakana Chutu Krishna"

Maharathi and Ananda Coins

Bhardvaja

c. 181 AD : Saka or Saga Mana Mahisha

The reverse motif resembles the swastika-type coins of Mahasenapathi Saka or Saga Mana Chutukulasa Mahisha son of Bhardvaja discovered in the excavation at Kondapur.

Copper coins in Hyderabad of Rano Saka Mana Mahsasa. 

Became King from Mahasenapathi around 181 AD

Yasa Mahisha : Coin found in mask, Raichur

Sivala Mahisha : Coin found in Hyderabad

Chutus took possession of the south - western parts and extended their power in the north and east ; and the Pallavas filled the political vacuum in the south - eastern tracts.

Chutukulananda, Mulananda and Sivalananda. They minted heavy lead coins mainly engraving the symbol of arched hill on the obverse and the railed tree and or Nandipada symbol on the reverse. Most of the coins inscribed kings name with the family suffix.

c. 208 AD - c. 230 AD : Chutukulananda

Coins of Rano Chutukadanamdasa were discovered from Karwar and Banavasi

c. 230 AD - c. 255 AD : Mulananda

c. 255 AD - c. 280 AD : Vishnurudra Sivalananda Satakarni

The Chutu king Sivalananda is attested by a 278 CE inscription of the Abhira ruler Vasushena from Nagarjunakonda.

278 AD : Year 30 (variously ready as 30, 9, 20 of King King Vasisthiputra Vasusena the Abhira fortnight 6 of the rainy season 2 day 1 which is 257, 268 or 278

By the great village chief, the great talavara, the great commander, Sivaseba of the Peribidehas of the Kuasika gotra this image of lord Astbhujasvamin, made from udumbara wood, which had never been moved from Sanjayapuri from its place, by the kings Saka Rudradaman of Avanti and Visnurudra Sivalanda Sataakrni of Vanavasa has been installed on Sedagiri.

The engraver is Vardhamanaka belonging to sembaka family Suryavamsi reads last line as Abhira Samvat 100, 303 AD. Sarma reads last line as 47 year Rksadesa/kalacuri-ceda era 295 AD

Around 280 AD Haritiputra Vinhukada Chutukulananda Satakarni might have defeated Abheeras and occupied telangana region

c. 280 - c. 292 AD : Haritiputra Vinhukada Chutukulananda Satakarni

Wife Nagamulanika : Mother of Skandanaga Sataka, Sister of Dhanasena

King of Vaijayantipura

Malavalli Pillar Inscription : Year 1

Kanheri Cave Inscription Year 9

Vanavasi Stone Inscription Year 12 

Haritiputra-Satakarni issued an order to the chief revenue commissioner Mahavallabha-Rajjuka to grant a village of Sahalavati to a certain Kondamana as a Brahmin endowment 

289 AD : The Kottampalugu inscription, dated 11th year of king Ehuvula Camtamula II records the construction of a vihara by Kodabalisiri (Kundavallisri), Mahadevi of the Maharaja of Banavasaka daughter of Virapurushadatta.

The most significant objects within the Banavasi Madhukeshava Temple  premises are the inscribed Naga sculpture, the highly ornate stone cot. The inscribed Naga sculpture carved on a thin rectangular slab has an ornate five-hooded coiled serpent as the central figure with an inscription in nail headed Brahmi characters (2nd centuries AD) and Prakrit language along the side borders. 

It records the gift of this artistic Naga image along with a tank and a vihara by Sivaskanda Nagasri, daughter of Haritiputra Vinhukada Chutukulananda Satakarni in his 12th regnal year.

Another record states that king Satakami had a daughter named Mahabhoja-Nagasri who made a grant of a tank and a Vihara to the Madhukeswara temple

c. 292 - c. 310 AD : Skandanaga Satakarni

Skanda Naga extends the Chutu realm to Aparanta north of modern Bombay. 

Alliance between Pallavas and Chutus : A Pallava prince married the daughter of the King Śiva - Skanda - Nâga - Śâtakarṇi , and inherited the throne of Kanchi.

It is these Chutukula successors in the territory immediately adjoining that of the Pallavas that must be the Naga family by a marriage alliance with Simhavarman I (c.310 AD) son Siva-skanda-varman who must have defeated Skandanaga around 310 AD, This changed status of the kings can also be seen especially in the Manchikallu stone inscription of Simhavarman I, the Mayidavolu plates of his son yuvamaharaja Sivaskandavarman

https://www.jstor.org/stable/42665170

https://www.jstor.org/stable/24665991

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44304270

https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/columns/2021/nov/18/how-the-pallavas-administered-land-2384908.html