Mahaksatrapa Castana and Western India- During Early Christian Era

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About the Book Role the Sakas Scythians in history the western Indian early Christian period, has been desired, subject among historians. Though, there are many aspects and characters Saka History, author, to character of Interesting Castana storngly underestimated neglected by historians. Casana built his own empire conquering almost complete and West India. was simply Ksatrapa but became Mahakṣatrapa. He united the scattered forces the foreign born nationalities those who lost their power with defeat Nahapana Gotamiputra. tried Indianise the foreign nationalities by adopting Saivism, encouraging Samskrita and pursuing matrimonial relations with Satavahanas. founded Saka rule in India so firmly that they ruled for centuries. He can credited solar calendar of Sakas in India which is now our national calendar. Though not find his Gold Coins but know that the trade and commerce flourishing swing during period. Ports Sindha, Kutch, Saurashtra, Gujarat were busy Indian as vassels Castana was like Napoleon. who rose from soldier emperor. Rather was more failed miserably this.

About the Author Dr. Raj Ratna Goswami: Born on September 5th, 1953 Dr. Goswami passed his MA in History from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. He did his Post Graduate Diploma in Museology from Maharaja Sir Sayajirao University of Baroda and Visharad in Sanskrit from Bananas. He was awarded Ph.D. in History from University of Saurashtra, Rajkot. He had been trained in Numismatics by National Research Institute of Numismatics, Nashik and Picture Restoration from Edinburgh institute, Holland.

He has presented number of papers in various national and international gatherings; has published papers and monographs, in vernacular and English languages and has produced documentary films on the subjects of History, Anthropology, Fine Arts, Museology, Vedic literature, Ecology and Archaeology. Since 1977 he is serving as Curator of Museum in the Department of Museums.

Government of Gujarat. The shepherd community of the Rabaris of Cutch and Association of Cutch History has felicitated him for his contribution of research for tracing the origin of the various pastoralist communities.

Other Work of Author, Tribal Heritage of Western India: (with special reference of the Mavchis of Dangs) 2009. Kuchchha Samskriti, Samasyao ane Samadhan. (Gujarati); 1992.

Preface Role of the Sakas or Scythians' in the early Indian history has been a desired subject among historians. Since the information of their presence in India was noticed through epigraphic sources at the beginning of 19th century by James Princep. Senart and Bhagwan Lal Indarjee and on other hand through the numismatic discoveries by Cunningham, scholars were tempted to know more and more about them. Prof. C. J. Rapson prepared the catalogue of the coins of the Satavahahana and the Ksatrapas. Mean while Dr. Sten Konow deciphered the Kharosthi inscriptions and brought into light to the dark past of Indian history after great Mauryas. No doubt, the pioneering work of these masters of Indian history will be a vast muse for potential students of Indian history.

As the journey went on proceeding. Sir K. P. Jayaswal first time noticed the rivalry between Satavahanas and the Ksatrapas viz. by going through the Jain literary sources He also edited H. Kern's finding of the reference of the Sakas in the Gärgisamhita and the Yuga Purana V. R. Deoras studied Nahapana, Dr. Gopalachari laboriously defined the tug of war kind relations between the Sakas and the Satavahanas; viz., of Nahapana, Castana and Rudradamana 1. This got elaborated by V.V.Mirashi later on. Satya Shrava published his research work, namely Sakas in India, twice. Of course, the second issue was more intricate. A comprehensive book on Sakas first time was published from Calcutta by Chattopadyay. His chronology of Sakas was considered final up last 80s Mrs. Shobhna Gokhale's study of Castana's Andhau inscription threw more light on the Saka era. In the Gujarati, Rasesh Jmindar's Ksatrapa Kalanu Gujarat, though confines its study only to the Gujarat state, yet because Gujarat was main territory of the Western Ksatrapas, proved to be a valuable study, viz, in the field of the social and cultural developments of this period. He also deciphered many inscriptions and classified the coins preserved in various museums of Gujarat. The latest grand.

1. The correct pronunciation of word Scythians is Skithians which is Greco-Roman term for Sakas. Because the phonetic value of C is Ka in Greek and Roman language.

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