CONTENTS Preface ix Acknowledgement XIII List of Illustrations XVII Abbreviations XXI Transliteration from Devnagar to Roman XXIII PART -1 INTRODUCTION 1. Sources of History 3 2. Sakas in India 7 3. Saka Tribes 13 4. Status of Western Ksatrapas 23 PART - 2 POLITICAL HISTORY 5. Founder of Castana Family Ysamotika of Ghsamotika? 31 6. Conquests of Castana 37 7. Castana's Rule and Administration 55 8. Castana's Achievements 67 9. Saka Era 71 10. Ujjayini: Capital of Castana 75 PART - III SOCIO - CULTURAL HISTORY 11. Condition of People 81 12. Religion 89 13. Economy 99 14. Coinage 105 15. Education, Language, Literature & Paleography 121 16. Arts and Crafts 137 17. Conclusion 163 PART - IV APPENDIX Appendix -1: Castana's Coinage 169 Appendix - 2 : Castana's Epigraphic Records 179 Bibliography 187 Plates I - XXIV