Setagiri of the Nasik Inseription
Summary
The Nasik inscription of Baladri describes King Gautamiputra Satakarni with the title "Vijh-achavata-paricata-sahya-kaphagiri-maca-siritana-malaya-mahid-asetagiri-cakora-pavatapati," listing several mountains, though Setagiri remains unidentified. Scholars like Mr. Kane and Prof. D. R. Bhandarkar have debated its location without conclusive results. The name Setagiri appears in a Western Indian cave inscription, suggesting a possible identification. Junnar, a key ancient commercial center near Pune, lies on the Nana Pass route. The Nana Pass features rock-cut steps, seats, and cisterns, including the famous Nanaghat Cave. A cistern inscription by Damaghasa of Kamavana mentions "Satagara," which some scholars linked to Junnar, though later research places Tagara near Ter in the Nizam’s Dominions. The inscription’s line "Paniyapuvia deyadhama SATAGARA PAVATE" suggests the mountain’s name. Given the Nana Pass’s significance and the inscription’s context, Setagiri is likely Satagara, the mountain through which the pass was cut. The surrounding area was part of Gautamiputra Satakarni’s dominions, aligning with the royal inscription’s mountain list.
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Conclusion
The Nasik Inseription's reference to Setagiri, long unidentified, gains clarity through the analysis of the Nanaghat cistern inscription, which explicitly links the mountain to the ancient commercial hub of Tagara. The geographical and epigraphic evidence positions Setagiri as the historical Satagara, a key landmark along the Nana Pass route. This identification resolves longstanding ambiguity, confirming the mountain's significance in Satakarni's dominions and underscoring its role in regional trade and inscriptions. The findings align with the inscription's royal epithets, reinforcing the interconnectedness of Satakarni's territorial claims and the strategic importance of Setagiri in the Satavahana period.