Mahajanapadas in ancient India

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The Mahajanapadas existed in ancient India from 600 BCE to 300 BCE. There were sixteen Mahajanapadas in ancient India which existed as oligarchic and republican monarchies. The word Mahajanapada means great realm from maha “great” and janapada “foothold of a people”. Buddhist texts such as Anguttara Nikaya give frequent reference to sixteen great kingdoms and republics which developed and  evolved in India  from Gandhara in northwest India to Anga in eastern India.

The period of the later Vedic age (1000-600 BC) saw the conquest of northern India by the Aryan tribes. After the end of the Indus Valley civilization with the availability of fertile land and iron production centers in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh tribes (janas) of the later Vedic period decided to form their own territorial communities eventually giving rise to new and permanent settlements called states or Janapadas. The production of iron played an important role in the expansion of the territorial states of the region leading to the formation of large states or Mahajanapadas. Prior to the beginning of Buddhism in India these tribes settled in northern, central and eastern parts of India. The Mahajanapadas became the centres of political, religious and cultural activity. Vedic Hinduism, Sramana Buddhism and the languages of Prakrit and Sanskrit became the chief religion and languages of these Mahajanapadas. Tribal identity was the main factor by which the territory of a particular state was identified.

The sixteen Mahajanapadas were frequently at war with each other and in the end the Magadha kingdom was victorious leading to the formation of the Magadha Empire in eastern India. The sixteen Mahajanapadas are listed below:

1.      Magadha

Magadha was one of the prosperous kingdoms in ancient India and the most prominent of all the Mahajanapadas. Patliputra (modern Patna) was the capital of Magadha and it was bounded on three sides by rivers. It consisted of several dynasties like Haryanka dynasty, Shishunaga dynasty and Nanda dynasty. According to ancient texts, Brihadrata was the earliest ruler of Magadha. After him, Bimbisara (544 BC- 492 BC), a man of political ambition expanded his kingdom through matrimonial alliances and conquests. His first conquest started with Anga and he was a contemporary of Gautam Buddha. Ajatashatru killed his own father Bimbisara to get the throne. He conquered Vaishali, Anga and Kashi . The Nanda dynasty came to the throne.      But there is no proper evidence for the founder of the Nanda Dynasty .The Nandas ruled for 22 years (345 BC-322 BC). Dhanananda was the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty. His empire extended from eastern India till Punjab. Chandragupta Maurya with the help of his guru Chanakya conquered Magadha and thus the Nanda dynasty came to an end. Its capital was Rajgiri and later Patliputra.

2.      Gandhara

Gandhara in Peshawar in modern Pakistan was the greatest city in ancient India. References to Gandhara have been made in the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The capital of Gandhara was Takshila and its university the Takshila University was a renowned centre of learning in the world. Scholars from all over the world came to the university to seek knowledge.

3.      Kamboja

Kamboja was a republican monarchy situated on either side of the Hindukush mountain range in Central Asia. Clans of Kamboja are believed to have established their settlements in India. The Ashokan Rock Edicts mention the Kambojas as tribes who had crossed the Indus river to establish themselves in India. Its capital was Rajapura.

4.      Kuru

During the time of the Buddha, Kuru was ruled by Korayvya, a titular chieftain. Its capital was Indraprastha (modern Delhi) and its people were known for their sound health and deep wisdom. The Kurus had matrimonial relations with the Panchalas and the Yadavas. In the 6^th and 5^th century BCE republican form of government existed in the Kuru kingdom. Kautilya”s Arthashastra written in Sanskrit in the 4^th century BCE also has a mention of the Kurus. Its capital was Hastinapur and Indraprastha.

5.      Kosala

The kingdom of Kosala was located in close proximity to Magadha and its capital was Ayodhya. It was bounded on three sides by river Ganges in the south, river Gandak in the east and the Himalaya Mountains in the north. The Vedic texts mention that Kosala was the biggest and most powerful kingdom to have ever existed. During the times of Buddha and Mahavira king Prasenajit ruled over the Kosala kingdom. It was finally annexed by Magadha.

6.      Malla

The Mallas of the Malla Kingdom were a powerful people who lived in Northern south Asia. Buddhist texts state the kingdom was a republican dominion comprised of nine territories. Malla had monarchical forms of government but later moved towards republican forms of government. Ancient cities like Kushinagar and Pava belonged to the Malla kingdom. Kushinagar and Pava hold a special significance for Jains and Buddhists as Lord Mahavira and Gautam Buddha stayed there for a long time. Its capital was Kushinagar and Pava.

7.      Panchala

The Panchala was located east of the Kuru kingdom between the river Ganges and the mountain ranges of the Himalayas. It was originally a monarchical kingdom but turned in to a republican dominion between the 6^th and 5^th century BCE. Kautilya’s  Arthashastra also makes a mention of the Panchala kingdom. It was later annexed by the Mauryan empire and also by the Gupta empire. Its capital was  Ahicchitra.

8.      Vajji

Vajji was the most prominent kingdom of the Mahajanapadas in ancient India. The Jaina text Bhagvati sutra and the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya mention the Vajji kingdom. It was located towards the north of the river Ganges and the river Gandaki in the west. The Gandaki river separated the Vajji kingdom from the Malla and Kosala kingdom. Its capital city was Vaishali.

9.      Matsya

Founded by an Indo Aryan Vedic tribe the Matsya kingdom was located to the south of Kuru kingdom and west of river Yamuna. The Yamuna river separated the Matsya kingdom from the Panchala kingdom. Viratnagar was the capital city of the Matsya kingdom. Its political power began to decline and it was ultimately conquered by the Kuru kingdom.

10.  Chedi

The kingdom of Chedi finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Its ruler was Shishupala who was an ally of the kings of Kuru and Magadha. Its capital was Suktimati. However the exact location of modern Suktimati has not been found yet.

11.  Kashi

The kingdom of Kashi with its capital at Varanasi was one of the most prominent of the Mahajanapadas. It was bounded by river Varuna to the north and river Assi in the south. Kashi was one of the most prosperous kingdoms in ancient India. Kashi was in constant conflict with the kingdoms of Kosala, Magadha and Anga.

12.  Surasena

The kingdom of Surasena was located to the west of river Yamuna and to the east of the kingdom of Matsya. Buddhism propagated during the rule of king of Surasena, Avantiputra was the earliest disciples of Buddha. The capital of the Surasena kingdom was Mathura where the worship of Krishna became prominent. It was later annexed by the Magadha Empire.

13.  Vatsa

Vatsa was situated near present day Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh had a monarchical form of government. Its king was Udayana with its capital at Kaushambi. Udayana initially opposed the teachings of the Buddha but later became a follower of Buddhism and made it its state religion. Kaushambi was a prominent city and attracted a number of wealthy merchants.

14.  Avanti

The kingdom of Avanti with its capital at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh was one of the great monarchies that existed in ancient India. The river Narmada was the principal source of water for the kingdom of Avanti. Avanti was a great centre of Buddhism in ancient India. It was later conquered by the Magadhan kingdom.

15.  Anga

The Atharvaveda describes the Anga as of Indo Aryan ethnicity. Over a period of time the kingdom of Anga became a great centre of trade attracting merchants from the neighbouring kingdoms. Anga’s main rival was Magadha and their kingdoms were separated by the river Champa. Bimbisara ultimately conquered Anga. Its capital was Champa.

16.  Assaka

The kingdom of Assaka was located in southern India near the river Godavari. The river Godavari was the chief source of water for the Assaka kingdom. Its capital was Potana (Potali) in present day Maharashtra. King Brahmadatta ruled over the Assaka kingdom.

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