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16 MAHAJANPAD ERA

A Mahājanapada (literally "great realm", from maha, "great", and janapada "foothold of a tribe", "country") is
one of the sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that existed in ancient India from the sixth centuries BCE to
fourth centuries BCE.
The tribal political organisation of the Rig Vedic phase gave way to the rise of territorial state towards the end
of the Vedic period. But the territorial idea was gradually strengthened in the sixth century B.C. with the rise of
large state with towns as their seats of power.
Janpad+Janpad= Mahajanpad
Eg: Bharat Jan+Puru Jan= Kuru Mahajanpad

 In the age of Buddha 16 large states called ―Mahajanapadas‖.

 They are mostly situated north of the vindhayas and extended from the North-West frontier to Bihar.
Important Republics:
The kings in these states had the supreme authority. The Mahajapandas of Vriji, Malla, Kuru, Panchal and
Kamboj were republican states and so were other smaller states like Lichhavi, Shakya, Koliya, Bhagga, and
Moriya. These republican states had a Gana-parishad or an Assembly of senior and responsible citizens. This
Gana-Parishad had the supreme authority in the state. All the administrative decisions were taken by this
Parishad. Again, the republics were basically of two types:
(a) The republics comprising a single tribe like those of the Sakyas, the Kolias and the Mallas, and
(b) The republics comprising a number of tribes or the republics of confederacy like the Vrijjis.
Difference between Republics and Monarchies
 In republics, every tribal oligarch claimed share in revenues from peasants. In the monarchies, the king
claimed to be the sole recipient of such revenues.
 In the tribal oligarchy or republic, each raja (tribal oligarch) was free to maintain his own little army under
his Senapati. In a monarchy, the king maintained his regular standing army. He did not permit any other
armed forces within his boundaries.
 Republics functioned under the leadership of the oligarchic assemblies, while a monarchy functioned under
the individual leadership of the king.
 The Brahamanas had a considerable influence on the monarchical administration, while they were relegated
to the background in the republics.
 Republic system was certainly more democratic than monarchy, though the common man had no
participation in the administration.

 In Pāṇini's "Ashtadhyayi", Janapada stands for country and Janapadin for its citizenry. Each of these
Janapadas was named after the Kshatriya tribe (or the Kshatriya Jana) who had settled therein. Panini in
the 4th century BC mentions as many as 22 different Janpadas, but also mentions 3 most important viz.
Magadha, Kosala and Vatsa.
 Ancient Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikaya make frequent reference to sixteen great kingdoms and
republics which had evolved and flourished in a belt stretching from Gandhara in the northwest to Anga in
the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent and included parts of the trans-Vindhyan region, prior to the
rise of Buddhism in India.

S.No. Mahajanapadas Capital Modern location

1 Anga Champa Munger and Bhagalpur
2 Magadh Girivraja / Rajagir Gaya and Patna
3 Kasi Kasi Banaras
4 Vatsa Kausambi Allahabad

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5 Kosala Sravasti Eastern Uttar Pradesh

6 Saurasena Mathura Mathura
7 Panchala Ahichchatra and Kampilya Western Uttar Pradesh
8 Kuru Indraprastha Merrut and S.E. Haryana
9 Matsya Viratnagar Jaipur
10 Chedi Sothivati / Banda Bundelkhanda
11 Avanti Ujjain / Mahismati Madhya Pradesh &Malwa
12 Gandhar Taxila Rawalpindi
13 Kamboj Pooncha, Rajori & Hajra Rajori & Hajra (Kashmir)
(Kashmir)
14 Asmaka Pratisthan / Paithan Bank of Godavari
15 Vajji Vaishali Vaishali
16 Malla Kusinara Deoria & U.P.

1. Kasi
 The name Kashi is derived from the orange brown robes of the Buddhist monks called kashaya in.
 Its Capital was Banaras.
 Kasi was located on the confluence of Ganga and Gomti rivers and somewhere around today‘s
Varanasi.
 The kingdom was located in the region around its capital Varanasi, bounded by the Varuna and Asi
rivers in the north and south which gave Varanasi its name.
 Before Buddha, Kasi was the most powerful of the sixteen Mahajanapadas. Kashi, kosala and Magadha
were constantly at war with each other.
 The Kashis along with the Kosalas and Videhans find mention in Vedic texts and appear to have been a
closely allied people.
 Kashi was famous for its cotton textiles and market for horses.
 During the rise of Buddha, it was converted into Kosala. The Buddha also delievered his first sermon in
sarnath near Varanasi.
 The MatsyaPurana and Alberuni spell Kashi as Kausika and Kaushaka respectively. All other ancient
texts read Kashi.
 During the period of Ajatsatru, it was merged with Magadh.
 Sanskrit which was produced in kashi.
 Kashi was a favorite pilgrimage destination of the ancient Indians.
 Ashvasena, father of tirthamkara (23rd) of the jains, is also believed to have been one of the early kings
of kashi.
2. Kosala
 Its capital was Shravasti Kosala was located in the Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
 The river Sarayu divided this kingdom into Uttara-kosala and Dakshina-kosala. Shravasti was the
capital of uttarakosala and kushavati was the capital of dakshinakosala.
 It covers today‘s districts Faizabad, Gonda, Bhahraich etc.
 Ayodhya, Saketa and Shravasti were three impor-tant Kosalan cities.Saketa and ayodhya were twin
cities probably.
 The kingdom was ruled by the famous king Prasenajit during the era of Mahavira and Buddha,
followed by his son Vidudabha (Virudhaka).
 Towards the end of the 6th century BC Pasendi or Prasenjita established a unified kosalanmonarchy.A
contemporary of Buddha, Prasenjita was educated at taxila and was able to make kosala a formidable
kingdom. He was also responsible for the extinction of kashi as independent kingdom.
 King Prasenajit/ Prasenjit Dhaka was highly educated. His position was further improved by a
matrimonial alliance with Magadha: his sister was married to Bindhusara and part of Kashi was given
as dowry.
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 There was, however, a struggle for supremacy between king Pasenadi (Prasenajit) and king Ajatashatru
of Magadha which was finally settled once the confederation of Lichchavis became aligned with
Magadha.
 Prasenjit‘s daughter Vajjira was married to Ajatasatru and Kashi was given as dowry to the bride.
 Though Prasenjit did not embrace Buddhism, one of the Bharhut sculptures highlights cordiality
between Prasenjit and Buddha.
 Kosala was ultimately merged into Magadha when Vidudabha was Kosala's ruler.
3. Anga
 Its Capital was Champa
 It covered the modern districts of Munger and Bhagalpur in Bihar.
 Champa, the capital of anga, was situated at the confluence of the river of the same name (modern
chandan) and the Ganga.
 The kingdom of Anga is mentioned in the Atharva Veda.Atharva Veda considers Anga an unholy place
and some even condemned it as a place where wives and children were sold.
 It was also a great center of trade and commerce and its merchants regularly sailed to distant
Suvarnabhumi.
 According to a jain tradition chandana or chandrabala, the daughter of dadhivahana, was the first
female to embrace Jainism shortly after mahavira had attained the kaivalya.
 It was later annexed to Magadha by Bimbisar. Magadh was on its west and Raja Mahal hills on the
west.
4. Magadha
 Its capital was Girivraja or Rajgriha but later became Pataliputra.Rajagriha or Girivraja(the mountain
fort city), rendered impregnable by a perimeter of five hills, was the Magadhan capital.
 The capital city Pataliputra( Patna, Bihar) was situated on the confluence of major rivers like Ganga,
Son, Punpun and Gandak. It was situated between the Ganga (north), son (west), vindhyan range
(south) and champa (east).
 It covered the modern districts of Patna, Gaya, Shahabad of Bihar.
 It was bordered by River Son on North and Ganga on South.
 Archaeologically the outer walls of rajagriha represent the earliest evidence of fortification in the post-
harappan India.
 The Magadhas are referred to in the Atharva Veda.
 The Vedic dislike of the Magadhas in early times was due to the fact that the Magadhas were not yet
wholly Brahmanised.
 Rigveda mentions a king Pramaganda as a ruler of Kikata. Yasaka declares that Kikata was a non-
Aryan country. Later literature refers to Kikata as synonym of Magadha.
 In the Ramayana it is also known as vasumati.
 Hiuen-tsang calls it kushagra-pura while budhgosha provides us with the name bimbisarapuri.

5. Vajji or Vriji
 Its capital was Vaishali It was located on the north of River Ganga in Bihar.
 The seat of 8 smaller clans / kingdoms called ―Athakula‖ out of which Lichhavais, Janatriks, Videhas
were very important.
 It was separated from Kosala from river Gandak.
 Mithila (modern Janakpur in district of Tirhut) was the capital of Videha and became the predominant
center of the political and cultural activities of northern India.
 It was in the time of king Janaka that Videha came into prominence. The last king of Videha was
Kalara who is said to have perished along with his kingdom on account of his attempt on a Brahmin
maiden.
 On the ruins of his kingdom arose the republics of the Licchhavis and Videhans and seven other small
ones. The Licchavis were a very independent people.
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 The mother of Mahavira was a Licchavi princess. Vaishali (modern Basarh in the Vaishali District of
North Bihar) was the capital of the Licchavis and the political headquarters of the powerful Varijian
confederacy.
 Vaishali, the headquarters of the powerful Vajji republic and the capital of the Licchavis was defeated
by king Ajatashatru of Magadha.
 According to a tradition the vaishalians attacked magadha during bimbisara‘sreing. This resuled in the
matrimonial alliance between the lichchavi clan and bimbisara. However, later ajatashatru destroyed
this confederacy.

The VajjiSangha (union of Vajji), which consisted of several janapadas, gramas (villages), and gosthas
(groups), was administered by a Vajjiganaparishad (people's council of Vajji).
Eminent people called ganamukhyas were chosen from each khanda (district) to act as representatives
on the council.
The chairman of the council was called Ganapramukh (head of the democracy), but was often addressed
as the king, though his post was not dynastic.
Other executives included a Mahabaladhrikrit (equivalent to the minister of internal security),
binishchayamatya (chief justice), and dandadhikrit (other justices).

6. Malla
 Its Capital was Kushinagar, Pawa
 It covered the modern districts of Deoria, Basti, Gorakhpur in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
 They were a powerful people dwelling in Northern South Asia.
 They had republic form of society and their territory consisted of nine provinces.
 The Mallas originally had a monarchical form of government but later they switched to one of Samgha
(republic), the members of which called themselves rajas.
 The Mallas were known for their bravery and warlike temperament and have been mentioned and
referred as Vrtaya Kshatriyas by Manusmriti, as Vasishthas in the MahapparnibbanaSuttanta.
 The Mallas had a republic form of society and their dominant territory comprised of nine provinces.
Two of these nine provinces (Pava and Kusinara) gained much importance in due course of time when
Buddha came over here and took his last meal before breathing his last at Kusinara.
 There were a total of nine Malla rulers during Buddha's period. The Mallas appeared to have formed an
alliance with the Licchhavis for self-defense but lost their independence not long after Buddha's death
and their dominions were annexed to the Magadhanempire.
 The mallas of pava are said to have built a sangharama which was inaugurated by the Buddha himself.
 Buddhism owes to the mallas some of its greates personalities viz. anand, upali, anuruddha, devadatta
and khanda-sumana .
 The Buddha died in the vicinity of kusinara and his last rites were performed by the mallas.

7. Chedi or Cheti
 It was located in the Bundelkhand division of Madhya Pradesh regions to the south of river Yamuna
and along river Betwa or Vetravati.
 Its capital was Suktimati or Sotthivati located somewhere near Banda in Uttar Pradesh.
 The Chedis are mentioned in Rig Veda, which is regarded as the oldest scripture. This means that
Chedis were prevalent here since a long time.
 Chedi kingdom was ruled by Sisupala, an ally of Jarasandha of Magadha and Duryodhana of Kuru.

8. Vatsa
 Its capital was Kausambi
 It covered the modern districts of Allahabad and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.
 It had a monarchical form of government

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 The ruler of Vatsa was known as Udyana and he was a very powerful ruler. He became a follower of
Buddha and adopted Buddhism as the religion for his kingdom.
 The dramatist bhasa made udayana the subject matter of his plays. These plays are based on the story of
romance between udayana and vasavadatta, the princess of avanti .Udayana had a son called bodhi.
 The Chinese translation of the Buddhist canonical text EkottaraĀgama ("Numbered Discourses") states
that the first image of Buddha, curved out of sandalwood was made under the instruction of Udayana.
 Udayana entered into a matrimonial alliance with the king of Magadha (king Ajatasatru). The ruler of
Avanti (Pradyota)invadedKausambi and as he was unsuccessful, he had to marry his daughter to
Udayana.
 To begin with, Udayana was op-posed to Buddhism, but later on he became a follower of Buddha and
made Buddhism the state religion.

9. Kuru
 Its Capital was Indraprastha / Hastinapur / Isukara
 The origin of the Kuru clan can be traced to the Puru - Bharata family.
 Kuru, the son of Samvarsana, was the founder of Kururashtra in Kurukshetra.
 It covered the modern Haryana & Delhi-Meerut-Ghaziabad region. Its eastern border was River
Yamuna.
 The Kurus were known for their profound wisdom and sound health.
 It was the most important kingdom of the later Vedic period but during the sixth century B.C. the Kurus
did not occupy the same position. They set up their capital at Hastinapur situated in the district of
Merrut.
 The Kurus switched to republic form of government from monarchy during 5th Century B.C.
 Kautiliya'sArthashastra (4th century B.C.E.) also attests to the Kurus following the Rajashabdopajivin
(king consul) constitution

10. Panchala
 The Panchalas occupied the country to the east of the Kurus between the mountains and river Ganges.
 It roughly corresponded to modern Budaun, Farrukhabad and the adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh.
 The panchalas consisted of five clans – the krivis, the turvashas, the keshins, the srinyayas and the
somakas.
 The country was divided into Uttara-Panchala and Dakshina-Panchala. The northern Panchala had its
capital at Adhichhatra or Chhatravati (modern Ramnagar in the Bareilly District), while southern
Panchala had it capital at Kampilya or Kampil in Farrukhabad District.
 The famous city of Kanyakubja or Kanauj was situated in the kingdom of Panchala. The city of Kanauj
in Panchala became a center for higher studies, art, culture, and political clout.
 Originally a monarchical clan, the Panchals appear to have switched to republican corporation in the
6th and 5th centuries BCE. In the 4th century BCE,
 Kautiliya'sArthashastra also attests the Panchalas as following the Rajashabdopajivin (king consul)
constitution.

11. Matsya
 Its Capital was Viratnagar (modern Bairat)
 It was located in the Alwar, Bharatpur, Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.
 The founder of this kingdom was king Virata and the capital of this kingdom was named Viratanagara
after him.
 The Matsya Kingdom was founded by a fishing community. The political importance of Matsya had
dwindled by the time of Buddha.
 King Sujata ruled over both the Chedis and Matsyas thus showing that Matsya once formed a part of
Chedi kingdom.

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12. Surasena
 Its Capital was Mathura
 It was located on the junction of Uttarpatha and Dakshinpatha around Mathura of Today.
 The king of Surasena (Avantiputra) was the first among the chief disciples of Buddha, through whose
help Buddhism gained ground in Mathura country.
 The Andhakas and Vrishnis of Mathura/Surasena are referred to in the Ashtadhyayi of Pāṇini.
 In Kautiliya'sArthashastra, the Vrishnis are described as samgha or republic. The Vrishnis, Andhakas
and other allied tribes of the Yadavas formed a samgha and Vasudeva (Krishna) is described as the
samgha-mukhya.
 Mathura, the capital of Surasena was also known at the time of Megasthenes as the centre of Krishna
(the shepherd God Herakles) worship.
 The Surasena kingdom had lost its independence on annexation by the Magadhan Empire.

13. Assaka
 Its capital was Potali, Potana or Podana Located on the banks of the Godavari River.
 Its capital was Potali, Potana or Podana, which now lies in the Nandura Tehsil, Buldana district in the
Indian state of MaharashtraPotana, was a great center for learning.
 It was the only Mahajanapada situated to the south of the Vindhya Range, and was in Dakshinapatha.

14. Avanti
 Its capital was Ujjain & Mahismati Located on present day Malwa region.
 River Vetravati used to flow right through Avanti thus dividing it into north and south provinces.
 It was divided into two parts by the Vindhyas,
a) The northern part had its capital at Ujjayini and
b) The southern part had its centre at Mahishmati which later was integrated into Ujjaini.
 Both Mahishmati and Ujjaini were located on the southern high road called Dakshinapatha extending
from Rajagriha to Pratishthana (modern Paithan).
 Avanti was an important center of Buddhism and some of the leading theras and theris were born and
resided there.
 The ruler of Avanti in the time of Buddha was ChandaPradyota. He was a contemporary of Udayana of
Kausambi. Although he was given the nickname of Chanda on account of his ferocity, he became a
convert to Buddhism.
 Avanti later became part of the MagadhanEmpire when King Nandivardhana of Avanti was defeated by
king Shishunaga of Magadha.

15. Gandhara
 Its capital was Taxila: Covered the regions between Kabul and Rawalipindi in North Western
Provinces, Peshawar, and thePotohar plateau and on the Kabul River.
 The Gandharas established themselves since the Vedic Age on the banks of River Kubha till the River
Indus.
 With time, they crossed Indus and expanded their territory into Punjab.
 Gandhara was located on the grand northern high road (Uttarapatha) and was a center of international
commercial activities. It was an important channel of communication with ancient Iran and Central
Asia.
 Taksashila and Pushkalavati, the two cities of this Mahajanapada, are said to have been named after
Taksa and Pushkara, the two sons of Bharata, a prince of Ayodhya.
 According to one school of scholars, the Gandharas and Kambojas were cognate people
 The Taxila University was a renowned center of learning in ancient times, attracting scholars from all
over the world.

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 The Gandharas were very aggressive in nature and were masters of the art of warfare and have been
mentioned in the Atharva Veda.

16. Kamboja
 Its capital Rajpur (modern Rajori in south-west of Kashmi)
 It was located around Punchh area of Kashmir.
 Kamboja was said to have been located on either sides of the Hindukush.
 The Kambojas were supposed to have both Indian and Iranian similarities.
 The Mahabharata refers to several Ganah (or Republics) of the Kambojas. Kautiliya'sArthashastra
andAshoka's Edict No. XIII also states that the Kambojas followed a republican constitution.
Finally the during the life time of Buddha only four Kingdoms- (1) Vatsa (2) Avanti (3) Kosala and (4)
Magadha survived.

RISE OF MAGADH
 Between the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE Magadha (in present-day Bihar) became the most
powerfulmahajanapada.

Factors of Magadhan Supremacy:

 Ambitious Rulers: The formation of the Magadhan State during this period was the work of
several enterprising and ambitious rulers such as Bimbisara, Ajatashatru and Mahapadma
Nanda.
 Availability of the Rich Iron Mines: Magadha enjoyed an advantageous geographical
position in the age of iron, because the richest iron deposits were nor for away from
Rajagriha. The ready availability of the rich iron ores enabled the Magadhan kings to equip
themselves with effective weapons, which were not easily available to their rivals.
 Fertile Gangatic Plain: The area of Magadha was far more productive as it lay at the centre
of the middle Gangetic plain. The fertile alluvial soil enabled the peasants to produce
considerable surplus, which could be mopped up by the rulers in the form of taxes.
 Fortified Capital: The two Magadhan capitals, the first at Rajgriha and the second at
Pataliputra were situated at very strategic points. Rajagriha was surrounded by a group of
five hills and so it was rendered impreg-nable whereas Pataliputra were situated at the
confluence of the Ganga, the Gandakand the Son, and a fourth river called the Ghagra joined
the Ganga nor far from Pataliputra. It facilitated communication of army. Further, Pataliputra
was a true water fort (Jaladurga) as it was surrounded by rivers on almost all sides.
 Magadhan kings also benefitted from the rise of towns and the use of metal money on
account of trade and commerce.
 Magadha was the first kingdom to use elephants on a large scale in its wars against its
neighbours.
 Finally the Magadhan society being recently aryanised showed more enthusiasm for
expan-sion than the kingdoms which had been brought under the Vedic influence earlier.

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MAGADH

Haryanka Shishunaga Nanda

Dynasty Dynasty Dynasty

Mahapadnam
Bimbisara shishunaga
Nanda

Ajatsatru Kalashoka DhanaNanda

udaiyan

Nagadashaka

1. Haryanka Dynasty
Founder: Bimbisara

 According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas, the earliest dynasty of Magadha was founded by
Brihadradha, the father of Jarasandha and son of Vasu.
 The first important ruler of Magadha was Bimbisara who was a contemporary of Buddha. He started the
policy of conquest and aggression.
 He was the earliest of the Indian kings to stress the need for efficient administration.
 Bimbisara consolidated his power and influence by matrimonial alliances.

Wife of Bimbisara:
(i) Mahakauslaya (princess of kaushal) brought ―Kashi in dowry. Bimbisara collected as revenue a huge sum
amounting to one lakh. Kashi was a famous emporium and a place of pilgrimage of the Saivas.

(ii) Chelna (Chetak‘s daughter)

(iii) Khema (Princess of Madras)

(iv) Methali princess (Brahmin of Mithila)

 Bimbisara defeated Bramdutta ruler of ‗Anga‘ and made Ajatsatru as governor of Anga(champa).
 King Bimbisara was probably aware of a possible Persian invasion of India. Bimbisara sent envoy to
Sukkasuttee, the king of Taxila or Gandhara.
 Magadha‘s most serious rival was Avanti, whose king Chanda Pradyota Mahasena fought Bimbisara but
ultimately the two became friends. Later when Pradyota was attached by jaun­dice, at the Avanti king‘s
request Bimbisara sent the royal physician Jivaka to Ujjain.
 He sent his Royal physician Jeevak (Ayurveda scholar & follower of Buddha) to cure Prodyot (Ruler of
Avanti) who was suffering from Jaundice/Pandurog.
 For convenient conduct of administration, he created three departments, such as, judicial department
(Bhoharik), the general administration (Sarbarthaka) and the war department (Senanayak).
 He reorganized the Magadhan army. Formerly, the army was under the control and administration of
several clans or groups. Bimbisara abolished this system and recruited afresh soldiers, and officers. The

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soldiers vowed to show him personal allegiance. The army thus reorganized and strengthened stood him
in good stead in his bid for territorial expansion.
 He is described as Seniya ‗with an army‘, being perhaps the first king to have a regular standing army.
 He adopted some special measures to ensure improvement of communication, and every care was taken
of the expansion of trade and industry.
 Nothing definite is known about Bimbisara‘s religious faith. Both the Jainas and the Buddhists claim
that he held their views.
 He donated ‗veluvana‘ forest land to Buddha.
 He was killed by his son Ajatsatru.

 Ajatsatru
 The beginning of the conflict between Kosala and Magadha took place in the time of Ajatashatru.
Reacting to the murder of Bimbisara by Ajatashatru, Prasenjit revoked the gift of the Kashi village
which had formed part of his sister‘s dowry. Therefore war took place between Ajatashatru and
Parasenjit.
 Several battles were fought without any lasting success for either. Ultimately Prasenjit was betrayed by
his own minister Dirghacharayana, who handed the royal insignia to Prasenjit‘s son and military
command to Vidudabha.
 Prasenjit died at Rajagriha and Vidudabha along with his army was drowned by an untimely flood in the
river Rapti. Ajatashatru annexed the Kosala kingdom without fighting.
 Ajatashatru strengthened Rajagriha, the Magadhan capital, and built a small fort, Pataligrama in the
vicinity of the Ganges. This was later to become the famous Mauryan metropolis of Pataliputra (old
name of modern Patna).
 The Vajjian confederacy was suppressed by Ajatashatru by sowing internal dissension among the
Lichchhavis with the help of his Brahman minister Vassakara. It took sixteen years to suppress the
Vajjians.
 A description of the war between the Magadhans and the Vajjains mentions the use of two weapons,
viz., Mahashilakantaka (a large-sized catapult used for hurling heavy pieces of stone) and the
Rathamushala (a chariot with knives and cutting edges fixed to it).
 It is difficult to say whether Ajatsatru was a Jaina or a Buddhist. Both the sects claimed that Ajatshatru
belonged to their faith. It is generally said that Ajatshatru started his life as a Jaina, but later he gave up
Jainism and embraced Buddhism.
 In religious tradition Ajatashatru is remembered as a patron of Devadatta, the schismatic cousin of the
Buddha, and also as a friend of both the Jainas and the Buddhists.
 After the death of Gautama Buddha, he constructed Dhatuchaityas round Rajgriha. He re-paired 18
mahaviharas. He helped the Buddhist monks to hold their first Buddhist Council at Rajagriha under his
patronage.
 The story of Ajatashatru‘s interview with Buddha is also stated in the Bharhut sculptures of the second
century B.C.
 He defeated Vajji & Malla Republic.
 Amarpali was Royal dancer, lover of Ajatsatru & follower of Buddha.
 He was called Pitrahanta.

 Udaiyan
 According to Buddhist writers Ajatashatru was succeeded by his son Udaiyan.
 Buddhist text says, he was a Pitrahanta, Jaina text says He was a Pitarbhakta.
 He changed his capital from Rajgirha to Patliputra.
 Udaiyan had probably to fight with the king of Avanti, but the most notable event of his reign was the
foundation of the capital city of Kusumpura or Pataliputra

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 NALANDA IAS ACADEMY 16 MAHAJANPAD ERA

 Nagadashka
 He also killed his father.
* Lord Buddha was contemporary of Bimbisar & Ajatsatru.
There were 3 kings who
become ruler with the help of
common people:
2. Shishunaga Dynasty 1. Shishunaga
 Shishunaga 2. Gopala
 He was governor of ‗Avanti‘. 3. Rajiya sultana
 He was able Military commander.
 Common people replaced Nagadashak with Shishunaga.
 He changed his capital to Patliputra to Vaishali.
 Sisunaga carried on the forward policy of Magadha by the absorption of the powerful kingdom of
Avanti and thus the 100 years old rivalry between Avanti and Magadha came to an end.

 Kalashoka
 He changed his capital from Vaishali to Patliputra
 He organized second Buddhist council at Vaishali.
 Kalasoka was murdered by Mahapadma Nanda, the founder of the Nanda dynasty

3. Nanda Dynasty:
 Mahapadam Nanda
 Mahapadma Nanda was a very powerful king. From the Jaina and Buddhist sources alike, we come to
know that Mahapadma Nanda was of low birth.
 He was first sudhra ruler.
 But it is certain that Mahapadma Nanda extended the boundaries of Magadhan Empire. There were
several kingdoms in north India – Kuru, Panchala, Ikshakshu, Ashmaka and Saurasen—ruled by the
Kshatriyas. He overthrew and annexed them to Magadhan dominion.
 In the Hathigumpha rock inscription of Kharvela, reference has been made to the conquest of Kalinga
by a certain ruler belonging to Nanda dynasty. This ruler was, probably, Mahapadma Nanda.
 He claimed to be ‗ekarat‘, the sole sovereign who destroyed all the other ruling princes.
 Mahapadma Nanda has been described in the Puranas as the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas
(Sarvakshatrantaka), and as a second Parsurama or Bhargava.
 According to Buddhist sources Mahapadma Nanda reigned for about ten years and was suc-ceeded by
his eight sons. The last Nanda ruler was Dhana-Nanda, the Agrammes or Xandrames of classical
writers.
 He was contemporary of scholar Panini, who wrote Astadhyayee (8chapters) on Sanskrit grammar.
 DhanaNanda
 He was contemporary of Alexander and Chankaya.
 He was the ruler of ‗Magadh‘ when Alexander attacked on India.
 Alexander failed to attack on Magadh as Magadh was most powerful janpad of India.
 He disrespected the Koutilya as a result Kautilya removed Nanda dynasty with Maurayan Dynasty.
 According to the Greek writers the Nanda kings had 200,000 infantry men, 20,000 horsemen, 2000
chariots drawn by four horses, and 3000 elephants.
 The Buddhist sources inform us that the Nanda kings had strong attraction for wealth and that they
resorted to unjust taxation from the people. The people were subjected to inhuman oppression. The burden of
taxation was extremely heavy.

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