The Contemporary cities of Mahajanapadas, with the help of: (a) Kasi (b) Kosala (c) Anga (d) Magadha (e) Vrujji/Vajji
The Contemporary cities of Mahajanapadas, with the help of:
(a) Kasi
(b) Kosala
(c) Anga
(d) Magadha
(e) Vrujji/Vajji
(f) Malla
(g) Chedi
1 Answers
(a) Kasi: This Mahajanapada was a powerful one at the beginning of the Mahajanapada period. Varanasi was its capital. The kings of Kasi were ambitious. According to the jataka stories they aspired for the highest position among all contemporary kings (Sabbarajunam aggaraja).
(b) Kosala: Ancient Kosala encompassed the regions of Uttar Pradesh in India and Lumbini in Nepal. Sharavasti was its capital city. King Prasenjit (Pasenadi) was a disciple of the Gautama Buddha. Kosala was destroyed and annexed permanently to Magadha by King Ajatashatru.
(c) Anga: The city of Champa was the capital of Anga. It was the center of the marine trade. It was permanently annexed to Magadha by King Bimbisara.
(d) Magadha: Magadha had its first capital in the city of Girivraja, also known as Rajagriha. Girivraja was surrounded by five hills making it formidable for the enemies. King Bimbisara was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. The policy of territorial annexation of other kingdoms was started during the reign of Kind Bimbisara.
(e) Vrujji/Vajji: This was a confederation of eight clans, known as ‘Maha Aththkula’. It included clans like Videha, Lichchhavi, Vajji, Shakya, Dnyatruk, etc. The ‘Ekapanna Jataka’ mentions that Vaishali, the capital of this Mahajanapada was fortified with three surrounding walls. It had three entrance gates and bastions.
(f) Malla: The city of Kushinara or Kushinagara (Kasia) in the Gorakhpur district was the capital of this Mahajanapada. Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana in this city. A copper plate inscription (5th century C.E.) was found at the ‘Parinirvana Stupa’ in this city. It read, “Parinirvana chaitye tamrapattaiti”. By the 3rd century B.C.E. the Malla Mahajanapada was merged into the Maurya Empire.
(g) Chedi: This Mahajanapada had occupied Bundelkhand and the region around it. The city of Shuktimati or Sotthivati was its capital. It is supposed to have been situated near ‘Banda’ in Uttar Pradesh.