8 Mahajanapadas- Rise of Magadha – Nandas – Invasion of Alexander

P. Bhaskar Reddy

1. Sources

Political and cultural history of the period from C 600 to 300 BCE is known for the first time by a possibility of comparing evidence from different kinds of literary sources. Buddhist and Jaina texts form an authentic source of the political history of ancient India. The first four books of Sutta pitaka — the Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta and Anguttara nikayas — and the entire Vinaya pitaka were composed between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. The Sutta nipata also belongs to this period.

The Jaina texts Bhagavati sutra and Parisisthaparvan represent the tradition that can be used as historical source material for this period.

The Puranas also provide useful information on dynastic history.

A comparison of Buddhist, Puranic and Jaina texts on the details of dynastic history reveals more disagreement. This may be due to the fact that they were compiled at different times.

Apart from indigenous literary sources, there are number of Greek and Latin narratives of Alexander’s military achievements. They describe the political situation prevailing in northwest on the eve of Alexander’s invasion.

Archaeological materials continue to be an important source for the cultural history of the subcontinent for the above period. In Northern India, the focus is on culture associated with a pottery called Northern Black Polished Ware [NBPW]. The evidence from NBPW sites includes an early series of punch-marked coins, which mark the beginning of the use of money in the subcontinent.

2. Janapadas

Janapada literally means the place where the people put their feet. However, these were permanent settlements of the agricultural communities of the later Vedic Age. The initial phases of these settlements were named after the dominant Kshatriya clans of the area. For example, the areas around Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh were known as the Kuru and Panchala Janapadas. The consolidation of these Kshatriya clans led to the formation of larger territorial entities which in the Buddhist Age came to be regarded as Mahajanapadas. Thus, an important feature of the political life was the emergence of several territorial states in different parts of the country.

At the beginning of the sixth century BCE there was no paramount power in India. India was divided into a large number of independent states. According to the traditional literature, sixteen large states [mahajanapadas], each comprising several agricultural settlements [janapadas] existed in India in the sixth century. The Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya gives a list of sixteen Mahajanapadas. They were Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vrijji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Asmaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja, Another Buddhist text, the Mahavastu, also provides a list of sixteen Mahajanapadas. However, it excludes Gandhara and Kamboja and substitutes them by Sibi and Dasarna. The Jain text, Bhagavati sutra also mentions sixteen Mahajanapadas. This led to the assumption that the lists were originally drawn up at different times.

3.  Sixteen Mahajanapadas

3. 1. Anga

The earliest reference to Anga is found in the Atharvaveda. Anga as described in the Mahabharata seems to have comprised the modern districts of Bhagalpur and Munghyr in Bihar. The river Champa formed the boundary between Anga in the east and Magadha in the west. Its capital Champa was located at the right bank of the Ganga near its confluence with the river Champa. The ancient name of Champa was Malini. The city of Champa was built by Mahagovinda. It was one of the six great cities of India during the time of the Buddha. It was a great centre of trade and commerce. The king of Anga had friendly relations with Kausambi, about the middle of the sixth century BCE.

3.2 Kasi

The kingdom of Kasi was the most powerful in the beginning. The rivers Varuna and Asi by which the city was bounded respectively on the north and south gave rise to the name of its capital city as Varanasi, modern Banaras. Kasi was famous for its cotton textiles and market for horses. Buddha delivered his first sermon in Saranath near Varanasi. Kasi was conquered by Kosala some time before the Buddha.

3.3 Kosala

The kingdom of Kosala roughly corresponded to modern Oudh. It was probably bounded by the Sadanira (Gandak) river on the east, Gomati river on the west, the Sarpika or Syandika river on the south and the Nepal hills on the north. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the 6th Century BCE. Assimilation of many smaller principalities and clans contributed to the prosperity and power of Kosala. Kosala contained three great Cities: Ayodhya, Saketa and Sravasti, besides a number of minor towns. The kingdom of Kosala proper was divided into North and South evidently by the river Sarayu. Sravasti was the capital of Uttara Kosala and Kusavati was the capital of Dakshina Kosala. Prasenjit, a contemporary of Buddha was able to make Kosala a formidable kingdom. The conquest of Kasi made Kosala a powerful state.

3.4 Vrijji or Vajji

The Vrijji territory lay to the north of the Ganga and extended upto the hills of Nepal in the north. It was separated from Kosala and Malla by the river Gandak. Most historians consider the Vrijjian confederacy consisted of eight or nine clans. The important members of the confederacy were Vrijjis, Videhas, Lichchhavis and Jnatrikas. The identities of the rest of the clans are not known. Vaisali was the capital of the Lichchavis and the headquarters of the powerful Vrijjian confederacy. The Videhas had their capital at Mithila, identified with Janakapura. The Vrijji confederations took form after the decline and fall of the Videhan monarchy and were flourishing non-monarchical state in the time of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha. According to a tradition the Lichchavis attacked Magadha during Bimbisara’s reign. This resulted in the signing of a treaty between the two kingdoms. According to this treaty matrimorial alliance took place between the Lichchavi clan and Bimbisara.

3.5 Mallas

The Mallas are often mentioned in the Buddhist and Jain works. They seem to have been a powerful tribe dwelling in Eastern India. The Bhismaparva of the Mahabharata similarly mentions the Mallas along with such peoples of Eastern India as the Angas, Vangas and Kalingas. There were many branches of this clan of which two had their headquarters at Kusinara and Pava. Buddha died in the vicinity of Kusinara, modern Kasia in Gorakhpur and his last rites were performed by the Mallas.

3.6 Chedi

The Chedi territory corresponded roughly to the eastern part of modern Bundelkhand. Suktimati was its capital. Other important towns were Sahajati and Tripuri. Shishupala, the legendary enemy of Krishna was a Chedi king. However, except these epic legends nothing authentic is known about the Chedis.

3.7 Vatsa

The kingdom of Vatsa was situated along the banks of the river Yamuna. Kausambi or Kosam near Allahabad was its capital. The kingdom was very rich and powerful and noted for the high quality of its cotton fabrics. The most famous king of the Vatsa kingdom was Udayana who was the contemporary of the Buddha, Pradyota of Avanti, Bimbisara and Ajatasatru of Magadha. Number of interesting legends was based on his rivalry with king Pradyota. 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.

3.8 Kuru

The kingdom of Kuru corresponded to Delhi-Meerut region. According to the Jatakas, the capital of the Kurus was Indraprastha near modern Delhi. Though it was a powerful tribe during the Vedic period, it lost its pre-eminence by the time of the Buddha. In Buddha’s time, the Kuru country was ruled by a titular chieftain named Koravya and had very little political importance of its own. The Kurus had matrimonial relations with the Yadavas, the Bhojas and the Panchalas. The famous Pandavas and Kauravas who fought the great Bharata war belonged to the Kuru clan.

3.9 Panchala

Originally Panchala Mahajanapada was the country north and east of Delhi from the foot of Himalayas to the river Chambal. It was divided into two parts (north and south) by the river Ganga. It comprised roughly Bareilly, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Pilibhit, Bulandshahir, Aligarh etc., The Northern Panchala had its capital at Ahichchatra identified with modern Ramnagar in Bareilly district. The Sourthern Panchala had its capital at Kampilla that is Kampil in the Farrukhabad district. The famous city of Kanyakubja or Kanauj was situated in the kingdom of Panchala. The Kurus and Panchalas struggled for the possession of Uttara-panchala region.

3.10 Matsya

The principality of the Matsya was located in the Jaipur area of Rajasthan, extending to Alwar-Jaipur- Bharatpur. The capital of the Matsya country was Viratanagar (modern Bairat) named after its founder king Virata. The Matsya first appear in the Rigveda. The Satapata Brahmana mentions a Matsya king named Dhvasana Dvanivatavana. This kingdom was finally absorbed in the Magadhan empire. Some of the famous edicts of Ashoka have been found at Bairat. The five Pandava brothers stayed in the court of Viratanagara during their ajnatavasa.

3.11 Surasena

The Surasena country had its capital at Mathura on the river Yamuna. Buddhist tradition describes Avantiputra, king of Surasena, was the first among the chief disciples of Buddha. It may be inferred from the epithet Avantiputra, that there existed a matrimonial alliance between Avanti and Surasena. In Mahabharata and Puranas, the ruling family of Mathura was of Yadus. The Yadu or Yadava tribe was divided into Vitihotras and Satavatas. The Satavatas were sub-divided into Andhaka, Vrishni, Mahabhojas, Daivavridhas etc. The epic hero Krishna belonged to the Vrishni clan. In Kautilya’s Arthasastra, the Vrishnis of Mathura are described as a Sangha, a republican corporation.

3.12 Asmaka

The Asmaka of Buddhist literature was a South Indian kingdom situated on the banks of the river Godavari with its capital at Potali, Potana or Podana identified with Bodhan. The river Godavari flowed between the two neighbouring kingdoms of Asmaka and Mulaka. The latter had Pratishtana or Paithan as its capital and Asmaka lay immediately to its south. According to the commentary on the Suttanipata the two kingdoms of Asmaka and Mulaka are represented as two Andhra territories. The Asmaka and Mulaka belonged to the Ikshavaku family and the royal sage, Asmaka, is said to have founded the city of Podana.

3.13 Avanti

Avanti was an important kingdom of Western India. It was one of the four great monarchies in India, when Buddhism arose. The other three were Kosala, Vatsa and Magadha. It roughly corresponds to the Ujjain region together with a part of the Narmada valley. It appears to have been divided into North and South by the river Vetravati with Ujjain and Mahismati as capitals respectively. This kingdom was located in a very fertile agricultural tract controlling rich iron ore areas and also controlling the trade coming from South. Pradyota was a powerful king of Avanti and a contemporary of Buddha. Pradyota had been described as Chanda (cruel) in the Puranas.

3.14 Gandhara

The kingdom of Gandhara comprised the modern districts of Peshawar and Rawalpindi in Pakistan and Kashmir valley. Its capital Takshasila, modern Taxila was both a centre of trade and an ancient seat of learning. This city was founded by a prince Taksha. King Pushkarasin, the ruler of Gandhara in the middle of the sixth century BCE, was a contemporary of king Bimbisara of Magadha. He had cordial relations with Magadha and waged a successful war against Avanti.

3.15 Kamboja

Kamboja is located in the Uttarapatha and very close to Gandhara. It is generally associated with Gandhara in ancient literature and in the edicts of Ashoka. The Mahabharata connects the Kambojas with a place called Rajapura (Rajaori) which was mentioned by Hieun Tsang. It laid to the South or South east of Punch. In the Mahabharata, the Kambojas are represented as living under a monarchial system but it gave place to a Sangha form of government.

3.16 Magadha

Magadha was the most powerful and prosperous among the sixteen Mahajanapadas. Magadha roughly corresponds to the present Patna and Gaya districts of modern Bihar. It was situated between the Ganga (north), Son (west), Vindhya (south) and Champa (east). Its earliest capital was Girivraja or Rajagriha. Gaya was the place of Buddha’s enlightment and Rajagriha was one of his favourite haunts. The Magadhan rulers Bimbisara and Ajatasatru were the followers of the Buddha. The Mahabharata refers to it as Girivraja, Barhadradapura and Magadhapura. It was an almost impregnable city protected by five hills.

4. Rise of Magadha

All the sixteen Mahajanapadas did not play the same role in contemporary politics. Kasi which was most important lost its position to Kosala and Magadha. These two kingdoms vied with each other for control of the Ganga basin, which owing to the riverside commercial traffic and had certain economic advantages. In the sixth century BCE only four states Kasi, Kosala, Magadha and Vrijjian confederacy remained important.

The political history of India from the 6th century BCE onwards is the history of struggle between the republic and monarchical states. The Mallas, Kuru, Panchala, Surasena, Matsya, Kambhoja, Gandhara, Shakyas and Vrijjis were the prominent republic states. The republican states were confined to the foot hills of the Himalaya and to the north eastern part of Gangetic basin. The Magadha, Anga, Avanti, Kasi, Kosala, Vatsa, etc., were powerful monarchical states. They were confined to Gangetic basin – the most fertile region in North India. The Gangetic basin became an ample of discard between the republic and monarchical states. The kingdom of Magadha successfully suppressed the other states by using arms and diplomacy. Thus the Magadhan kingdom was finally converted as Magadhan empire and the Gangetic basin became the very core of it.

Several factors contributed for the rise of Magadha in the sixth century BCE. The fertile alluvium of the Gangetic basin provided a solid base for the development of agriculture. This in turn became a solid base for a regular source of revenue which ensured political security and economic stability. The economic stability enabled the kings of Magadha to maintain a strong army. The region beyond Ganges was covered with thick and dense forests. These forests supplied the required wood for the construction of buildings and excellent chariots for the army. Magadha possessed the richest deposits of copper and iron ores. The conquest and annexation of Anga further improved the supply of copper and iron ores. The abundant use of iron brought a revolution in the military and agricultural technology. The agricultural surplus and the development of trade resulted in the emergency of cities and towns. The older capital city Rajagriha and the more famous capital Pataliputra at the Junction of the Ganga and the Son were both well protected against outside invasions.

5. Political History

The kingdom of Magadha experienced the rule of able, energetic and foresighted kings. The founders of the kingdom were Jarasandha and Brihadradha. However, its real founders were Bimbisara and Ajatasatru. With the accession of Bimbisara to the throne of Magadha began the rise of a new dynasty in the eastern part of north India viz., Haryanka dynasty.

5.1 Haryanka Dynasty

5.1.1 Bimbisara (544 – 495 BCE)

He was the most remarkable king of this dynasty. He was the son of a petty chieftain Bhattiya also known as Seniya or Shrenika. Bimbisara was anointed king by his father while a boy of fifteen. Bimbisara used arms and diplomacy to expand Magadha. In the first instance he conquered Anga which was known for its economic prosperity. This victory not only helped Bimbisara to annex Anga but also enabled him to lay his hands on the rich copper and iron ore deposits. Secondly he maintained matrimonial alliances with the leading monarchical states and thereby strengthened his position by leaps and bounds. His principal queen was Kosaladevi, the sister of Prasenajit of Kosala. The second queen was Chellana, the daughter of the famous Lichchavi chief Chetaka of Vaisali. Khema, daughter of Madra of the Punjab was the third queen. His Kosalan wife brought Kasi as dowry. Dynastic marriages promoted goodwill between Bimbisara and contemporary rulers, and thus strengthened his position. He maintained a friendly relationship with Pradyota, the king of Avanti. He sent his personal physician Jivaka, to cure Pradyota who was suffering from jaundice. Both Jainism and Buddhism claimed him as their supporter and devotee. However, he died a tragic death.

5.1.2 Ajatasatru (495 – 461 BCE)

Bimbisara was succeeded by his son Ajatasatru. He was a worthy son of a worthy father. He continued the policies initiated by his father. Ajatasatru not only strengthened Rajagriha but also built a smart fort, Patalinagara in the vicinity of Ganges. This later on became one of the greatest cities in North India and continued to enjoy uncommon prestige upto seventh century CE. The beginning of the conflict between Kosala and Magadha took place in the time of Ajatasatru. War took place between Ajatasatru and Prasenajit. Several battles were fought; finally Kosala was annexed to Magadha. Ajatasatru opposed the tribal confederacy of Vrijjis headed by the Lichchavis of Vaisali. The conflict continued for about fifteen years and finally he succeeded in subduing the opponents including the Lichchhavis.

It was during the reign of Ajatasatru that the three great teachers the Buddha, Mahavira and Gosala Maskariputra attained nirvana. The Jain texts testify that he was a follower of Mahavira whereas the Buddhist texts proclaim him to be a follower of the Buddha. It is said that he interviewed Lord Buddha and confessed killing of his father, Bimbisara. In fact his meeting with Buddha is indicated in one of the sculptures of Barhut. Ajatasatru died in 461 BCE. The accession of five patricides in quick succession roused the indignation of the people who perhaps deposed the last of the five successors in 413 BCE and made Sisunaga, a Viceroy of Benaras, the king.

5.2 Sisunaga Dynasty

The Haryankas were succeeded by the Sisunagas. The genealogy and chronology of the Sisunagas are not clear. The most important achievement of Sisunaga was the destruction of the power of the Pradyota of Avanti. After Sisunaga, the mighty empire began to collapse. Sisunaga’s successor, Kalashoka or Kakavarna transferred his royal residence permanently from Girivraja to Patiliputra, though Vaisali also sometimes used as a capital. During his reign the second Buddhist Council was held at Vaisali. The Sisunaga dynasty ruled for half a century.

5.3 Nanda Dynasty

About the middle of the fourth century BCE the Sisunaga dynasty was overthrown by Mahapadma, and established a new line of kings known as the Nandas. Pali texts mention him as Ugrasena which alludes of his huge army. A Jain text represents Nanda as the son of a Courtesan.

Mahapadma Nanda was a powerful ruler of Nanda dynasty. He is credited with the final overthrow of the contemporary royal houses viz., the Ikshvakas, Panchalas, Kashis, Haihayas, Kalingas, Asmakas, Kurus, Maithilas, Surasenas, Vitihotras etc. He uprooted all the kshatriya dynasties in Northern India and assumed the title ‘ekarat’. The Nandas also controlled some parts of Kalinga is borne out by the Hathigumpha inscription of king Kharavela. Several parts of Deccan also had formed the part of the Magadhan empire. It appears that Mahapadma Nanda occupied most of the Gangetic basin and this enabled him to build a mighty army. The Nanda kings built on the foundations laid by their Haryanka and Sisunaga predecessors to create the first great empire of North India. Thus Mahapadma Nanda is regarded as a great empire builder.

The first phase of the expansion and consolidation of the Magadhan empire was over by the reign of Mahapadma Nanda. According to Buddhist tradition, Mahapadma Nanda ruled for about ten years. He was succeeded by his eight sons, who ruled successively. The Mahavamsa gives the list of nine kings. The last Nanda ruler was Dhana Nanda. He was powerful ruler and possessed strong army and enormous wealth. The Greek accounts call him Agrammes or xandrames. Curtius state that he had an army consisting of 20,000 cavalry, 2, 00,000 infantry, 2,000 chariots and 3,000 elephants. The fabulous wealth of Dhana Nanda, his greed, his exploitation of people and its consequent unpopularity is mentioned in several literary works. The oppressive way of tax collection by Dhana Nanda was resented by people. Taking advantage of this, Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya initiated popular movement against the Nanda rule, at about the same time Alexander invaded India.

6. Persian Invasion

Cyrus (558 – 530 BCE) was the founder of Persian empire. He was the first foreign conqueror who led an expedition and penetrated well into India. All Indian tribes to the west of the Indus right upto Kabul region submitted to Cyrus and paid him tribute.

Darius I (522 – 486 BCE) was the grandson of Cyrus. He conquered the Indus valley in 518 BCE. Herodotus states that India (Indus valley) was the twentieth and most prosperous Satrapy (province) of Darius. He mentions that Darius I sent a naval expedition under Skylax to explore the Indus. Sindh and a portion of the Punjab laying east of the Indus formed part of his Indian conquest.

Darius I was succeeded by Xerxes (486 – 465 BCE). The Indian provinces continued under his empire were attested by the fact that he claimed and obtained the military service of an Indian contingent to fight his battles in Greece. This was the first time in history that an Indian expeditionary force fought on the soil of Europe. The heroism they displayed on this occasion created a further demand for their services. Persian empire declined after Xerxes death. But the Gandhara and Indians continued to be mentioned as subjects of Persian empire under Artaxerxes II (405 – 359 BCE). Darius III (336 – 330 BCE) enlisted Indian soldiers and sent them to resist Alexander’s invasion.

6.1 Effects of Persian invasions

The Persian invasion provided an impetus to the growth of Indo-Iranian commerce. The most apparent and direct Persian impact on India was the introduction of the Kharoshti script, which was derived from Aramaic, the official script of the Persian empire. Kharoshti became popular in north-western India and some of the Ashoka’s edicts were written in that script. Persian ascendency in north-western India ended with conquest of the empire by Alexander of Macedon in 330 BCE.

7. Alexander’s Invasion of India

After the Persians, the Greeks were the second to invade India in the fourth century BCE. Alexander ascended the throne of Macedonia in 334 BC. By 329 BCE he conquered the whole of Persia stretching from Asia Minor to Afghanistan after defeating its emperor Darius-III. By the time of Alexander’ s invasion, the Persian hold over their Indian province was nominal. The Greek writers gave a detailed account of Alexander Indian Campaign.

Alexander crossed the Hindukush Mountains in eastern Afghanistan in the month of May 327 BCE. He fought for more than a year against various tribes in what is now northern Pakistan until he could cross the river Indus in February 326 BCE. On the eve of Alexander’s invasion several petty chiefs and independent tribes were ruling the north and north-west India. They had been wasting energy and resources in internecine quarrels and domestic feuds. Animosity between the rulers of Taxila and Paurava provoked the former to send his son Ambhi to Bactria to assure support to Alexander against the other rulers of India. Alexander crossed the Indus with the help of a bridge of boats built at Ohind. Ambhi, the king of Taxila, accepted Alexander’s suzerainty without putting up a fight.

7.1 Battle of Hydaspes

Alexander arrived with his troops at the banks of Hydaspes (Jhelum). The river was already in spate and therefore a halt had to be made for several weeks. Porus, who ruled over the territory between the Jhelum and Ravi, resisted his advance. Finally he crossed the river in dark. A fierce battle was fought and Porus was defeated and captured. Alexander was impressed by the courage and heroism of this Indian prince, reinstated Porus and made him his ally. Alexander was determined to go on, but his soldiers refused to obey his orders for the first time in eight years of incessant conquest. Hardships of prolonged warfare made them tired and they wanted to return home.

The Greek campaign in north-western India lasted two years, after which Alexanders army laid down their arms and refused to go further east. Alexander made arrangements to look after his conquered territories in India. The areas lying to the west of the Punjab were entrusted to Satraps (governors) and Macedonian garrison.

On the way back, there were military encounters with Ganas such as the Malavas, Kshudrakas, Shibi and Agalassoi. Alexander seriously wounded in the battle with Agalassoi. While scaling the wall of a Malava stronghold, he was seriously injured by a long arrow. The infuriated Macedonian soldiers massacred all the inhabitants. Alexander finally reached the Indus delta, from where he took the land route towards Babylon through Gedrosia, where he fell seriously ill and died in 323 BCE.

7.2. Effects of Alexander’s invasion

Alexander’s invasion provided the first occasion where ancient Europe came into close contact with ancient India. It produced important results. The Indian campaign of Alexander was triumphant. He added to his empire an Indian province which was much longer than that conquered by Iran. The Greek possessions in India were soon lost to the Mauryan rulers. The immediate effect of Alexander’s invasion was that it encouraged political unification of north India under the Mauryas. The system of small independent states came to an end. The most important outcome of this invasion was the establishment of direct contact between India and Greece in different fields. The invasion opened up four distinct routes by land and Sea. It paved the way for Greek merchants and craftsmen and increased the existing facilities for trade between India and West Asia.

The List of sixteen Mahajanapadas and their Capitals

S.No.	Mahajanapadas	Capital
1.	Anga	Champa
2.	Kasi	Varanashi
3.	Kosala	Ayodhya & Sravasti
4.	Vrijji	Vaishali
5.	Malla	Pava & Kusinagar
6.	Chedi	Shuktimati
7.	Vatsa	Kaushambi
8.	Kuru	Hastinapur & Indraprastha
9.	Panchala	Kampilya & Ahichattra
10.	Matsya	Virat
11.	Surasena	Mathura
12.	Asmaka	Potana
13.	Avanti	Ujjain & Mahishmati
14.	Gandhara	Taxila
15.	Kamboja	Rajpura
16.	Magadha	Rajgir

Figure-1.TIFF

Web links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha
• http://iasmania.com/mahajanapadas-rise-magadh-iranian-invasion-macedonian-invasion/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_kings_of_Magadha
• http://www.iloveindia.com/history/ancient-india/alexander-invasion.html
• http://www.historydiscussion.net/society/mahajanapadas-monarchies-and-republics-during-the-post-
  vedic-period-indian-history/569
• http://bengalstudents.com/books/general-knowledge-study/mahajanapada-period
• http://indiansaga.com/history/magadha_buddha.html