How Many Mahajanapadas Were There

The Mahajanapadas were 16 monarchies and republics that existed in ancient India before the rise of Buddhism. They spanned the Indo-Gangetic plains and marked the transition from a tribal to a semi-nomadic society. Many were republics with elected leaders. These kingdoms created the social and political framework for the development of Buddhism and Jainism. The Sanskrit epics provide historical information, while Magadha emerged as the most powerful state in the 5th century BCE and eventually established the Mauryan Empire in 321 BCE, bringing all the Mahajanapadas under its rule.

Examples of Mahajanapadas:

Kasi

Kasi, one of the 15 Mahajanapadas, was a dominant Aryan group that migrated to Varanasi, serving as its capital. The city was wealthy and opulent, and its superiority is praised in Jatakas. Kasi, Kosala, Anga, and Magadha had a rivalry. King Brihadratha of Kasi conquered Kosala, but King Kansa of Kosala annexed Kasi during the Buddha's reign. Kasi, Kosala, and Videhans were related peoples, and Kasi is also known as Kausika or Kaushaka in some ancient texts.

Kosala

Kosala was a nation with Savatthi as its capital, located in modern-day Uttar Pradesh. It was ruled by the Ikshvaku dynasty, and both Buddha and Mahavira lectured there. Pasenadi succeeded his father as king, but his son was put in power by his minister during his absence. Conflict with Magadha was resolved with the help of the Lichchavis confederation. Kosala's principal cities were Ayodhya, Saketa, Benares, and Sravasti. Kosala merged into Magadha in the fourth century B.C.E.

Anga

The Angas were one of the despised ethnic groups listed in the Atharva-Veda, with their nation roughly corresponding to present-day Bihar and Bengal. Anga had a thriving capital city, Champa, and two other major cities, Assapura and Bhadrika. The Angas initially had success annexing their eastern neighbour Magadha but were later overthrown by Magadha's crown prince and became part of the Magadha empire.

Magadha

Magadha was despised by early Vedic culture but eventually rose to prominence under the rule of King Bimbisara and his son Ajatasatru. It was the birthplace of Buddhism and Jainism and the setting of many significant events in Buddha's life. The Maurya and Gupta empires, which were considered the Golden Age of ancient India, originated from Magadha. The modern districts of Patna and Gaya in southern Bihar, and a portion of Bengal, are roughly equivalent to the Magadha kingdom. Rajagriha, also known as Girivraja, served as the state's first capital and was a vibrant centre for Jainism and the location of the first Buddhist council. Magadha's capital was later established in Pataliputra.

Vajji

The Vajjians were a confederacy of eight or nine clans, including the Licchhavis, Videhans, and Jnatrikas. They were located north of the Ganga River and their capital was Vaishali. The Licchhavis converted to Buddhism and were ruled by a council called the Vajji Sangha, with the head referred to as the Ganapramukh. Vaishali was encircled by a triple wall and was the site of the Second Buddhist Council.

Malla

The Mallas were an influential Indian clan in the east, mentioned in works by Buddhist and Jain authors. They had a monarchical system of government before becoming a Samgha. The Mallas and Lichchhavis joined forces for mutual defence after Buddha's passing but lost their independence and became part of the Magadha dynasty. Pava and Kusinara are significant locations in the history of Buddhism as Buddha consumed his final meal and passed away there.

Chedi or Cheti

Chedi was an ancient Indian people with two settlements in Bundelkhand and Nepal. Notable Chedis during the Kurukshetra War were Damaghosha, Shishupala, and Suketu. Vatsa ruled over a region in modern-day Allahabad, with its capital in Kaumb. The Buddha made several trips to Koushambi during the reign of Udayana and established Buddhism as the official religion. Udayana oversaw the carving of the first Buddha image made of sandalwood. Later, the Avanti kingdom seized control of Vatsa.

Kuru

The Kurus trace their ancestry back to the Puru-Bharata family and their ancestral home was in present-day Thaneswer and the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. Kuru was their named ancestor and the founder of Kurukshetra. The Kurus maintained their reputation for wisdom and changed from a monarchy to a republican form of government in the sixth or fifth century B.C.E., adhering to the Rajashabdopajivin constitution.

Panchal

The Panchalas lived east of the Kurus, between the Himalayas and the Ganga River. They had two divisions: Dakshina-Panchala and Uttara-Panchala. Kanyakubja was their renowned city, and they shifted the Vedic civilization's focus from Punjab. Panchali, or Draupadi, was the princess of Panchala and the wife of the five Pandava brothers in Mahabharata.

Maccha or Matsya

Matsya, meaning "fish" in Sanskrit, was a kingdom located west of the Yamuna and south of the Kurus in present-day Rajasthan. Its capital was Bairat, and it was founded by King Virata. Matsya was originally a fishing community and later established a branch in the Visakhapatnam region. It was part of the Chedi kingdom before gaining independence. The Mahabharata mentions up to six additional Matsya kingdoms.

Gandhara

The Gandharas are referenced in the Rigveda and Mahabharata as a people living on the south bank of the Kubha (Kabul River). They later crossed the Indus and settled in northwest Punjab. Their Janapada was established by Gandhara, and their two cities were Taksashila and Pushkalavati. The Vayu Purana II says that they were destroyed at the end of the Kaliyuga. The Gandhara Jataka links them to Kashmir and refers to them as Chandahara.

Kamboj

The Kambojas are ancient people mentioned in Puranic, Buddhist, and Ashokan texts. They are associated with the Daradas and Gandharas in the cis-Hindukush region, with Rajapura possibly serving as their capital. The Kambojas eventually crossed the Hindukush and settled in regions on either side. The cis-Hindukush branch is known as the Kamboja Mahajanapada in Buddhist literature.

Conclusion

The incorporation of the clans by the Magadhan dynasty, which completely erased their distinct histories, was a major factor in the decline of the Mahajanapadas. Other than the descriptions of these neo-Vedic tribes in literature, poetry, and even the Brahmin Puranas, not much has been discovered about them.