Early Indian history dates back to the 6th century BC. It is considered an important transitional period. This period is often associated with the development of early kingdoms, cities, the increased use of iron, and the development of coins. The use of iron-techniques and coins brought about a revolutionary change in material life and the trend of permanent life was further strengthened. Various philosophical ideologies developed during this period including Buddhism and Jainism. In the later Vedic period, there is mention of janapadas as states or administrative units. In fact, due to the development of agriculture, industry, trade, commerce, etc., there was a shift from rural life to civilian life and in BC. By the 6th century, these districts had developed into Mahajanapadas.
6th century BC A clear description of the political condition of India is not found in any text, but in some early texts of Buddhism and Jainism, a total of sixteen Mahajanapadas have been mentioned. Their nomenclature differs in different texts, possibly due to political changes at different times and the geographical knowledge of the list-makers. The grammarian Panini has mentioned 22 Mahajanapadas, out of which three - Magadha, Kosala and Vatsa have been described as important.
Sixteen Mahajanapadas
Sixteen Mahajanapadas of India are mentioned in BC. It dates back to the sixth century. The Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya mentions 16 Mahajanapadas, which suggest that the whole of northern India was divided into sixteen large kingdoms shortly before the Buddha's rise. The names of the sixteen mahajanapadas in the list of Anguttara Nikaya are as follows- Kashi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Ashmaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja. The names of only twelve states are found in the Janavasabhasutta. Kalinga has been added to the list of sixteen Mahajanapadas in the Chullanidesh and Yon is mentioned in place of Gandhara. In Mahavastu, instead of Gandhara and Kamboja, there is a mention of Shiva and Dasharna respectively. But in all these lists, the list of Angutarnika is considered to be authentic.
A list of Mahajanapadas is also found in the Jain text Bhagwatisutra But the names in this list are different, such as Anga, Banga, Magaha (Magadha), Malay, Malava, Achha, Vachha (Vatsa), Kochha, Padhya, Ladha, Vajji, Moli (Malla), Kashi, Kosala. , Awadh and Sambhuttar. Hemchandra Raychaudhuri estimates that the states mentioned in the Bhagwatisutra are indicative of the political situation in Far-East and Far-South India. The expansion of these Mahajanapadas suggests that they belong to the later kingdoms mentioned in the Anguttaranikaya. The sixteen mahajanapadas of Anguttaranikaya existed before Buddha because the kingdom of Kashi was included in Kosala and the kingdom of Anga in Magadha at the time of Gautam Buddha. Probably Ashmaka was also conquered by Avanti.
BC Intellectual Movement in the Sixth Century BC
Monarchy and Republic
In the sixteen Mahajanapadas mentioned in the Mahajanapada period, two types of government system were prevalent. Mahajanapadas like Anga, Magadha, Kashi, Kosala, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Ashmaka, Avanti, Gandhara, Kamboja had monarchical system, while some Mahajanapadas like Vajji and Malla were under Gana or Sangha. Monarchical Mahajanapadas were ruled by the king, but in the kingdoms of the Gana and Sangha, a group of specific people ruled, each person of this group was called 'Raja'.
Kashi
This Mahajanapada was spread over the present day Varanasi and its adjoining areas in ancient times. Its capital was Varanasi, which was surrounded by the Varuna in the north and the Asi rivers in the south. This is also confirmed by the travel account of Fahien, a Chinese traveler who came to India in the fifth century. In the Vayu, Brahmasma, Matsya, Markandeya and Padma Puranas, Kashi has been counted among the Madhyadeshi districts. According to the Puranas, the descendants of Pururava, who settled Kashi, were kings 'Kash', hence their descendants were called 'Kashi'. Probably this is the reason that the name of this district is 'Kashi'. It is said that Kashi is situated on the trident of Lord Shankar, hence it is considered to be a region outside the earth.
Ashwasen, the father of Jain Tirthankara Parshvanath, was one of the famous kings here. Buddhist texts show that there was a prolonged conflict between Kashi and Kosala and Kosala was once conquered by King Brahmadatta of Kashi. But in the end, the Kosala king Kansa conquered Kashi and included it in his kingdom. Hemchandra Raychaudhuri has compared Varanasi with Ancient Babylonian and Medieval Rome.
koshal
According to the Anguttaranikaya, before the Buddha period, Kosala was counted among the major Mahajanapadas of North India, whose capital was Ayodhya and Saket. This district was situated in the coastal region of Saryu, which included some areas of Faizabad, Ambedkarnagar, Gonda, Bahraich and Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh. In Pali texts it is called 'Sundarika ' Having said. Ayodhya, Saket and Shravasti were the main cities of this Mahajanapada. Ayodhya has the credit of being the oldest capital of Kosala. Saket was its second capital. In the time of Buddha, Saket and Shravasti were also counted in the six metropolis.
BC In the 6th century, the capital of Kosala was at Sravasti, the ruins of which have been found from Sahet-Mahet near Gonda. There is also a mention of Setvya, another city of Kosala in the Jatakas. In the Mahavagga Jataka, there is a discussion of the attack on Kosala by Kashiraj Brahmadatta. In course of time, the power of Kosala increased and it took control of Kashi. The credit for this goes to the Kosala king Kansa. The ruler of Kosala before Buddha was Mahakosala who married his daughter Mahakosala or Kosaladevi to Magadha-king Bimbisara. The contemporary of Buddha was King Prasenjit of Kosala. 6th and 5th centuries BC Kosala was as powerful a kingdom as Magadha.
limb
The Mahajanapadas, part of ancient India, included modern Bhagalpur, Munger and the adjoining areas of Bihar and Bengal. Anang is credited with establishing Anga in the Ramayana. In the Mahabharata and Matsya Purana, the credit for its establishment has been given to Anga. The capital of this Mahajanapada was Champa Nagari, situated on the banks of the Champa River. The first mention of Champa is found in the Atharvaveda. The ancient name of Champa in Mahabharata and Puranas is 'Malini ' Is obtained. It is known from the Dighanikaya that the planning of Champa city was done by the famous architect Mahagovind had created. Champa has been counted among six famous cities during the Buddha period. Due to Magadha being a neighboring Mahajanapada, the rivalry between Anga and Magadha continued for a long time. Initially, King Brahmadatta of this district had conquered some areas of Magadha by defeating King Bhattiya of Magadha. According to the widower Pandit Jataka, Rajagriha was the city of Anga kingdom. In course of time the power of Anga got weakened and this Mahajanapada was merged with Magadha.
magadh
This Mahajanapada was spread over the areas of Patna, Gaya and Shahabad of Bihar province. The extent of Magadha Mahajanapada extended from the Ganges in the north to the Vindhya Mountains in the south, the Champa in the east and the Son river in the west. Magadha was the most powerful district of northern India during the Buddhist period and later. Magadha and its capital Rajgriha are mentioned at many places in Jain literature Pragyapansutra. In the Ramayana, the credit for its establishment is given to Vasu, the son of Brahma and on this basis it is called Vasumati. Mythological descriptions suggest that it was founded by Kushagra. Magadha and Anga were neighboring states and the Champa river was the dividing line between them. Magadha was outside the sphere of influence of Aryan civilization till the later Vedic period. Magadha gets 'keycut in Abhidhan Chintamani ' Having said. For the first time in Magadha, a king named Vishwasphatik propagated the Aryan civilization by popularizing the tradition of varnas. Magadha was a powerful and organized monarchy during the time of Buddha. At this time Magadha was ruled by Bimbisara and then by his son Ajatashatru. Bimbisara made Girivraj (Rajgir) his capital. Later the capital of Magadha was established at Pataliputra. The power of this district continued to grow in the subsequent centuries and the history of Magadha became the history of the whole of India.
Rise of Magadha:Contribution of Haryanka, Shishunag and Nanda Dynasty
Vajji
The Republic of Vajji was a part of a state federation of ancient India. This Mahajanapada was spread between the Ganges and the Nepal Terai in modern Muzaffarpur. There were eight members (Athakul) of this state union, among which the Videhas of Mithila, the Lichchhavis of Vaishali and the Jantrikas of Kundapur were more famous. Mithila is equated with Janakpur situated on the Nepal border. Initially there was a monarchy in Videha, but later he joined the Sangh. Vaishali is identified with modern Basadh in Muzaffarpur district of northern Bihar. Kundagram was near Vaishali, which is identified with Kshatriyakund. Jain Tirthankara Mahavira was the son of Siddhartha, the head of the Gyantrikagana of Kundagram and his mother Trishala was the princess of the Lichchavigan of Vaishali. The other kingdoms were probably Ugra, Bhoga, Ikshvaku and Kauravas. The Republic of Vajji was a powerful sangha during the time of Buddha.
mall
This Ganasangh was spread over the present Deoria and Gorakhpur districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Like the Vajjis, the Mallas were also a sangha (gana) state. Valmiki Ramayana reveals that Ramachandra settled this divine puri for Lakshmana's son Chandraketu. According to Buddhist literature, there were two branches of the Mallas- Kushinara (Kushavati) and Pava (Padrauna). The equation of Kushinara is about 34 km from Deoria. The answer is done from the mound of Anurudhwa village of Kasaya. Pava, the second capital of the Mallas, is equated with Padrauna in Deoria district. Although some scholars identify it with the city of Fazil located to the south-east of Kasaya. Like Videha, there was a monarchical rule in the beginning, but later a republic was established. The rivalry between the Mallas and the Lichchhavis is mentioned in Buddhist and Jain literature. The Mallas continued their independent existence till the time of Buddha, but later it became a victim of the expansionist policy of Magadha.
Chedi
The Chedi kingdom was spread between the Chambal and Ken rivers to the south of the Yamuna in modern Bundelkhand. Its capital in Chetiya Jataka is mentioned as Sotthivati (Shuktimati). 'Sahajati located in Chedi region in Anguttar Nikaya The equation of the city named ' is done with Shuktimati of Mahabharata. The Vishnu Purana mentions Chediraj Shishupala, who is said to be the rival of Krishna of Mahabharata. The name of a king here is found in Chetiya Jataka. Uparichar is mentioned in the Mahabharata as Chediraj. Probably Kalingaraja Kharavela was the king of this dynasty. In Mudrarakshasa, the name of Chedi people along with Khas, Magadha, Yavana, Shaka, Huna is also found in Malayketu's army.
Watts
Vats Mahajanapada was spread around modern Allahabad and Banda. In Pali texts it is called 'Vansa' and in Jain literature it is called 'Vaccha'. The equation of its capital, Koshambi, is about 48 km from Allahabad. The west is done from the present Kosam situated on the left bank of Yamuna. Kusamba is credited with the establishment of Kosambi in Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Vishnu Purana reveals that King Nichakshhu of Hastinapur made Kosambi his capital after Hastinapur was washed away by the Ganges. At the time of Gautam Buddha, the ruler of Vatsa country was Pauravvanshi Udayana who married Vasavadatta, the daughter of Avanti-king Chandpradyota. In the excavations done in Kosambi, the remains of the royal palaces of Vihara, Parikha and Udayan have been found built by Shresthi Declaration.
kuru
The Kuru Mahajanapada included the regions of Thaneshwar, Meerut and Delhi. Its capital was Indraprastha (modern Delhi). In the Mahabharata period, the capital of Kuru district was Hastinapur (Meerut, Uttar Pradesh). The adjoining district of Kuru was Panchala, so both are mentioned together in many places. The political and matrimonial relations of the Kuru rulers were with the Yadavas, Bhojas and Panchalas. The king of this place was Koravya in the time of Buddha. Initially Kuru was a monarchical state, but later a republic was established here.
Panchal
The Panchal Mahajanapada was spread over the districts of Bareilly, Budaun, Etah, Mainpuri and Farrukhabad in western Uttar Pradesh. Panchala was the collective name of five ancient clans – Krivi, Keshi, Srinjaya, Turvas and Somak. The Mahabharata and Buddhist texts show that it also had two branches - the northern Panchala and the southern Panchal and the Ganges river was the dividing line between the two. The northern Panchala extended from the Himalayas to the northern bank of the Ganges with its capital at Ahichhatra or Chhatravati or Adisdra mentioned by Ptolemy. Its remains have been found from Ramnagar (Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh). The southern Panchala ranged from the southern bank of the Ganges to Charmanavati and its capital was Kampilya. काम्पिल्य की पहचान फर्रुखाबाद जिले में फतेहगढ़ के निकट स्थित कंपिल से की गई है। ब्राह्मण, बौद्ध तथा जैन ग्रंथों में पांचाल के शासक चूलिन ब्रह्मदत्त का उल्लेख है। शतपथ ब्राह्मण में पांचाल की ‘परिचका ’ नामक नगरी का उल्लेख है, जिसकी पहचान महाभारत की ‘एकचका’ से की जा सकती है। BC छठी शताब्दी में कुरु तथा पांचाल का एक संघ राज्य था।
मत्स्य (मच्छ)
मत्स्य महाजनपद आधुनिक राजस्थान के अलवर, भरतपुर तथा जयपुर जिले में विस्तृत था। इसकी राजधानी विराटनगर (आधुनिक बैराट) की स्थापना विराट नामक राजा ने की थी। भागवत तथा विष्णु पुराण में मत्स्य का उल्लेख वसु के पाँच पुत्रों में किया गया है। महाभारत में सहज को मत्स्य एवं चेदि दोनों राज्यों पर शासन करते हुए वर्णित किया गया है। दीघनिकाय में मत्स्य जनपद का उल्लेख शूरसेन के साथ मिलता है। पांडवों ने मत्स्य देश में विराट के यहाँ रहकर अपने अज्ञातवास का एक वर्ष व्यातीत किया था। बुद्धकाल में इस महाजनपद का कोई विशेष महत्त्व नहीं था।
शूरसेन
शूरसेन उत्तरी भारत का प्रसिद्ध महाजनपद था जो आधुनिक ब्रजमंडल में फैला हुआ था। इसकी राजधानी मथुरा थी। प्राचीन यूनानी लेखकों ने इस राज्य को ‘शूरसेनोई’ तथा इसकी राजधानी को ‘मेथोरा’ कहा है। महाभारत तथा पुराणों के अनुसार यहाँ यदु (यादव) वंश का शासन था और कृष्ण यहाँ के राजा थे। यदुवंश वीतिहोत्र, सात्वत इत्यादि कुलों में विभक्त था। बुद्ध के समय यहाँ का शासक अवंतिपुत्र था, जिसकी सहायता से मथुरा में बौद्ध धर्म का प्रचार-प्रसार संभव हुआ। मज्झिमनिकाय के अनुसार अवंतिपुत्र का जन्म अवंति नरेश प्रद्योत की कन्या से हुआ था। मेगस्थनीज के समय मथुरा कृष्णोपासना का प्रमुख केंद्र था। प्रारंभ में यहाँ गणतंत्र था, किंतु बाद में राजतंत्र की स्थापना की गई।
अश्मक
प्राचीन भारत के 16 महाजनपदों में अश्मक एक मात्र महाजनपद था जो विंध्य पर्वत के दक्षिण में स्थित था। बौद्ध साहित्य सुत्तनिपात में अश्मक को गोदावरी-तट पर बताया गया है। वायु पुराण और महाभारत में अश्मक नामक राजा का उल्लेख मिलता है। संभवतः इसी राजा के नाम से यह जनपद अश्मक कहलाया। प्रारंभ में अश्मक गोदावरी के तट पर बसे हुए थे और पोतलि अथवा पैठान (प्रतिष्ठानपुर) इनकी राजधानी थी। पुराणों के अनुसार इक्ष्वाकुवंशीय राजाओं ने अश्मक में राजतंत्र की स्थापना किया था। ग्रीक लेखकों ने अस्सकेनोई (अश्वकों) लोगों का उल्लेख उत्तर-पश्चिमी भारत में किया है। अस्सक जातक में पोतलि नगर की गणना काशी के अंतर्गत की गई है। बुद्ध के पूर्व अश्मक का अवंति के साथ निरंतर संघर्ष चल रहा था और बुद्ध के समय में अवंति ने इसे जीतकर अपने साम्राज्य में सम्मिलित कर लिया था।
भारत पर ईरानी और यूनानी आक्रमण :( Iranian and Greek Invasions of India)
अवंति
अवंति महाजनपद को जैन ग्रंथ भगवतीसूत्र में ‘मालव’ कहा गया है। जैन ग्रंथ विविधतीर्थकल्प में मालवा प्रदेश का नाम अवंति मिलता है। इस महाजनपद में स्थूल रूप से वर्तमान मालवा, निमाड़ और मध्य प्रदेश के बीच का भाग सम्मिलित था। पुराणों के अनुसार अवंति की स्थापना यदुवंशी क्षत्रियों द्वारा की गई थी। संभवतः अवंति जनपद दो भागों में बँटा था- उत्तरी अवंति और दक्षिणी अवंति। उत्तरी अवंति की राजधानी उज्जयिनी तथा दक्षिणी अवंति की राजधानी महिष्मती थी। अवंतिका या उज्जयिनी की गणना मुक्तिदायक सात नगरों में की गई है। पुराणों से पता चलता है कि पुलिक अथवा पुणिक ने अपने स्वामी की हत्या करके अपने पुत्र प्रद्योत को अभिषिक्त किया था। बुद्ध के समय में अवंति का राजा चंडप्रद्योत था। भास रचित ‘स्वप्नवासवदत्ता ’ से पता चलता है कि प्रद्योत की पुत्री वासवदत्ता से वत्सराज उदयन ने विवाह किया था। जैन ग्रंथ परिशिष्टपर्वन् से पता चलता है कि मगध और अवंति का संघर्ष लंबे समय तक चलता रहा था।
गांधार
गांधार महाजनपद पाकिस्तान के पश्चिमी तथा अफगानिस्तान के पूर्वी क्षेत्रों में विस्तृत था। इस प्रदेश का मुख्य केंद्र आधुनिक पेशावर के आसपास था। इसकी राजधानी तक्षशिला का समीकरण रावलपिंडी से लगभग 19 कि.मी. उत्तर-पश्चिम स्थित शाह की ढ़ेरी से किया जाता है। केकय-नरेश युधाजित् के कहने पर रामचंद्र के भाई भरत ने गंधर्व देश को जीतकर यहाँ तक्षशिला और पुष्कलावती नामक नगरों को बसाया था। तक्षशिला प्राचीन काल से ही शैक्षिक एवं व्यापारिक गतिविधियों का प्रमुख केंद्र था। धम्मपदट्ठकथा से पता चलता है कि प्रसेनजित की शिक्षा तक्षशिला में हुई थी। यहाँ क शासक पुष्करसारिन मगध के शासक बिंबिसार का समकालीन था जिसने एक दूत-मंडल मगध नरेश के दरबार में भेजा था।
कंबोज
बौद्ध ग्रंथ अंगुत्तरनिकाय एवं पाणिनी के अष्टाध्यायी में कंबोज की गणना पंद्रह शक्तिशाली जनपदों में की गई है। बौद्ध ग्रंथ अस्सलायणसुत्तंत तथा अशोक के शिलालेखों में ‘योनकंबोजेसु ’ ‘योनकंबोजगंधारयेसु’ (धौली) ‘योनकंबोजगंधराणाम्’ (गिरनार) का उल्लेख मिलता है। इससे लगता है कि कंबोज गांधार के निकट ही उससे संलग्न था। प्राचीन वैदिक साहित्य से ज्ञात होता है कि कंबोज देश का विस्तार उत्तर में कश्मीर से हिंदुकुश तक था। राजपुर, द्वारका तथा कपिशी इसके प्रमुख नगर थे। कंबोजाल्लुक सूत्र से ज्ञात होता है कि वैयाकरण पाणिनि स्वयं कंबोज के सहवर्ती प्रदेश के निवासी थे। चतुर्थ शताब्दी ई.पू. में कंबोज में संघ या गणराज्य की स्थापना भी की गई थी क्योंकि अर्थशास्त्र में कंबोजों को ‘वार्ताशस्त्रोपजीवी संघ’ अर्थात् कृषि और शस्त्र से जीविका अर्जन करनेवाले संघ की संज्ञा दी गई है।
इस प्रकार छठी शताब्दी ई.पू. के सभी महाजनपद आज के उत्तरी अफगानिस्तान से बिहार तक और हिंदुकुश से गोदावरी नदी तक में फैले हुए थे। बौद्ध निकायों में भारत को पाँच भागों में विभाजित किया गया है- उत्तरापथ (पश्चिमोत्तर भाग), मध्यदेश, प्राची (पूर्वी भाग), दक्षिणापथ तथा अपरांत (पश्चिमी भाग)। इससे लगता है कि भारत की भौगोलिक एकता ई.पू. छठी सदी से ही परिकल्पित है। जैन ग्रंथ भगवतीसूत्र और सूत्रकृतांग, पाणिनी की अष्टाध्यायी, बौधायन धर्मसूत्र और महाभारत में उपलब्ध जनपद-सूची पर दृष्टिपात करने पर पता चलता है कि उत्तर में हिमालय से कन्याकुमारी तक तथा पश्चिम में गांधार प्रदेश से लेकर पूर्व में असम तक का प्रदेश इन महाजनपदों से आच्छादित था।
BC Intellectual Movement in the Sixth Century BC
प्राचीन भारत में गणराज्य (Republics in Ancient India)