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April 25, 2024
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The Mahajanapadas represent a crucial phase in the ancient history of the Indian subcontinent, marked by the emergence of powerful kingdoms that shaped the political, social, and cultural landscape of the region.
| STATE | CAPITAL | RULERS/IMPORTANT FEATURES |
| Magadha
(Modern Patna and Gaya) |
Rajagriha or Girivraja | Haryanka Dynasty ruled Magadha. |
| Anga
(Modern districts of Monghyr and Bhagalpur, Bihar) |
Champa
(located at the confluence of the Ganga and Champa rivers) |
Champa was an important commercial centre, and merchants sailed from here to Suvarnabhumi (Southeast Asia). |
| Vajji
(North of Ganga in the division of Tirhut) |
Vaishali
(Modern Basarh in North Bihar) |
King: Chetaka
|
| Mallas
(Gangetic Plains U.P.) |
Kushinara and Pava | Buddha took his last meal and was ill at Pava and attained Mahaparinirvana at Kusinara. |
| Kashi
(Varanasi U.P.) |
Varanasi
(between the Varuna and Assi rivers) |
Kashi was incorporated into Kosala by King Kansa. |
| Gandhara
(north-western Pakistan) |
Takshashila
(Major centre for trade and learning) |
The Behistun Inscription of the Achaemenid Emperor Darius mentions that the Persians conquered Gandhara in the later part of the 6th century BC. |
| Kosala
(Eastern U.P., including Ayodhya)
|
Sarayu River divides the state into two parts.
|
King: Prasenjit (Buddha’s contemporary) |
| Lumbini, included in the tribal republic of the Shakyas, is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. | ||
| Ashavaka/Assaka (Located between the rivers Godavari and Manjira) | Potali
(Modern Bodhan, district Nizamabad, and parts of Adilabad in Telangana) |
Only Mahajanapada, situated south of the Vindhya Range, was in Dakshinapatha. |
| Cheti or Chedi
(Eastern part of Bundelkhand region) |
Shuktimati or Sotthivatinagara | King: Shishupala |
| Vatsa
(on the banks of river Yamuna) |
Kaushambi
(at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, near Allahabad) |
|
| Kuru
(Western U.P.) |
Indraprastha | Mahabharata elaborates on the conflict between two branches of the reigning Kuru clan. |
| Panchala
(Western U.P.)
|
Ganga River divides the state into two parts:
|
Kanauj was situated in the kingdom of Panchala. |
| Matsya
(Jaipur, Alwar and Bharatpur area of Rajasthan) |
Viratanagara | Founder: Virata |
| Shurasena (Braj region in U.P.) |
Mathura
(on the banks of river Yamuna) |
King: Avantipura (Disciple of Buddha) |
| Avanti
(Central Malwa) |
Divided by the Vindhyas
North Avanti – Ujjain South Avanti – Mahishmati |
King: Pradyota
(Father-in-law of Udayana) |
| Kamboja
(Rajouri and Hajra (Kashmir) and NorthWest Frontier Province of Pakistan) |
Pooncha | Famous in ancient times for their excellent breed of horses and as remarkable horsemen located in the Uttarapatha or North-West. |
|
Must Read |
|
| Current Affairs | Editorial Analysis |
| Upsc Notes | Upsc Blogs |
| NCERT Notes | Free Main Answer Writing |
| Related Articles | |
| 16 MAHAJANAPADAS | Stupa Architecture: Sanchi & Buddhist Traditions |
| The Ganga River System | Life and Teachings of Gautama Buddha |
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