According to 'Anguttara Nikaya', by the 6th century BC India was divided into sixteen states or 'Janapadas'.
- Anga - Champa
- Maghada - Giriwraja
- Kasi - Baranasi
- Kosala - Kusawati, Shraswati
- Vajji - Vesali
- Malla - Kusinara, Pada
- Vatsa - Kausambi
- Cheta - Soththimati
- Avanti - Upajayani
- Matsha - Virat
- Surasena - Mathura
- Kuru - Indraprasta, Delhi
- Panchala - Abhichatra, kampilya
- Gandara - Thaksila, Pushkalawati
- Kamboja
- Asmaga - Pratistana
During this period in the Western part, known as Panchaladesh, new Aryan settlements were formed. In Brahmin chronicals it was mentioned that Videgha Mathawa, a leader in the state of Sarasvati worshipped the God Agni - The god of fire.
So it is believed that Videgha Mathawa had introduced the 'Agni Pooja' of the Aryans so the Western side of the India. Videgha or the North Bihar was ruled by a king named Janaka. The capital of Bihar was Mithila.
As presented in Yajurveda, Settlements were formed in South Bihar or Maghada. But Maghada was considered a semi non-Aryan settlement. Two Aryan tribes, 'Wrathya and Nishada' formed their settlements in Anga Pradesh situated to the north of Maghada.
Meanwhile, in 'Udichidesh' in northern part of India, Aryan tribes Uttara Kuru and Uttara Madhu formed settlements. Finally, settlements were formed in the dakshinadesh and the tribes, Andra, Pulinda, Muiniba and Sabara lived in them. Spreading from the north-west, the formation of the Aryan settlements in India started around 1500BC. By 600 century BC the Aryans completely settled in India. From India they migrated to Sri Lanka and other nearby countries and formed settlements.
Champa was the capital of the state of Anga located in the North Bihar. Geographically this state was very important to engage in business transaction. Port 'Thambraputra' was in the delta of the Ganges. From that port merchants in the Anga were able to visit other South India ports. They were able to keep contacts with the neighboring Burma - Present Myanmar.
Maghada had the facilities to become an empire and its oldest capital was Giribaja. later Rajagaha and Patali Putra(patna) became its capitals respectively. Maghada provided a suitable environment to experiment political ideologies. Atarveda was the first chronical to mention about Maghada.\
In later years, the state of 'Kasi' joined with the state of Maghada. Kasi was a prosperous state in the Ganges valley. Its capital 'Baranasi' became famous as it was located between the rivers 'varuna and Asi'. The river 'Sarabhu' geographically divided the state of Kosala into two parts.
This made the Kosala have two capitals. 'Sarasvati' became the capital of north kosala and 'Kuasawati' became the capital of south kosala. Saketa, Ayodya, Setawaya were some cities in the south Kosala. Later Kosala state too went under the rule of Maghada.
Vajji, in the North Bihar, was the kingdom of Lichchavi. wesali was its capital and this state was formed of nine tribes. The state of 'Malla', had a republic called 'Ghana'. It had two capitals as Kushinara, Pava. Kaushabi was the capital of Watsa. Udena was one of the kings who ruled the state of Watsa. taking the character of Udena as theme, Three dramas were written as Priyadarshika, Swapna-Wasawadatta and Ratnawali.
Chedi or Cheta was a state situated to the south of Vajji. Sottimati was the capital of this state. The people in the Cheta tribe later formed the Chetha Empire in kalinga. A stone inscription found in 'Hastigumbha' mentions a name of a king called 'Kharawela' belonging to the Chetha dynasty.
The state of Avanti was located at present Malawa area. Maheesmati was the oldest capital of this state. Later Ujjaini became its capital. The road leading from the Rajagaha Nuwara to prastisthan, the capital city of the state Asmata went across the state of Avanti.
Avanti Putra was the ruler of the state Surasena and the capital of Surasena was Mathura. In later years Mathura became a very religious place among the followers of God Vishnu. Indraprasad or Delhi was the capital of the state in Kuru. During the period of Lord Buddha, a king named kaurawa ruled Kuru.
The capital of the Matsya state was Virat or Wairat. Panchala was another state that existed during the time of Lord Buddha. Abhichatra and kampilya were its capitals. Peshawar and Rawalpindi were two north-western districts in India. They were in the state of Gandhara. Takshala was the capital of Ghandara then. In the days of Lord Buddha a king named Pukkusathi ruled Ghandara. The present Kandhahar is the ancient Ghandar. The state of Kamboja was situated to the north of Ghandar. The state of Asmatha was in the upper reaches of the river Godhavari. Pratisthan was its capital. It was also known as Potali, Potana and Paitan.
The 'Dhiganikaya' gives information about the 'Gana Rajya' or republics that functioned in the days of Lord Buddha in India. It tells about the Sakyans in Kapilawastu, the Mallawas in Kushinara, the Lichchavis in Vasali, the vedehas in Mithila, the Koliyas in Ramagrama, the Bullians in Allakappa, the Kalamas in Keshaputra, the Borias in the Pippili Jungle and the Bhaggas in Sunsumaragiri.
All this information tell that during the days of Lord Buddha the majority of people in Bharata preferred Ghan Rajya method of ruling which had more democratic features than in the monarchy.
People had even the voting rights to select their leaders under the democratic rule of the Lichchavis. The sixteen states that functioned in India during the time of Buddha, vied with each other to gain hegemony. As a result of this competition Maghada, Kosala, Vatsya and Avanti emerged more powerful than the other states.
Ultimately, Maghada became the greatest of all. Under the regimes of Bimbisara, Ajasatta, Sisunaga and the Nanda dynasty, Maghada laid the foundation to the status of an empire. During the reign of King Maha Padmananda the state of Maghada extended to North India and to a part of South India. Later the invasions by the Persians and Alexander the Great paved the background for the first establishment of Maghada or the Maurya empire in India.
So it is believed that Videgha Mathawa had introduced the 'Agni Pooja' of the Aryans so the Western side of the India. Videgha or the North Bihar was ruled by a king named Janaka. The capital of Bihar was Mithila.
As presented in Yajurveda, Settlements were formed in South Bihar or Maghada. But Maghada was considered a semi non-Aryan settlement. Two Aryan tribes, 'Wrathya and Nishada' formed their settlements in Anga Pradesh situated to the north of Maghada.
Meanwhile, in 'Udichidesh' in northern part of India, Aryan tribes Uttara Kuru and Uttara Madhu formed settlements. Finally, settlements were formed in the dakshinadesh and the tribes, Andra, Pulinda, Muiniba and Sabara lived in them. Spreading from the north-west, the formation of the Aryan settlements in India started around 1500BC. By 600 century BC the Aryans completely settled in India. From India they migrated to Sri Lanka and other nearby countries and formed settlements.
Champa was the capital of the state of Anga located in the North Bihar. Geographically this state was very important to engage in business transaction. Port 'Thambraputra' was in the delta of the Ganges. From that port merchants in the Anga were able to visit other South India ports. They were able to keep contacts with the neighboring Burma - Present Myanmar.
Maghada had the facilities to become an empire and its oldest capital was Giribaja. later Rajagaha and Patali Putra(patna) became its capitals respectively. Maghada provided a suitable environment to experiment political ideologies. Atarveda was the first chronical to mention about Maghada.\
In later years, the state of 'Kasi' joined with the state of Maghada. Kasi was a prosperous state in the Ganges valley. Its capital 'Baranasi' became famous as it was located between the rivers 'varuna and Asi'. The river 'Sarabhu' geographically divided the state of Kosala into two parts.
This made the Kosala have two capitals. 'Sarasvati' became the capital of north kosala and 'Kuasawati' became the capital of south kosala. Saketa, Ayodya, Setawaya were some cities in the south Kosala. Later Kosala state too went under the rule of Maghada.
Vajji, in the North Bihar, was the kingdom of Lichchavi. wesali was its capital and this state was formed of nine tribes. The state of 'Malla', had a republic called 'Ghana'. It had two capitals as Kushinara, Pava. Kaushabi was the capital of Watsa. Udena was one of the kings who ruled the state of Watsa. taking the character of Udena as theme, Three dramas were written as Priyadarshika, Swapna-Wasawadatta and Ratnawali.
Chedi or Cheta was a state situated to the south of Vajji. Sottimati was the capital of this state. The people in the Cheta tribe later formed the Chetha Empire in kalinga. A stone inscription found in 'Hastigumbha' mentions a name of a king called 'Kharawela' belonging to the Chetha dynasty.
The state of Avanti was located at present Malawa area. Maheesmati was the oldest capital of this state. Later Ujjaini became its capital. The road leading from the Rajagaha Nuwara to prastisthan, the capital city of the state Asmata went across the state of Avanti.
Avanti Putra was the ruler of the state Surasena and the capital of Surasena was Mathura. In later years Mathura became a very religious place among the followers of God Vishnu. Indraprasad or Delhi was the capital of the state in Kuru. During the period of Lord Buddha, a king named kaurawa ruled Kuru.
The capital of the Matsya state was Virat or Wairat. Panchala was another state that existed during the time of Lord Buddha. Abhichatra and kampilya were its capitals. Peshawar and Rawalpindi were two north-western districts in India. They were in the state of Gandhara. Takshala was the capital of Ghandara then. In the days of Lord Buddha a king named Pukkusathi ruled Ghandara. The present Kandhahar is the ancient Ghandar. The state of Kamboja was situated to the north of Ghandar. The state of Asmatha was in the upper reaches of the river Godhavari. Pratisthan was its capital. It was also known as Potali, Potana and Paitan.
The 'Dhiganikaya' gives information about the 'Gana Rajya' or republics that functioned in the days of Lord Buddha in India. It tells about the Sakyans in Kapilawastu, the Mallawas in Kushinara, the Lichchavis in Vasali, the vedehas in Mithila, the Koliyas in Ramagrama, the Bullians in Allakappa, the Kalamas in Keshaputra, the Borias in the Pippili Jungle and the Bhaggas in Sunsumaragiri.
All this information tell that during the days of Lord Buddha the majority of people in Bharata preferred Ghan Rajya method of ruling which had more democratic features than in the monarchy.
People had even the voting rights to select their leaders under the democratic rule of the Lichchavis. The sixteen states that functioned in India during the time of Buddha, vied with each other to gain hegemony. As a result of this competition Maghada, Kosala, Vatsya and Avanti emerged more powerful than the other states.
Ultimately, Maghada became the greatest of all. Under the regimes of Bimbisara, Ajasatta, Sisunaga and the Nanda dynasty, Maghada laid the foundation to the status of an empire. During the reign of King Maha Padmananda the state of Maghada extended to North India and to a part of South India. Later the invasions by the Persians and Alexander the Great paved the background for the first establishment of Maghada or the Maurya empire in India.
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