16 Mahajanapadas Names and their Details

Mahajanapdas were kingdoms that rose to prominence from the 6th century BC onwards. The Mahajanapadas are a collection of tribes that banded together to create various organisations, which subsequently gave rise to a permanent area of settlements known as “states” or “Janapadas.”

The 16 Mahajanapadas Names

In the 6th century BC, India was divided into various kingdoms. During this time, the Indo-Gangetic plain experienced socioeconomic progress as well as religious and political developments.

From Janapadas to Mahajanapadas, these villages paved the way. By the sixth century BC, the concentration of political activity had shifted from the western to the eastern parts of the Gangetic plain. Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh made up the eastern half of the Gangetic plain. The lush soils, better climate, and terrain conditions blessed with rainfall and rivers were the key reasons for this shift. In reality, it was the increased use of iron tools and weaponry that allowed tiny nations to coalesce into the Mahajanapadas monarchy.

 

Mahajanapadas    

16 Mahajanapadas Capital

Significance

Anga

Champa 
  • Anga Mahajanapada is mentioned in both the Mahabharata and the Atharva Veda
  • Under the reign of Bimbisara, the Magadha Empire captured it
  • It can be found in Bihar and West Bengal nowadays
  • Champa, the state capital, was situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Champa rivers.
  • Merchants travelled from here to Suvarnabhumi, which was a major commerce hub on the routes (South East Asia).

Magadha 

Rajagriha 
  • Magadha is mentioned in the Atharva Veda
  • It was separated from Anga in modern-day Bihar by the Champa River
  • Magadha later became a Jain centre, and Rajagriha was the site of the first Buddhist Council.

Kasi 

Kasi 
  • The location was Varanasi
  • This city was called after the rivers Varuna and Asi, according to the Matsya Purana
  • Kasi was caught by Kosala.

Vatsa

Kaushambi 
  • Vatsa is also known as Vamsa
  • Located on the banks of the Yamuna
  • The Mahajanapada was ruled by a monarchical system
  • The capital was Kausambi/Kaushambi (which was at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna)
  • This was a significant commercial centre
  • Trade and commerce prospered throughout the sixth century
  • The emperor Udayana adopted Buddhism as the state religion after Buddha’s ascent.

Kosala 

Shravasti (northern)

Kushavati (southern)
  • It was in the modern Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The region also included Ayodhya, an important city associated with the Ramayana
  • The tribal republican area of Kapilavastu’s Sakyas is also included in Kosala
  • Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini’s Kapilavastu
  • Prasenajit was a powerful ruler during Buddha’s lifetime.

Shurasena 

Mathura 
  • This place was a centre of Krishna worship during Megasthenes’ time
  • The Buddha’s disciples also wielded sway
  • Awantipura is a mighty king (Disciple of Buddha)
  • Its capital, Mathura, was situated on the Yamuna’s banks.

Panchala 

Ahichchhatra and Kampilya
  • Its northern Panchala capital was Ahichchatra (modern Bareilly), and its southern Panchala capital was Kampilya (modern Farrukhabad)
  • The famous city of Kannauj was located in the Kingdom of Panchala
  • The government then converted from a monarchy to a republic.

Kuru 

Indraprastha 
  • Kuru Mahajanapada was most likely born in the Kurukshetra area
  • It switched to a Republican administration
  • A fight between two branches of the ruling Kuru clan is described in the Mahabharata, an epic poem.

Matsya 

Viratanagara
  • It was located between the Panchalas and the Kurus, to the west of the Panchalas and to the south of the Kurus
  • The capital of Viratanagara was Viratanagara (modern Bairat)
  • Jaipur, Alwar, and Bharatpur are all in the Rajasthan area
  • Virata is the founder.

Chedi 

Sothivathi 
  • In the Rigveda, this is referenced
  • The capital was Sothivati/Shuktimati/Sotthivatinagara
  • It is presently in the Bundelkhand region (Central India)
  • The King is Shishupala. Vasudeva Krishna assassinated Pandava ruler Yudhishthira during the Rajasuya sacrifice.

Avanti 

Ujjaini or Mahishmati
  • Avanti was a pivotal figure in the birth of Buddhism
  • Ujjaini (northern region) and Mahishmati were the capitals of Avanti (southern part)
  • It was in the present-day states of Malwa, and Madhya Pradesh
  • Pradyota was a strong ruler.

Gandhara

Taxila 
  • The capital of Taxila was Taxila (Takshashila)
  • Pakistan’s modern Peshawar and Rawalpindi, as well as the Kashmir valley
  • Gandhara is mentioned in the Atharva Veda
  • The people were well-versed in fighting techniques
  • In terms of international trade, it was significant
  • Pushkarasarin is a formidable ruler
  • The Persians conquered Gandhara in the late sixth century BCE.

Kamboja 

Poonch 
  • Kamboja’s capital was Poonch
  • It is found in the Hindukush and Kashmir today
  • According to numerous literary sources, Kamboja was a republic
  • The horse breed of Kambojas was remarkable.

Asmara

Postal/Podana
  • It was on the Godavari’s banks
  • It was Dakshinapatha’s only Mahajanapada, located south of the Vindhya Range
  • The Pratisthan or Paithan region is included.

Vajji 

Vaishali 
  • The Vajjis dominated the Tirhut section of the state north of the Ganga
  • The Lichchhavis (Capital – Vaishali), Videhans (Capital – Mithila), and Jnatrikas were the most powerful clans (based in Kundapura)
  • Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrikas family
  • The Vajjis were defeated by Ajatashatru.

Malla 

Kusinara 
  • The Mahabharata, as well as Buddhist and Jain scriptures, reference it
  • Malla was a republic with a democratic government
  • Its area stretched to the northern border of the Vajji state
  • The capitals are Kusinara and Pava
  • In Buddhist history, both capitals are noteworthy. Before entering Mahaparinirvana in Kusinara, the Buddha ate his farewell supper at Pava.

Conclusion

Between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE, the 16 mahajanapadas map included sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that flourished in ancient India during the second urbanisation era. A group of sixteen ancient Indian kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas. It all began when tribes (Janas) in the late Vedic period decided to form their territorial organisations. This ultimately gave rise to new and stable settlement zones known as states or ‘janapadas.’

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