3.2.

1 Vedic Kingdoms
From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Chapter 1

3.2.1 Vedic Kingdoms

1.1 Haryanka dynasty
The Haryanka dynasty was the second ruling dynasty
of Magadha, an ancient kingdom in India, which succeeded the Barhadratha dynasty. The reign of this dynasty probably began in 684 BCE. Initially, the capital
was Rajagriha. Later, it was shifted to Pataliputra, near
the present day Patna in India. This dynasty was succeeded by the Shishunaga dynasty.

1.1.1

This dynasty rather than Shishunaga

was the second in Magadha

According to ancient Hindu texts (the Puranas), the

second ruling dynasty was the Shishunaga dynasty, but
an earlier authority, Ashvagosha in his Buddhacharita
refers to Bimbisara, who is mentioned as a ruler of the
Shaishunaga dynasty in the Puranas, as a scion of the
Haryanka-kula.[1] According to another Buddhist text,
the Mahavamsa, Bimbisara was not the founder of this
dynasty, as he was anointed king by his father at the age
of fteen.[2] According to George Turnour and N.L. Dey,
the name of the father of Bimbisara was Bhatiya or Bhattiya, but the Puranas refer him as Hemajit, Kshemajit,
Kshetroja or Ksetrauja and the Tibetan texts mention him
as Mahapadma.[3]

Eastern border of the Achaemenid Empire

the Buddha.
According to Buddhist scriptures, King Bimbisara met
the Buddha for the rst time prior to the Buddhas enlightenment, and later became an important disciple that
featured prominently in certain Buddhist suttas. He is
recorded to have attained sotapannahood, a degree of enlightenment in Buddhist teachings.

Jain scriptures, on the other hand, described King Bimbisara as a disciple of Mahavira who frequently sought
1.1.2 Bimbisara
his teachings. As per Jain texts, he is referred to as
King Shrenika of Rajgriha (being the possessor of a large
Main article: Bimbisara
army). Bimbisara sent Jivaka to Ujjain for medical treatThe Haryanka king Bimbisara was responsible for ex- ment of King Pradyata, the king of Avanti. He was
panding the boundaries of his kingdom through matri- Baldev in a previous life. Per scriptures, this soul is to
monial alliances and conquest. The land of Kosala fell to become the rst tirthankara of the next cycle. Marriage
Magadha in this way. He is referred to as King Shrenik alliances Family tree showing Mahaviras relation to King
in Jain scriptures.
Bimbisara
Estimates place the territory ruled by this early dynasty at Bimbisara used marriage alliances to strengthen his po300 leagues in diameter, and encompassing 80,000 small sition. His rst wife was Kosala Devi, the daughter of
settlements.
Mah Kosala the king of Kosala, and a sister of PrasenBimbsara was contemporary of Lord Mahavir and devout
follower of Buddha. He remained a devout devotee and
follower of Buddha throughout his life. Career King Bimbisara, depicted in Burmese art, oering his kingdom to

jit. His bride brought him Kashi, which was then a

mere village, as dowry.[5] This marriage also ended the
hostility between Magadha and Kosala and gave him a
free hand in dealing with the other states. Bimbisaras
2

1.2. SHISHUNAGA DYNASTY

second wife, Chellana, was a Lichchhavi princess from 1.1.6 See also
Vaishali.[6] As per Indologist Hermann Jacobi, Mahavira
(Vardhamana) was related to Queen Chellana who was Pradyota dynasty
daughter of King Chetaka, Mahaviras uncle. Bimbisaras
third wife, Kshema, was a daughter of the chief of the
1.1.7 Notes
Madra clan of Punjab.[7] Death
Tradition tells us that Bimbisara was imprisoned by his
son Ajatashatru who is said to have executed him; but he
then realized what he had done and tried to reverse the
orders but it was too late. This is reported to have taken
place around 491 BC.[3]

[1] Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 103

[2] Raychaudhuri 1972, pp. 105
[3] Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 105

1.1.8 References
1.1.3

Ajatashatru

Main article: Ajatashatru

In some sources, Bimbisara was imprisoned and killed by
his son and successor, Ajatasattu (or Ajatashatru), under
whose rule the dynasty reached its largest extent.

1. Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta.

1.2 Shishunaga dynasty

The Shishunaga dynasty is believed to have been the

Vaishali, ruled by the Licchavis, went to war with the third ruling dynasty of Magadha, a kingdom in ancient
kingdom of Magadha at some point, due to a border dis- India. But according to the Puranas, this dynasty is the
pute involving gem mines.
second ruling dynasty of Magadha, which succeeded the
[1]
He is thought to have ruled from 492 to 460 BC. Due Barhadratha dynasty.
to his expanding strategy, he incorporated kashi and vajji Shishunaga, the founder of this dynasty was initially an
into his kingdom. Lord Buddha got nirvan in his eighth amatya (minister) of the last Haryanka dynasty ruler
year of his rule. He built a stupa in Rajgirha on the Ashes Nagadasaka and ascended to the thone after a popular reof Lord Buddha. First Bodh sangati was held during his bellion in c. 413 BCE.[2] The capital of this dynasty inirule in Rajgirh in which Bodh education was scripted in tially was Rajagriha, but later shifted to Pataliputra, near
two books named sutpatika and vinyapatika. He ruled the present day Patna during the reign of Kakavarna. Ac28 years according to Purana and according to Bodh he cording to tradition, Kakavarna was succeeded by his ten
ruled 32 years. Udayin killed him and became the king sons.[3] This dynasty was succeeded by the Nanda dynasty
of magadha.
in c.345 BCE.[4]

1.1.4

Udayabhadra

1.2.1 Shishunaga

Main article: Shishunaga

The Mahavamsa text tells that Udayabhadra eventually
succeeded his father, Ajatashatru, moving the capital of
the Magadha kingdom to Pataliputra, which under the Shishunaga (also called King Sisunaka) was the founder
later Mauryan dynasty, would become the largest city in of this dynasty, known as the Shishunaga or Shaishunaga dynasty. He established the Magadha empire in 413
the world.
BCE. This empire, with its original capital in Rajgriha,
He is believed to have ruled for sixteen years.
later shifted to Pataliputra (both currently in the Indian
state of Bihar). Buddhist sources also indicate that he had
a secondary capital at Vaishali,[5] formerly the capital of
the Vajji mahajanapada, until it was conquered by Mag1.1.5 Later rulers
adha. The Shishunaga dynasty in its time was the rulers
The kingdom had a particularly bloody succession. Anu- of one of the largest empires of the Indian subcontinent.
ruddha eventually succeeded Udaybhadra through assassination, and his son Munda succeeded him in the same
1.2.2
fashion, as did his son Nagadasaka.

Kakavarna Kalashoka

Due in part to this bloody dynastic feuding, it is thought According to the Puranas, Shishunaga was succeeded by
that a civil revolt led to the emergence of the Shishunaga his son Kakavarna and according to the Sinhala chronidynasty.
cles by his son Kalashoka. On the basis of the evidence

CHAPTER 1. 3.2.1 VEDIC KINGDOMS

of the Ashokavadana, Hermann Jacobi, Wilhelm Geiger

and Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar concluded that both
are same. During Shishunagas reign, he was the governor of Varanasi. Two most signicant events of his reign
are the Second Buddhist council at Vaishaliin 383BC and
the nal transfer of capital to Pataliputra.[6] According to
the Harshacharita, he was killed by a dagger thrust in to
his throat in the vicinity of his capital.[7]

1.3 Ror Dynasty

The Ror dynasty (Sindhi: ) ruled from Rori, the

capital of Sindh now town of Sukkur, Pakistan, which
was built by Dhaj, Ror Kumar, a Ror Kshatriya, in the
5th century BCE. Rori has been known by names such as
Roruka and Rorik since antiquity. Buddhist Jataka stories
talk about exchanges of gifts between King Rudrayan of
Roruka and King Bimbisara of Magadha.[1] Divyavadana,
the Buddhist chronicle has said that Ror historically com1.2.3 Later rulers
peted with Patliputra in terms of political inuence.[2]
The scholar T.W. Rhys Davids has mentioned Roruka as
According to tradition, ten sons of Kalashoka ruled si- one of the most important cities of India in the seventh
multaneously. The Mahabodhivamsa states their names century B.C.[3]
as Bhadrasena, Korandavarna, Mangura, Sarvanjaha, JaShortly after the reign of Rudrayan, in the times of his
lika, Ubhaka, Sanjaya, Koravya, Nandivardhana and
son Shikhandi, Roruka got wiped out in a major sand
Panchamaka. Only one of them mentioned in the Puranic
storm.[4] This event is recorded in both Buddhist (Bhallists, Nandivardhana.[3] Nandivardhana or Mahanandin
latiya Jataka) and Jain[5] annals. It was then that the legwas probably the last ruler of this dynasty, his empire was
endary Dhaj, Ror Kumar (Rai Diyach in Sindhi folklore)
inherited by his illegitimate son Mahapadma Nanda.
built Rori Shankar Rohri and Sukkur in Pakistan in the
year 450 BC.

1.2.4

Shishunaga dynasty rulers

Shishunaga (413395 BCE)

Kakavarna Kalashoka (395367 BCE)
Mahanandin (367345 BCE)

1.2.5

Notes

1.3.1 List of rulers

Following the foundation of Rori Shankar is Rohri and
Sukkur in Pakistan by Dhaj, Ror Kumar, 41 kings followed him one after the other till Dadror. Listing them
starting from 450 BC till 489 AD, the dynasty grew as
follows:[6]
Dhaj, Ror Kumar

[1] Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 103

Kunak

[2] Raychaudhuri 1972, pp. 193,201

Rurak

[3] Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 196

[4] Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 201

Harak
Devanik
Ahinak

[5] http://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&
pg=PA272

Paripat

[6] Raychaudhuri 1972, pp. 1956

Bal Shah

[7] Mahajan 1960, reprint 2007, p. 251

Vijay Bhan
Khangar

1.2.6

References

Mahajan, V.D. (1960, reprint 2007), Ancient India,

New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0887-6 Check
date values in: |date= (help).
Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: Calcutta: University of Calcutta.

Brihadrath
Har Ansh
Brihad-datt
Ishman
Sridhar
Mohri

1.4. NANDA EMPIRE

Prasann Ket
Amirvan
Mahasen
Brihad-dhaul
Harikeert
Som
Mitravan
Pushyapata
Sudaav
Bideerakh
Nahakman
Mangalmitra
Surat
Pushkar Ket
Antar Ket

1.3.2 References
[1] http://www.borobudur.tv/avadana_07.htm
[2] The Divyavadana (Tibetan version) reports: 'The Buddha is in Rajgriha. At this time there were two great cities
in Jambudvipa: Pataliputra and Roruka. When Roruka
rises, Pataliputra declines; when Pataliputra rises, Roruka
declines.' Here was Roruka of Sindh competing with the
capital of the Magadha empire. Chapter 'Sindhu is divine', The Sindh Story, by K. R. Malkani from Karachi,
Publisher: Sindhi Academy (1997), ISBN 81-87096-01-2
[3] Page 317, Lord Mahavira and His Times, by Kailash
Chand Jain, Published 1992 by Motilal Banarsidass Publications, ISBN 81-208-0805-3
[4] Page 174, Alexanders campaigns in Sind and Baluchistan
and the siege of the Brahmin town of Harmatelia, Volume
3 of Orientalia Lovaniensia analecta, by Pierre Herman
Leonard Eggermont, Peeters Publishers, 1975, ISBN 906186-037-7, ISBN 978-90-6186-037-2
[5] Story of Udayan and the town of Vitabhaya
[6] Pages 89-92, Ror Itihaas Ki Jhalak, by Dr. Raj Pal Singh,
Pal Publications, Yamunanagar (1987)

Sutjaya
Brihad-dhwaj

1.4 Nanda Empire

Bahuk
Kampjayi
Kagnish
Kapish
Sumantra
Ling-laav
Manasjit
Sunder Ket
Dadror
The bards report that Dadror was poisoned by his head
priest, Dewaji (Rai Dynasty#Chronology of Rai rulers of
Sindh) in 620 AD and he was followed by ve Brahmin
kings before the capture of Rori or Al Ror by the Arabs.
On the other hand, written records like the Chachnama
report that the Brahmin usurper was Chach and not Dewaji. Considering that the bards may have made a mistake in their orally transmitted reports from generation to
generation, we can place a greater faith on the date of 620
AD and that corresponds well with Chach, the usurpers
lifetime. That would mean that the dynasty reported as
the Rai Dynasty was a continuation of the founding Ror
Dynasty of Rori and Rai Sahasi II was not killed by Chach
jumping onto his horses back in an open eld (as in
Chachnama) but in cold blood by mixing poison in his
food.

Asia in 323 BC, showing borders of the Nanda Empire in relation

to Alexanders Empire and neighbors.

The Nanda Dynasty (345321 BCE) originated from

the region of Magadha in ancient India during the 4th
century BC. At its greatest extent, the empire ruled by
the Nanda Dynasty extended from Bengal in the east,
to Punjab in the west and as far south as the Vindhya
Range.[1] The rulers of this dynasty were famed for the
great wealth which they accumulated. The Nanda Empire was later conquered by Chandragupta Maurya, who
founded the Maurya Empire.

1.4.1 Establishment of the dynasty

Mahapadma Nanda, who has been described in the
Puranas as the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas", defeated many other kingdoms, including the Panchalas,

CHAPTER 1. 3.2.1 VEDIC KINGDOMS

Kasis, Haihayas, Kalingas,[2] Asmakas, Kurus, Maithilas,

Surasenas and the Vitihotras; to name a few.[3] He expanded his territory south of the Vindhya range, into the
Deccan plateau. The Nandas who usurped the throne of
the Shishunaga dynasty c. 345 BC[4] were thought to be
of low origin with some sources stating that the dynastys
founder, Mahapadma, was the son of a Shudra mother
.[5]

1.4.2

Nanda rule

The Nandas are sometimes described as the rst empire

builders in the recorded history of India. They inherited
the large kingdom of Magadha and wished to extend it
to yet more distant frontiers. To this purpose they built
up a vast army, consisting of 200,000 infantry, 20,000
cavalry, 2,000 war chariots and 3,000 war elephants (at
the lowest estimates). According to Plutarch however,
the size of the Nanda army was even larger, numbering
200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 war chariots, and
6,000 war elephants.[6] However, the Nandas never had
the opportunity to see their army up against Alexander,
who invaded India at the time of Dhana Nanda, since
Alexander had to conne his campaign to the plains of
Punjab, for his forces, frightened by the prospect of facing a formidable foe, mutinied at the Hyphasis River (the
modern Beas River) refusing to march any further. This
river thus marks the eastern-most extent of Alexanders
conquests.

Dashasidhaka
Kaivarta
Mahendra
Dhana Nanda (Agrammes) (c. 329 BCE 321 BC)

1.4.4 Footnotes
[1] Radha Kumud Mookerji, Chandragupta Maurya and His
Times, 4th ed. (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1988 [1966]),
31, 2833.
[2] Kalinga (India) formed part of the Nanda Empire but subsequently broke free until it was re-conquered by Ashoka
Maurya, c. 260 BCE. (Raychaudhuri & Mukherjee 1996,
pp. 204-209, pp. 270-271)
[3] http://www.forumancientcoins.com/india/earliest/
nanda.html
[4] http://books.google.com/books?id=f1XMtc2Q97IC&
pg=PA28
[5] Nanda Dynasty MSN Encarta. Archived from the original on 2009-11-01.
[6] (Raychaudhuri & Mukherjee 1996, pp. 204-210)
[7] The First Spring: The Golden Age of India by Abraham
Eraly p.62

The Nandas were also renowned for their immense 1.4.5 References
wealth. They undertook irrigation projects and invented
Raychaudhuri, H. C.; Mukherjee, B. N. (1996). Postandardized measures for trade across their empire,
litical History of Ancient India: From the Accession
and they ruled with the assistance of many ministers.[2]
of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty.
The Nanda Dynasty was also mentioned in the ancient
Oxford University Press.
Sangam literature of the Tamil people. The famous Tamil
poet Mamulanar of the Sangam literature described the
capital city Pataliputra of the Nanda Dynasty and the
wealth and treasure that was accumulated by the great
Nanda rulers.[7] Their unpopularity, possibly due to their
nancial extortion, facilitated a revolution, leading to
their overthrow by Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya.
Nevertheless, the greatness [...] attained in the Maurya
Age would hardly have been possible but for the achievements of their predecessors, the Nandas.[2]

1.4.3

List of Nanda rulers

Mahapadma Nanda (c. 345 BC 329 BC)

Pandhuka
Panghupati
Bhutapala
Rashtrapala
Govishanaka

Chapter 2

Text and image sources, contributors, and

licenses
2.1 Text
Haryanka dynasty Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haryanka_dynasty?oldid=616634467 Contributors: Anythingyouwant, Rich
Farmbrough, Salilb, Ketiltrout, Rjwilmsi, Koavf, Arulns, Vastu, SmackBot, Deli nk, Bwpach, Iridescent, Skapur, CmdrObot, Cydebot,
Alaibot, Joy1963, Deltopia, Vssun, Kww, Arjayay, SchreiberBike, Good Olfactory, Vyom25, Nizil Shah, Againme, LilHelpa, Erik9bot,
EmausBot, , ChrisGualtieri and Anonymous: 21
Shishunaga dynasty Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishunaga_dynasty?oldid=628092601 Contributors: Cool Hand Luke, Per
Honor et Gloria, Alren, Wiki-uk, Salilb, Oleg Alexandrov, Woohookitty, Dangerous-Boy, Koavf, Eldarone, Arulns, Vastu, SmackBot,
Deli nk, Hteen, Marco polo, Shyamsunder, Tarikur, Makyen, Cydebot, Thijs!bot, Joy1963, Phoe, Ludde23, Indian Chronicles, Mejda,
Faizhaider, Vssun, Jobrill, Fconaway, Idioma-bot, Devesh.bhatta, Jacob.jose, Tanvir Ahmmed, Podzemnik, Alexbot, SchreiberBike, WikHead, Addbot, Yobot, Boolyme, Dewan357, ArthurBot, Xqbot, GrouchoBot, Goodscholar, Hemujain, Citation bot 1, EmausBot, Frietjes,
MKar, SteenthIWbot and Anonymous: 25
Ror Dynasty Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ror_dynasty?oldid=628084795 Contributors: Gryndor, Arulns, Deli nk, Cplakidas,
Shyamsunder, Cydebot, Intothere, Sitush, Ashixamo, Rorkadian, MatthewVanitas, Yobot, FrescoBot, Frietjes, Helpful Pixie Bot, Shahhh,
Delljvc, Epicgenius, King vishal singh and Anonymous: 13
Nanda Empire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanda_Empire?oldid=632237895 Contributors: Per Honor et Gloria, Alren,
PWilkinson, Wereldburger758, Pinar, Jguk, Dejvid, Woohookitty, Kosher Fan, Lapsed Pacist, Nowhither, Talessman, Kmorozov, Chobot,
YurikBot, Wavelength, Deeptrivia, Tormozko, Arulns, Vastu, SmackBot, Jagged 85, Devanampriya, Srkris, Hmains, Bluebot, TimBentley,
Deli nk, Pizzadeliveryboy, TheNeon, Shyamsunder, Edwy, Tarikur, Ikonoblast, Cydebot, DumbBOT, Mattisse, Thijs!bot, Joy1963, Astynax, VINU, Indian Chronicles, Znkp, JAnDbot, Txomin, Mejda, Sodabottle, Edward321, Gwern, R'n'B, Vrite2me, Kww, AlleborgoBot,
SieBot, Mimihitam, Atmamatma, Nancy, Sitush, ClueBot, VsBot, Podzemnik, Syamantak DG, Jotterbot, SchreiberBike, Sunquanliangxiuhao, Dthomsen8, Addbot, Betterusername, SpBot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Dewan357, Xqbot, Vijaybhandary, GrouchoBot,
Omnipaedista, Mrjube, Mattis, WebCiteBOT, Akkida, TobeBot, Anandhata, Generalboss3, EmausBot, WikitanvirBot, Vanished user
qwqwijr8hwrkjdnvkanfoh4, ClueBot NG, , Frietjes, Proudtobeindian007, MKar, Historian001India, Areapeaslol, Quiteplotofmineahead,
Nickzlapeor, 123957a, Gyrodoor33, 25 Cents FC, Capitals00, Sushilmishra, Nikhilmn2002, ThinkingYouth, Ghatus, Avantiputra7, Jonesmith4 and Anonymous: 53

2.2 Images
File:Asia_323bc.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Asia_323bc.jpg License: CC-BY-3.0 Contributors:
Transferred from en.wikipedia (Original Image) Original artist: Original uploader was Talessman at en.wikipedia
File:Blank.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Blank.png License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Eastern_border_of_the_Achaemenid_Empire.jpg Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Eastern_
border_of_the_Achaemenid_Empire.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist:
File:Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg License: Public
domain Contributors: http://www.dcaa.com.bd/Modules/CountryProfile/BangladeshFlag.aspx Original artist: User:SKopp
File:Flag_of_India.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original
artist: ?
File:Flag_of_Nepal.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Flag_of_Nepal.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Constitution of The Kingdom of Nepal, Article 5, Schedule 1 [1] Original artist: Drawn by User:Pumbaa80, User:Achim1999
File:Nanda_Empire,_c.325_BCE.png Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Nanda_Empire%2C_c.325_
BCE.png License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Avantiputra7

CHAPTER 2. TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

2.3 Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0