8 Mahajanapad of Uttar Pradesh

8 Mahajanapad of Uttar Pradesh, Republics of Uttar Pradesh in the 16 Mahajanapada Period, Socio-Economic conditions of UP in 16 Mahajanapadas Period

List of 8 Mahajanapad of Uttar Pradesh

The Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya and the Jain text Bhagwati Sutra mention 16 Mahajanapadas out of which 8 were located in Uttar Pradesh.

Two of these (Kosala, Vatsa) were counted among the most powerful 4 Mahajanapadas (Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti).

Kuru

• Capital- Hastinapur
• Famous for its role Mahabharata
• Located in present-day Haryana and some parts of UP
• Major center of trade and commerce
• Major center of Vedic learning

Panchala

• Northern part’s Capital: Ahichchhatra (modern Bareilly, U.P.)
• Southern part’s Capital: Kampilya (modern Farukkhabad, U.P.)
• Situated in the Rohilkhand region
• Known for its Vedic learning and its association with Mahabharata
• Rich cultural and literary tradition,
• Rivalry with Kosala

Surasena

• Capital – Mathura
• Birthplace of Lord Krishna
• Center of trade and agriculture.
• Mention in Mahabharata
• Also mention in mention in both Buddhist and Jain texts

Chedi

• Capital – Sotthivati/Suktimati
• Bundelkhand region
• known for its military prowess and its association with the epic Mahabharata
• Present day Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and some parts of UP.

Kosala

• Capital- Shravasti (Northern), Kushavati (Southern)
• Present day Ayodhya and surrounding area.
• Legendary city associated with Ramayaṇa tradition.
• King of Kosala Lord Rama installed his son Lava at Sravasti on the northern part of the kingdom and Kusha at Kushavati in the south.
• Kosala was a powerful kingdom that played a significant role in the.
• Mahatma Buddha’s father Suddhodana was King of Kapilavastu in Kosala Mahajanapada
• Development of early Buddhism – maximum sermons in Shravasti, 24 rainy seasons in Shravasti
• King Prasenjit was a contemporary of Buddha.
• Later Magadha ruler Ajatashatru annexed it

Malla

• Capital – Kushinara and Pava
• Of the 16 Mahajanapadas, two were republics, one of which was Malla.
• Located in the Gorakhpur region
• Kushinagar – Mahaparinirvana of Buddha
• Pava – last meal by Mahatma Buddha
• Ajatashatru annexed

Kashi

• Capital- Varanasi
• Religious and cultural center
• Father of the 23rd Jain Tirthankar Parshvanath (Ashvsen) was the king of Kashi.
• Atharvaveda – Avimukt Kshetra Abhidhan.
• First sermon Mahatma Buddha to 5 Brahmin monks – Dhamekh Stupa
• Major center of Shaiva worship.
• Famous for education, trade and textile industry.

Vatsa

• Capital- Kausambi (famous for textile industry)
• Prayagraj region
• known for its trade and commerce, patron of arts and culture
• King Udayana – contemporary of Buddha, hero of the Bhasa’s play Svapnavasavadatta, Play of Harshvardhana
• Kaushambi – confluence of Jainism and Buddhism

Republics of Uttar Pradesh in the 16 Mahajanapada Period

During the 6th century BCE (Mahajanapada period), political units in northern India took two main forms:
(a) Monarchies – ruled by kings. Two of the 16 Mahajanapads, the Vajji and Malla were Gana-Sanghas.
(b) Republics / Oligarchies – ruled by assemblies of clan heads, chiefs, or aristocratic families.

Uttar Pradesh, being the core area of the Ganga–Yamuna Doab and middle Ganga plains, had both monarchies and republics.

(A) Malla Republics – (in eastern UP)

• Republic Mahajanapadas
• Divided into two republics:
  1. Kushinagar Mallas (present-day Kushinagar District, UP)
  2. Pava Mallas (present-day Deoria District, UP)
• Known for their collective rule through councils.
• Buddhist connection:
  1. Mahaparinirvaṇa of Buddha at Kushinagar.
  2. Buddha’s last meal offered by Cunda the smith at Pava.

(B) Shakya Republic – (Kapilavastu, Siddharthnagar District, UP)

• A clan-based republic, ruled by a council of elders.
• Birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
• Buddha’s father Shuddhodhan was the chief (Rajan/president of the Ganasabha) of the Shakya republic.
• Though within Kosala’s influence, Shakyas retained internal self-governance.
• Known for their adherence to republican decision-making traditions.

(C) Koliyas – (Deoria District, UP)

• Neighbours of the Shakyas, also organized as a republic.
• Close socio-political and marital ties with Shakyas
• Buddha’s mother, Mahamaya, was from Koliya clan.
• Maintained their independent republican tradition until absorbed by Kosala-Magadha expansion.

(D) Moriya of Pipphalivana – (near Gorakhpur–Kushinagar border, UP–Bihar frontier)

• Small Ganarajya (republican clan).
• Capital: Pipphalivana
• Mentioned in Buddhist texts as part of the Vajji confederacy.
• Later became renowned as the clan of Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the Mauryan Empire, transforming republican roots into monarchy.

(E) Kalam Republic – (Kesaputta, present-day Kushinagar–Siddharthnagar belt, UP)

• Small republic near Kapilavastu.
• Capital: Kesaputta – people called Kalamas of Kesaputta.
• Famous for the Kalama Sutta (Anguttara Nikaya) – Buddha’s sermon encouraging free inquiry & rational thinking.
• Close links with Shakyas and Koliyas.

(F) Magga Republics – (Samasumaragiri, eastern UP–Bihar border)

• Mentioned in Jain texts (Bhagavati Sutra) as a republican clan.
• Capital: Samasumaragiri (location debated; possibly in UP foothills).
• Likely a smaller offshoot of the Magadhan region, existing alongside Mallas & Vajji states.
• Shows that the republican tradition extended beyond Shakyas and Mallas.

(G) Vajji Confederacy – (capital: Vaishali, Bihar, but extended into eastern UP)

• A confederation of 8 clans, among which the Licchavis were most powerful.
• Republic Mahajanapadas
• Known for Ganarajya tradition and democratic functioning through assemblies.
• Buddha praised Vajji polity in Mahaparinibbana Sutta.
• Relevance to UP: The Malla republics (Kushinagar & Pava) were part of this confederacy.

Uttar Pradesh was not only a center of powerful monarchies like Kosala, Vatsa, Panchala but also a hub of republican traditions.

Socio-Economic conditions of UP in 16 Mahajanapadas Period

Economic Conditions

• Growth of major trade centres: Mathura, Varanasi, Kaushambi
• Important trade routes passed through UP, e.g., Uttarapatha (connecting Pataliputra to Silk Route)
• Fertile land of Ganga–Yamuna doab → surplus agricultural production → promoted trade

Social Conditions

• Birth-based varna system
• Emergence of caste system with social hierarchy
• Rise of urbanization and urban facilities
• Women and Dalits faced social discrimination

Religious Conditions

• Hinduism dominant, but Buddhism and Jainism rapidly emerging
• Worship objectives largely mundane in nature
• Growth of religious and intellectual centres

Political & Administrative Conditions

• 8 out of 16 Mahajanapadas located in UP → stable governments → promoted trade
• Strong kingdoms ensured well-organised administration → boosted urbanisation

Development of Agriculture

• Use of iron tools became widespread → advanced farming practices → increased productivity
• Supported population growth and enhanced economic activity

Emergence of Trade Networks

• Flourishing internal and external trade
• Land & maritime routes facilitated exchange of goods and ideas

Caste System

• Vedic varna system prevalent:
  • Brahmins – priests, scholars
  • Kshatriyas – warriors, rulers
  • Vaishyas – merchants, farmers
  • Shudras – labourers, service providers

Rural & Tribal Communities

• Majority lived in rural areas despite urban growth
• Tribal communities & agrarian settlements coexisted
• Transition from tribal to settled agriculture underway

Role of Religion

• Vedic traditions influential
• Buddhism & Jainism gained popularity, shaping society

Presence of Republics

• Alongside monarchies, republican states (ganasanghas) existed, reflecting political diversity

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