Magadha

Magadha
684 BCE – 28 BCE
Kingdom of Magadha and other Mahajanapadas during the Second Urbanization.
Expansion of the Magadha empire between 6th and 4th century BCE Magadha empire under Haryanka and       Shaisunga dynasties Magadha empire under Nanda dynasty      Magadha empire under Maurya dynasty    Magadha empire under Shunga dynasty    Magadha empire under Kanva dynasty      Territorial expansion of the Magadha empire 6th century BCE onwards
Capital	Rajagriha (Girivraj) Later, Pataliputra (modern-day Patna)
Common languages	Sanskrit[1] Magadhi Prakrit Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
Religion	Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Demonym(s)	Māgadhī
Government	Absolute monarchy[a]
Notable Emperors
• c. 544 – c. 492 BCE	Bimbisara
• c. 492 – c. 460 BCE	Ajatashatru
• c. 413 – c. 395 BCE	Shishunaga
• c. 395 – c. 367 BCE	Kalashoka
• c. 329 – c. 321 BCE	Dhana Nanda
• c. 321 – c. 297 BCE	Chandragupta Maurya
• c. 268 – c. 232 BCE	Ashoka
• c. 185 – c. 149 BCE	Pushyamitra Shunga
Historical era	Iron Age
Currency	Panas
Preceded by Succeeded by Kikata Kingdom Satavahana Empire Kalinga (Mahameghavanas) Vidarbha Kingdom
Today part of	India

Magadha also called the Kingdom of Magadha or the Magadha Empire, was a

.

Magadha played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism.^[4] It was the core of four of northern India's greatest empires, the Nanda Empire (c. 345 – c. 322 BCE), Maurya Empire (c. 322–185 BCE), Shunga Empire (c. 185–78 BCE) and Gupta Empire (c. 319–550 CE). The Pala Empire also ruled over Magadha and maintained a royal camp in Pataliputra.^[5][6]

The Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya referred to themselves as Magadhādipati and ruled in parts of Magadha until the 13th century.^[7]

Geography

mahajanapadas

kingdoms and other kingdoms in 540 BCE.

The territory of the Magadha kingdom proper before its expansion was bounded to the north, west, and east respectively by the

The region of

]

History

Some scholars have identified the

The earliest reference to the Magadha people occurs in the Atharvaveda, where they are found listed along with the Angas, Gandharis and Mujavats. The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganges; its first capital was Rajagriha (modern day Rajgir), then Pataliputra (modern Patna). Rajagriha was initially known as 'Girivrijja' and later came to be known as so during the reign of Ajatashatru. Magadha expanded to include most of Bihar and Bengal with the conquest of Vajjika League and Anga, respectively.^[12] The kingdom of Magadha eventually came to encompass Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the areas that are today the nations of Bangladesh and Nepal.^[13]

The ancient kingdom of Magadha is heavily mentioned in Jain and Buddhist texts. It is also mentioned in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.

There is little certain information available on the early rulers of Magadha. The most important sources are the Buddhist

The Hindu Mahabharata calls Brihadratha the first ruler of Magadha. Ripunjaya, last king of Brihadratha dynasty, was killed by his minister Pulika, who established his son Pradyota as the new king. Pradyota dynasty was succeeded by Haryanka dynasty founded by Bimbisara. Bimbisara led an active and expansive policy, conquering the Kingdom of Anga in what is now West Bengal. King Bimbisara was killed by his son, Ajatashatru. Pasenadi, king of neighbouring Kosala and brother-in-law of Bimbisara, promptly reconquered the Kashi province.

Accounts differ slightly as to the cause of

. It took fifteen years for Ajatashatru to defeat them. Jain texts tell how Ajatashatru used two new weapons: a catapult, and a covered chariot with swinging mace that has been compared to a modern tank. Pataliputra began to grow as a centre of commerce and became the capital of Magadha after Ajatashatru's death.

The Haryanka dynasty was overthrown by the

.

In 326 BCE,

, was persuaded that it was better to return and turned south, conquering his way down the Indus to the Ocean.

Around 321 BCE, the Nanda Dynasty ended with the defeat of Dhana Nanda at the hands of

. The capital of the Gupta Empire remained Pataliputra in Magadha.

During the Pala-period in Magadha from the 11th to 13th century CE, a local Buddhist dynasty known as the Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya ruled as tributaries to Pala Empire.^[7]

Buddhism and Jainism

Several Śramaṇic movements had existed before the 6th century BCE, and these influenced both the āstika and nāstika traditions of Indian philosophy.^[18] The Śramaṇa movement gave rise to diverse range of heterodox beliefs, ranging from accepting or denying the concept of soul, atomism, antinomian ethics, materialism, atheism, agnosticism, fatalism to free will, idealization of extreme asceticism to that of family life, strict ahimsa (non-violence) and vegetarianism to the permissibility of violence and meat-eating.^[19] Magadha kingdom was the nerve centre of this revolution.

which received royal patronage in the kingdom.

According to Indologist

With regard to the Buddha, this area stretched by and large from

The Magadhan religions are termed the

These religions also sought some type of liberation from the cyclic rounds of rebirth and karmic retribution through spiritual knowledge.

Religious sites in Magadha

Mahabodhi temple

at Bodh Gaya prior to its restoration

Among the Buddhist sites currently found in the Magadha region include two UNESCO

Language

Beginning in the Theravada commentaries, the

Magadhi Prakrit was one of the three dramatic prakrits to emerge following the decline of Sanskrit. It was spoken in Magadha and neighbouring regions and later evolved into modern eastern Indo-Aryan languages like Magahi, Maithili and Bhojpuri.^[31]

Dynasties and rulers

The history of Magadha region is very vast, it can be divided into many periods as:

• Vedic Magadha Kingdom :- Kikata Kingdom, Brihadratha dynasty
• Magadha Mahajanapada :- Pradyota dynasty, Haryanka dynasty, Shaishunaga dynasty
• Magadha Empire :- Nanda Empire, Maurya Empire, Shunga Empire, Kanva dynasty
• Classical Magadha :- Gupta Empire, Later Gupta dynasty
• Medieval Magadha :- Pala Empire, Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya

There is much uncertainty about the succession of kings and the precise chronology of Magadha prior to Mahapadma Nanda; the accounts of various ancient texts (all of which were written many centuries later than the era in question) contradict each other on many points.

Two notable rulers of Magadha were

(c. 322–185 BCE).

Furthermore, there is a "Long Chronology" and a contrasting "Short Chronology" preferred by some scholars, an issue that is inextricably linked to the uncertain

According to historian K. T. S. Sarao, a proponent of the Short Chronology wherein the Buddha's lifespan was c.477–397 BCE, it can be estimated that Bimbisara was reigning c.457–405 BCE, and Ajatashatru was reigning c.405–373 BCE.^[33] According to historian John Keay, a proponent of the "Long Chronology," Bimbisara must have been reigning in the late 5th century BCE,^[34] and Ajatashatru in the early 4th century BCE.^[35] Keay states that there is great uncertainty about the royal succession after Ajatashatru's death, probably because there was a period of "court intrigues and murders," during which "evidently the throne changed hands frequently, perhaps with more than one incumbent claiming to occupy it at the same time" until Mahapadma Nanda was able to secure the throne.^[35]

List of rulers

The following "Long Chronology" is according to the Buddhist

Haryanka dynasty (c. 544 – 413 BCE)

List of Haryanka dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Bimbisara	544–491 BCE
Ajatashatru	491–461 BCE
Udayin	461–428 BCE
Anirudha	428–419 BCE
Munda	419–417 BCE
Darshaka	417–415 BCE
Nāgadāsaka	415–413 BCE

Shishunaga dynasty

(c. 413 – 345 BCE)

List of Shishunga dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Shishunaga	413–395 BCE
Kalashoka	395–377 BCE
Kshemadharman	377–365 BCE
Kshatraujas	365–355 BCE
Nandivardhana	355–349 BCE
Mahanandin	349–345 BCE

Nanda Empire (c. 345 – c. 322 BCE)

List of Nanda dynasty rulers

Ruler	Reign (BCE)
Mahapadma Nanda	345–340 BCE
Pandhukananda	340–339 BCE
Panghupatinanda	339–338 BCE
Bhutapalananda	338–337 BCE
Rashtrapalananada	337–336 BCE
Govishanakananda	336–335 BCE
Dashasidkhakananda	335–334 BCE
Kaivartananda	334–333 BCE
Karvinathanand	333–330 BCE
Dhana Nanda	330–322 BCE

Other lists

Puranic list

The

• Shishunaga dynasty (360 years)
  • Shishunaga (reigned for 40 years)
  • Kakavarna (36 years)
  • Kshemadharman (20 years)
  • Kshatraujas (29 years)
  • Bimbisara (28 years)
  • Ajatashatru (25 years)
  • Darbhaka or Darshaka or Harshaka (25 years)
  • Udayin (33 years)
  • Nandivardhana (42 years)
  • Mahanandin (43 years)
• Nanda dynasty (100 years)

List by Jain literature

A shorter list appears in the Jain tradition, which simply lists Shrenika (Bimbisara), Kunika (Ajatashatru), Udayin, followed by the Nanda dynasty.^[37]

Historical figures from Magadha

Important people from the ancient region of Magadha include:

• Maudgalyāyana.^[38]
• Maudgalyāyana – born in the village of Kolita in Magadha. He was one of the Buddha's two main disciples. In his youth, he was a spiritual wanderer before meeting the Buddha.^[39]
• Mahavira – the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Born into a royal kshatriya family in what is now Vaishali district of Bihar. He abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of 30 and became an ascetic. He is considered a slightly older contemporary of the Buddha.^[40]
• Mahāmudrā transmission. Born in the village of Jhatakarani in Magadha. Also associated with the monasteries of Nalanda and Vikramashila.^[41]

See also

• Mahajanapadas
• History of India
• Magadha-Vajji war
• Magadha-Anga war
• Avanti-Magadhan Wars
• List of Indian monarchs
• Timeline of Indian history
• Magahi Culture
• Magahi Languages

Notes

1. ^ as described in the Arthashastra

References

1. ISBN 978-1-135-79711-9
   .
2. JSTOR 41784405
   .
3. JSTOR 44141530
   .
4. ISBN 978-0-19-157917-2
   .
5. ISBN 978-81-7017-301-4
   .
6. ^ Jha, Tushar; Tyagi, Satish (2017). "CONTOURS OF THE POLITICAL LEGITIMATION STRATEGY OF THE RULERS OF PALA DYNASTY IN BENGAL- BIHAR (CE 730 TO CE 1165)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 78: 49–58.
7. ^
   ISBN 9780861592289
   .
8. ^ Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1953). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty. University of Calcutta. pp. 110–118.
9. ^ ^{a b c} Bronkhorst 2007, p. ^{[page needed]}.
10. ISBN 9788120813328
    .
11. ^ M. Witzel. "Rigvedic history: poets, chieftains, and polities," in The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity. ed. G. Erdosy (Walter de Gruyer, 1995), p. 333
12. ISBN 81-208-0436-8
    .
13. ^ Sinha, Bindeshwari Prasad (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450–1200 A.D. Abhinav Publications. p. 128.
14. JSTOR 44145194
    .
15. ^ "Lumbini Development Trust: Restoring the Lumbini Garden". Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
16. ^ Tenzin Tharpa, Tibetan Buddhist Essentials: A Study Guide for the 21st Century: Volume 1: Introduction, Origin, and Adaptation, p.31
17. ^ Sanjeev Sanyal (2016), The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History, section "Ashoka, the not so great"
18. ISBN 978-0195134834
    .
19. ISBN 978-8120817760
    .
20. ISBN 978-1-60693-846-1
    .
21. OCLC 608555139
    .
22. S2CID 144673508
    .
23. ^ Bronkhorst 2007, pp. xi, 4.
24. ^ ^{a b} Bronkhorst 2007, p. 265.
25. ^ Wynne, Alexander (2011). "Review of Bronkhorst, Johannes, Greater Magadha: Studies in the Culture of Early India". H-Buddhism. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
26. ISBN 9789811580673
    .
27. ISBN 978-1-4985-5493-0
    .
28. ISBN 978-0-415-68452-1
    .
29. ^ A Dictionary of the Pali Language By Robert Cæsar Childers
30. ISBN 978-0-19-283925-1
    .
31. ISBN 978-1-139-20887-1
    .
32. ISBN 978-81-7030-469-2
    .
33. S2CID 141897826
34. ISBN 978-0-8021-9550-0
    .
35. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8021-9550-0
    .
36. ISBN 978-81-7030-469-2
    .
37. ^ ^{a b} Geiger, Wilhelm; Bode, Mabel Haynes (25 August 1912). "Mahavamsa : the great chronicle of Ceylon". London : Pub. for the Pali Text Society by Oxford Univ. Pr. – via Internet Archive.
38. JSTOR 29756860
    .
39. ISBN 978-81-208-3022-6
    .
40. ISBN 978-1-136-38189-8
    .
41. JSTOR 603308
    .

Sources

• Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India. Calcutta: University of Calcutta.
• Law, Bimala Churn (1926). "4. The Magadhas". Ancient Indian Tribes. Lahore: Motilal Banarsidas.
• Bronkhorst, Johannes (2007). Greater Magadha: studies in the culture of early India (PDF). Handbook of oriental studies. Section two, India. Vol. 19. Leiden; Boston: Brill.
  OCLC 608455986. Archived from the original
  (PDF) on 11 September 2015.
• ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9