DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

PROJECT TITLE

ANCIENT INDIAN TRIBES

SUBJECT

HISTORY

NAME OF THE FACULTY

Dr. VISWACHANDRAN NATH MADASU, MA, MPhil,

Name of the Candidate

P S R S PAVAN KIRAN

Roll No. & Semester

2019LLB029 & I SEMESTER

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I would like to show my gratitude towards Dr. Viswachandran nath Madasu , MA, MPhil,
P.hd who has given me a wonderful opportunity to have my project on the topic of ‘Ancient
Indian Tribes’ through which I have done a lot of research work and have got known through
many of the tribal customs and traditions and many new things on the topic and the subject.

Secondly I would like to thank all my friends who helped me while I was researching on my
project which helped me in submitting this project in time.

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ABSTRACT:

Tribal peoples constitute 8.6 percent of India’s total population, about

104 million people according to the 2011 census (68 million people according to the 1991
census). This is the largest population of the tribal people in the world. One concentration lives
in a belt along the Himalayas stretching through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and
Uttar Pradesh in the west, to Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram,
Manipur, and Nagaland in the northeast. Another concentration lives in the hilly areas of central
India (Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and, to a lesser extent, Andhra Pradesh); in this belt, which is
bounded by the Narmada River to the north and the Godavari River to the southeast, tribal
peoples occupy the slopes of the region's mountains. Other tribals, the Santals, live in Bihar
and West Bengal. There are smaller numbers of tribal people in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and
Kerala, in western India in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and in the union territories of Lakshadweep
and the Andaman and Nicobar Island.

In the present project named “Ancient Indian Tribes” I would like to examine about the
various ancient tribes of ancient India. I would like to compare their living conditions and their
lifestyle.

I would like to end to the present topic with a conclusion that what the present or current
status of the tribal people and the special privileges that the government should provide towards
the benefits of the tribes. I would also like to establish my view that how the special privileges
were becoming extra special privileges towards the tribals.

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INTRODUCTION

In the Indian subcontinent there are nearly 84,326,240 of the people or our fellow
men to belong to the scheduled tribes as per the 2001 census. These 84 million tribes make
8.2 percent of the total Indian population. This project is a description on how they regulate
their social life and also how they try to regulate their social life and also how they tried to
beautify their lives in hundreds of different ways. These scheduled tribes in india form the
largest proportion of the total population in Lakshadweep and Mizoram followed by the
states of Nagaland and Meghalaya. The largest number of scheduled tribes in India are
present in the Bastar district in state of Madhya Pradesh. Whereas when we see in the states
of Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Pondicherry and Haryana there are no scheduled tribes in these
states which means the tribal population in these states is zero.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of the study is to understand the traditions and customs of the ancient Indian
tribes not only the customs but also the problems they are facing in the present day.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to the topic of the tribes of the ancient India.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study helps to know about the various tribes and their traditions and customs and the
problems they are facing in the modern world.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The Researcher has taken information from various books, articles and references.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This study is based on the Doctrinal Method of Research.

TYPES OF RESEARCH

The Research is critical and explanatory study.

RESEARCH QUESTIONWhether the day to day development in the human leads to the
disappearance of the tribal people in India.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………6
2. ORIGIN OF MAHAJANAPADAS…………………………………….7
3. KASHI…………………………………………………………………..7
3.1. PLACES THEY LIVE IN ?...........................................................8
3.2. KASHI HISTORY………………………………………………..8
3.3. KASHI RELIGION……………………………………………….8
3.4. LANGUAGE, FASHION AND IDENTIFICATION……………8
3.5. KASI’S FAITH………………………………………………..…9
4. KOSALA……………………………………………………………....10
5. ANGA………………………………………………………………….10
6. MAGADHA…………………………………………………………….11
6.1 RISE OF MAGADHA…………………………………………..…12
6.2 FALL OF MAGADHA………………………………………….…13

7. VATSA………………………………………………………………….…14

8. AVANTHI…………………………………………………………….……14

9. GANDHARA………………………………………………………………15

10. KAMBOJA………………………………………………………………..16

11. MATSYA…………………………………………………………………17

12. SWASENA & CHEDI……………………………………………………17

13. VAJJIS…………………………………………………………………….19

14. MALLAS…………………………………………………………………19

15. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………….……..20

16. BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………….……….21

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INTRODUCTION

Permanent settlement in a particular area gave a tribe or a group of tribes a

geographical identity and subsequently this identity was given concrete form in the
possession of the area, generally named after the tribe. It took political organization to retain
this ownership, either as a republic or as a monarchy.

From the 6th B.C. century. The widespread use of iron in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh
and the western part of Bihar, as evidenced by excavations in Raj Ghat and Chirand, led to
the formation of large territorial states that were better equipped militarily and in which the
warrior class played a major role. New agricultural tools and equipment made it possible for
the farmers to produce a good quantity of surplus that not only served the needs of the ruling
class, but also funded many towns. Towns came into being as industrial and commercial
hubs. Some such as Shravasti, Champa, Rajagriha, Ayodhya, Kausambi, Kashi, and
Pataliputra played a major role in the Ganges plains ' economy.

Others like Vaishali, Ujjain, Taxila

and Bharukachchha (Broach) harbor
had a broader economic scope. A
passage from Panini makes it clear
that the people owed their loyalty to
the Janapada they belonged to and
not to the Jana or the tribe they
belonged to.

The Mahajanapadas (Monarchies

and Republics): The entire northern
region, mostly north of the Vindhyas and stretching from the North-West border to Bihar,
was divided into seventeen states called Sodasha Mahajanapadas during the post-Vedic
period. The character of these Mahajanapadas was either monarchical or republican.

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While the monarchies were centered in the Gangetic Plains, the republics were built around
these kingdoms ' northern periphery— in the foothills of the Himalayas and just south of
them, and in modern Punjab in north-western India.

The Buddhist literature, particularly the Anguttara Nikaya, lists the sixteen mahajanapadas
given as Gandhara, Kamboja, Assaka, Vatsa, Avanti, Surasena, Chedi, Malla, Kuru,
Panchala, Matsya, Vajji, Anga, Kosala, Magadha and others.

ORIGIN OF THESE MAHAJANAPADAS

Janapada is the country and its citizen Janapadin. Each Janapada was named after the
Kshatriya tribe who settled there (or Kshatriya Jana). The ancient Indians ' political structure
seems to have started with semi-nomadic tribal units called Jana (meaning subjects). Early
Vedic texts speak of several Janas, or tribes, of Aryans, organized as tribal semi-nomadic
states, fighting for goats, sheep and green pastures among themselves and with other non-
Aryan tribes. These early Vedic Janas later joined together in the Epic Age Janapadas.

Literally, the term "Janapada" means a tribe's foothold. The fact that Janapada comes from
Jana indicates that a Jana tribe take land for a settled lifestyle. This land settlement process
had finished its final stage before the time of Buddha and Panini. Janapada is the country and
its citizen Janapadin. Each Janapada was named after the Kshatriya tribe who settled there (or
Kshatriya Jana).

1. KASHI :

Kashi was at first the most powerful among the seventeen states with his
capital as Banaras and perhaps played an important role in the subversion of the Videhan
monarchy. Ultimately it had to submit to Kosala's power and later annexed to Magadha by
Ajatasatru.The Kasis were Aryans who settled around Varanasi (formerly called Banaras) in
the area. Kasi's capital was at Varanasi, which took its name from the northern and southern
borders of the rivers Varuna and Asi. Kasi was the most powerful of the 15 Mahajanapadas

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before the time of Buddha. Several Jatakas (folktales about Buddha's earlier incarnations)
bear witness to his capital's superiority over other Indian cities and speak highly of his
prosperity and opulence. The Jatakas are speaking about Kasi's long rivalry with Kosala,
Anga, and Magadha. A fight for supremacy has been going on among them for a while. King
Kasi's Brihadratha conquered Kosala,1

Places they live in:

Khasi tribe is found mainly in Assam sate and Khasi Jaintia hills in Meghalaya and Punjab,
Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir states. The different names
like Khasi Pahris, Khuchia, Kassi, Khashi and Khasa call them. Khasi is the largest part of
the Meghalaya state population.

Khasi History:

It is said that the Khasis were the earliest immigrant

tribes that came from Myanmar and settled in eastern
Assam plains. The Khasis had their own empire before,
until they were dominated by the British. The term Khasi
can be used in the' Baghavata Purana' of the
Shankradeva, an Indo Aryan literature.

Khasi's religion:

Khasis adopt the unique culture. The Khasis ' estate is passed to the youngest daughter from
the parent. Music plays an important role in Khasis ' life. The Khasis ' musical instruments
were drums, guitars, flutes, wooden pipes, and steel cymbals. Khasis enjoy music as well.
Khasis are men with cold hearts. They give Kwai or Beetle nut on every visit as a gesture of
friendship. The husband comes to live at the brides ' house after marriage

Language, fashion and identification:

Khasis is an Austro-Asian language that speaks Khasi. It's part

of the language group of Mon-Khmer. The Khasi men wear Jymphong's long sleeveless coat,

1
Tribes in ancient India, Bimal Churn Law, chapter XXVII, 102

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which is without the collars. They wear headgear or turbans as well. While Khasi women's
dress is multi-piece mush complex. Also, Khasis loves to wear jewelry. We bear on their
heads silver or gold crown. Men wearing large earrings wear khasi. Women also have unique
circular and oval earrings. Gold and silver chains around the waists of both men and women.
Khasis ' skin is brown to light yellow. We have skin folds and aquiline noses.

Khasi faith:

Many Khasis follow the religion of Christianity. The Khasi

believe in God U Blei Nong-thaw as the supreme creator. This feminine goddess, according
to the Khasis, protects them from all life's troubles. Among the Khasis are Ulei Muluk (state
god); Ulei Umtang (god of drinking water and cooking water); Ulei Longspah (god of
wealth); and O Ryngkew or U Basa Shnong (village tutelary deity).

Festivals:

Nongkrem is the largest Khasis festival. This five-day religious festival

takes place in November.

2. Kosala:

It covers the area controlled by eastern Uttar Pradesh and has its capital in Shravasti, which is
close to Sahet–Mahet at the borders of Gonda and Bahraich districts in Uttar Pradesh. The
Gomati river bordered Kosala on the west, the Sarpika or Syandika (Sai) on the south, the
Sadanira (Gandak) on the east, which separated it from Videha, and the Nepal hills on the
north.

The Kosalas state

with its capital at Savatthi (Sravasti)
was situated in the north-west of
Magadha. It was located
approximately 70 miles northwest of
Gorakhpur and comprised territory
in Uttar Pradesh corresponding to

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the modern Awadh (or Oudh). It had the Ganga river for its southern borders, the Gandhak
river for its eastern boundaries, and the northern boundary of the Himalayas.

The ruling family of the Kosala kingdom was descended from King Ikshvaku in the
Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. The Puranas give lists of kings from Ikshvaku to
Presenajit (Pasenadi) from the Aikhsvaka dynasty (the dynasty established by Ikshvaku). A
Buddhist text, the Nikaya Majjhima ("Middle Length Discourses") mentions Buddha as
Kosalan and Mahavira, Jainism's 24th Tirthankara, taught in Kosala. Kashi was an important
part of the kingdom during King Mahakosala's period. His brother Pasenadi (Prasenajit), a
Buddha follower, succeeded Mahakosala. His minister Digha Charayana raised his son
Vidudabha to the throne during Pasenadi's absence from the capital. There was a power
dispute between King Pasenadi (Prasenjit) and Magadha's King Ajatasatru that was finally
settled once the Lichchavis Confederation allied with Magadha. Kosala was eventually
merged into Magadha during Vidudabha's reign in the fourth century B.C.E. Kosala's main
cities are Ayodhya, Saketa and Shravasti. Prasenjit, the Kosalan king was King Bimbisara's
contemporary, and Magadha's king Ajatasatru.2 The sister of Prasenjit was married to
Magadha's king Bimbisara, and Kashi was given as a dowry to her. A conflict with
Ajatasatru, Bimbisara's son through another daughter, however, soon led to disagreement.
Ajatasatru killed his father whose mother, Prasenjit's daughter, died as a result of grief.
Prasenjit confiscated Kasi in retribution.

A war broke out in favor of both sides with varying results. The conflict ended with
reconciliation, however. The daughter of Prasenjit, Vajjira, was married to Ajatasatru and
Kashi was given to the bride as a dowry. While Prasenjit did not follow Buddhism, the
cordiality between Prasenjit and Buddha is demonstrated by one of the Bharhut sculptures. It
was finally annexed by Magadha in the reign of Ajatasatru after Prasenjit's death.

3. Anga:

Anga in the east of Magadha is approximately the same as Monghyr and

Bagalpur's current districts. Its capital, Champa, was noted for its riches and trade on the
bank of the river of the same name. It was annexed in Bimbisara's time to Magadha.

2
Tribes in ancient India, Bimal Churn Law, chapter XXVIII, pg 117

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 The first reference to the Angas is found in the Atharva-Veda where they
are listed together with the
Magadhas, Gandharis and
Mujavats, all seemingly as hated
beings. In the first class of Aryan
peoples, the Jaina Prajnapana lists
Angas and Vangas. Based on
evidence from Mahabharata,
Anga's country was approximately
the same as Bhagalpur and
Monghyr district in Bihar and parts of Bengal. The Champa River formed the border between
the Magadha in the west and the Anga in the east; the Koshi River (Ganga) bounded Anga in
the north. Duryodhana had named Karna the King of Anga, according to the Mahabharata.
Mahabharata's Sabhaparava lists Anga and Vanga as one state

The capital of Anga, Champa, formerly known as Malini, was located on the right bank of the
Ganga River, near its intersection with the Champa River. It was a vibrant city, regarded as
one of ancient India's six major cities (Digha Nikaya). It was a great center of trade and
commerce and its merchants regularly sailed to distant Suvarnabhumi. Other important cities
of Anga were said to be Assapura and Bhadrika.

4. Magadha:

The kingdom of Magadha lay between Anga and Vatsa, corresponding to the
present districts of Patna and Gaya, bordered on the north and west by the Ganga and Son
rivers, on the south by the outcrop of Vindhya and on the east by the Champa river. The
Magadhan capital was Rajagriha or Girivraja, made impregnable by a ring of five hills.
Brihadratha formed the earliest Magadha dynasty. Before Bimbisasra and Ajatsatru, however,
Magadha came to prominence.

Magadha is the country's most powerful kingdom in the Mahabharata,

much stronger than the Kurus (of whom the epic is all about). Through alliances with smaller

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vassal states, Magadha
controlled the entire eastern
part of the country. It was
constantly at war with its
western neighbors, the
Yadavas of Mathura, who
eventually migrated far west
to the sea coast near the
Rann of Kutchh (modern
Gujarat) because they could no longer afford the resources needed to protect their kingdom
from the regular attacks of the Magadha king, Jarasandha. This flight meant that the borders
of Magadha extended right up to the kingdoms of Kuru-Panchal, where the Pandavas and the
Kauravas lived. Jarasandha had powerful allies around his main kingdom: to the southwest
was Chedi's vassal state (to the south of which was another ally, Vidarbh), to the east was
Anga's and Vanga's allies, and to the east was Pragjyotishpur's friendly country (modern
Assam), governed by a demon whose boundaries stretched to China. This whole stretch of
land looked like their overlord to Jarasandh.

Girivraj (modern Rajgir, Bihar) was the capital of Magadha. This city was surrounded by
mountain rings, so it was hard to lay siege to it. Jarasandh had imprisoned 99 minor kings and
wanted to offer a great human sacrifice after the capture of the 100th king, but he was
defeated by the Pandava Bheem in a wrestling match and torn apart into two. Jarasandh's son
was placed on the throne but later died in the Kurukshetra war fighting for the Pandavas.
The power of Magadha appears to have diminished somewhat after the Kurukshetra war
because there are references to it being annexed by a south-western neighbor, Avanti.
However, it continued to be an important kingdom and was counted among ancient India's 16
main states.3

FALL OF THE MAGADHA

Magadha's fall Despite Magadha's extreme wealth and military power, his king was
extremely unpopular due to his cruelty and the high tax rates he imposed on the people. The

3
Tribes in ancient India, Bimal Churn Law, chapter XXXII, pg 158

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period's Buddhist texts say the king was given the opportunity to dig the Ganges river bed
and bury his gold there. Histories of the fabulous wealth of the Nandas have been so enduring
that Hieun Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim who visited the country in the 7th century CE, almost
600 years later, makes reference to it. The departure created a power vacuum in western India
after Alexander left for Greece. Chandragupta Maurya entered the vacuum, subjugated these
kingdoms, then entered Pataliputra and killed the king of Nanda. The specifics of this
overthrow are vague, but it is believed that the people and the palace supported Chandragupta
Maurya. The dominant kingdom of Magadha had given way to an even more powerful
empire: the Mauryan Empire.

5. Vatsa:

The Puranas state that after a Kasi king, Vatsa, the Vatsa kingdom was named.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata give to a Chedi prince Kusa or Kusamba the credit for
founding their capital Kausambi. The first ruler of Vatsa's Bharata dynasty, about whom
certain information is available, is Satanika II, Parantapa, Udayana's son. Udayana, the
romantic protagonist of the Svapnavasavadatta, the Pratigna-Yaugandharaya and many other
myths, was a contemporary of the Buddha and the king of Avanti, Pradyota. According to the
Puranas, Udayana's four successors were Vahināra, Dan collectively, Niramitra, and Kemaka.
The Kingdom of Vatsa was later invaded
by the Kingdom of Avanti. Maniprabha,
of course.

There was a monarchical form of

government in the Vatsa state. Its capital
was Kausambi (identified with the
village of Kosam, 38 miles from
Allahabad. Kausambi, a very prosperous
city, was the largest pot of goods and
passengers from the south and west. Udayana, this country's ruler in the sixth century B.C.
had to fight against King Ajatasatru of Magadha and King Pradyota of Avanti. Udayana
formed a marriage alliance with Magadha's king. Avanti's leader invaded Kausambi and he
had to marry his daughter to Udayana because he was unsuccessful. Udayana was initially
opposed to Ruddhism, but later he became a Buddha follower and became the state religion
of Buddhism. Later, during Palaka's reign, Vatsa was annexed to the kingdom of Avanti.

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The Kurus is said to be an offshoot of the Vatsas, Vamsas or Vachchas (also known as Batsa,
or Bansa). The geographical location of Vatsa was close to the confluence of the Ganges and
Yamuna rivers, referring to the present Allahabad region of Uttar Pradesh. His capital was
Kausambi, (identified as Kosam's modern city, 38 miles from Allahabad). Kausambi was a
prosperous town and a large number of wealthy merchants lived in the house. It served as an
exchange post for north-west and south goods and passengers.

Vatsa had a monarchical Kausambi-based form of government. Throughout his effort to

spread the dharma, the Eightfold Path, and the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha visited
Koushambi many times during Udayana's rule. Udayana was Buddha's Upasaka (lay
follower) and declared the state religion of Buddhism. The Chinese translation of the
canonical Buddhist text Ekottara algama ("Numbered Discourses") states that the first image
of Buddha, curved from sandalwood, was made under Udayana's instruction.

6. Avanti:

Avanti was an
important Western India
kingdom and one of India's
four great monarchies
when Buddhism came into
being, the other three being
Kosala, Vatsa, and
Magadha. Avanti was
divided by the Vetravati
river into north and south.
Originally, Mahissati
(Sanskrit Mahishamati) was the capital of Southern Avanti, and Ujjaini (Sanskrit Ujjayini)
was the capital of Northern Avanti, but Ujjaini was the capital of unified Avanti in the times
of Mahavira and Buddha. Avanti's country was roughly the same as modern Malwa, Nimar,
and adjacent parts of Madhya Pradesh. Only Mahishmati and Ujjaini were on the southern
highway from Rajag called Dakshinapatha. Avanti's state was approximately the same as
modern Malwa. Avanti was split into north and south by the river Vetravati. Terrorially, it
was a great kingdom with Ujjayini or modern Ujjain as its capital. Avanti's queen in Buddha's

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time was Chanda Pradyota. He was a Kausambi's Udayana contemporary. While Chanda's
nickname was given because of his ferocity, he became a Buddhist convert.

Avanti has become a major center of Buddhism. Avanti's empire was eventually annexed by
Sishunaga to the Magadhan Empire.

7. Gandhara:

The state of Gandhara corresponded approximately to modern Kashmir and

spread to the valley of Kabul. Its capital was Taxila, a popular learning center where scholars
from all over the world came from. The Gandhara King Pukkusati exchanged gifts with
Bimbisara in Magadha, according to the Buddhist tradition, and went on foot to see the
Buddha. Later, according to the Greek historian, Herodotus, it was the twentieth province of
the Achaemenid Empire (Persian).

Gandharis ' wool is mentioned in the Rigveda. The Gandharis are also mentioned in
the Atharvaveda along with the Mujavantas, Angas and Magadhas, but apparently as "a
despised people." Gandharas are part of the Puranic and Buddhist traditions section of
Uttarapatha. Aitareya Brahmana refers to Gandhara's king Naganajit as a raja Videha's
contemporary. From the Vedic period, Gandharas settled along the southern bank of the
Kubha River (Kabol or Kabul River) to the Indus River's mouth. The Gandharas later crossed

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the Indus, expanding into parts of north-western Panjab. Gandharas and his king are the
Kurus ' strong allies against the Pandava in the War of the Mahabharata. The Gandharas have
been well trained in war art.

The gandharas was located on the Grand Northern Highway (Uttarapatha), the Gandhara was
a center of international commercial activity. It was a major communication link with ancient
Persia and Central Asia. The Gandharas and Kambojas were cognizant people according to
one school of thought. Some scholars argue that the Kurus, Kambojas, Gandharas and
Bahlikas were cognizant people and all had Iranian affinities. According to Dr. T. L. Shah,
the Gandhara and Kamboja were just two provinces of one kingdom and were co-terminously
situated thereby shaping each other's culture. They might have been a cog once, of course.

8. Kamboja:

With Dwarka as its capital, it was the country adjacent to Gandhara in the
extreme northwest. A little earlier than 530 B.C. Cyrus, Persia's Achaemenid king, crossed
the Hindukush and received tributes from Kamboja, Gandhara, and the trans-Indus region.
Kamboja transformed from a monarchy to a republic during the time of Kautilya.

Kambojas are also part of the Puranic and Buddhist traditions division of
Uttarapatha. The Kamboja was associated with the Gandhara, Darada and the Bahlika
(Bactria) in ancient literature. It is known that ancient Kamboja included regions on either
side of the Hindukush. The original Kamboja was a Bahlika neighbor in the eastern country
of Oxus, but over time some Kambojas clans seem to have crossed Hindukush and settled
colonies on its southern
side. These latter Kambojas
are identified in Indian
literature with the Daradas
and Gandharas and are also
mentioned in Ashoka's
Edicts. The evidence in
Mahabharata and Ptolemy's
Geography clearly supports
two Kamboja settlements.
The Kamboja country was

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the cis-Hindukush region from Nurestan to Rajauri in the southwest of Kashmir, which
shared borders with Daradas and Gandharas. Kamboja's capital was probably Rajapura
(modern Rajori) in Kashmir's south-west. The Buddhist traditional Kamboja Mahajanapada
refers to this ancient Kambojas cis-Hindukush branch.

The Kambojas ' trans-Hindukush branch remained pure Iranian but a large section of cis-
Hindukush's Kambojas appears to have come under the influence of Indian culture. It is
known that the Kambojas had both Iranian and Indian affinities. There is evidence that the
Kambojas used a republican form of government from the Epic period. The Mahabharata
refers to a number of Kambojas Ganah (or Republics). The Arthashastra of Kautiliya and the
Edict No of Ashoka. It also states that the Republican constitution was adopted by the
Kambojas. Panini's Sutras depict Panini's Kamboja as a dictatorship of Kshatriya,

9. Matsya:

The Matsyas were on the Kurus ' south and the Yamuna's west side. The
Matsya country was approximately the same as the former Jaipur state in Rajasthan.

10 & 11. Surasena and Chedi:

The kingdom of Surasena was located in the south of the Matsyas with its
capital in Mathura. The Chedis ' kingdom corresponded roughly to the eastern parts of
Bundelkhand and neighboring areas, and their lists of kings are in the Jatakas.

Republics:

12. Vajjis:

The Vajjians or Virijis comprised eight or nine confederated clans

(atthakula), the most prominent of which were the Licchhavis, the Videhans, the Jnatrikas
and the Vajjis. Mithila (modern Janakpur in Tirhut district) was the capital of Videha, which
became an important base for Northern India's political and cultural activities. Throughout
King Janaka's rule, Videha came to prominence. Videha's last king, Kalara, is said to have

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died as a result of his attempt on a Brahmin maiden along with his kingdom. The republics of
Licchhavis, Videhans and seven other small republics emerged on the remnants of his
empire.

The territories of Vajji lay north of the Ganga, stretching as far as the hills
of Nepal. The river Sadanira (Gandak) was its western frontier, dividing it from the cities of
Malla and Kosalan. It spread to the forests on the banks of the Koshi and Mahananda rivers in
the east. It is said that the Vajji state was a confederation of eight clans (atthakula), the most
important of which were the proper Videhans, the Lichchhavis, the Jnatrikas, and the Vrijjis.

The Vajji mahajanapada territory was situated on the north side of the Ganga River and
spread to Nepal's Terai region. The Gandak River on the west was likely the border between
it and the Malla mahajanapada, possibly separating it from the Kosala mahajanapada as well.
The territories likely stretched to the east to the forests along the river banks, Koshi and
Mahananda. Vaishali, a prosperous town located 25 miles north of the Ganga River and 38
miles from Rajagriha, was the capital of Licchhavis and the political headquarters of the
powerful Varijian Confederacy. In Ekapanna Jataka's introductory section,

The Vajji Confederation was likely formed after the decline and fall of the Videhan mon‐
archy and in the time of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha was a republican state.The most
dominant of them were the Lichchhavis with Vaishali's capital similar to Basarh's village in
Vaishali district.

Around 600 B.C.E. the Licchhavis were Lord Mahavira's disciples (b. 599 B.C.E.), but later
they became Buddha's followers, and Buddha is said to have regularly visited the Licchavis.
The Licchhavis was closely related to the Magadhas by marriage and one branch of the
Lichhavis dynasty ruled Nepal until the start of the Middle Ages, but had nothing to do with
Nepal's current ruling shah dynasty. The Licchavis are portrayed in Manusmriti as (Vratya)
Kshatriyas. King Ajatasatru of Magadha defeated Vaishali, the headquarters of the powerful
republic of Vajji and the capital of Lichchavis.

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13. Mallas:

Malla was named after the same name's ruling family. The region is described by the
Mahabharata as the Mallarashtra (Malla state). Both Buddhist and Jain works, the Mallas are
frequently mentioned. They were an Eastern India's influential family. During his journey
through Eastern India, Panduputra Bhimasena is said to have defeated the Mallas ruler.
Mahabharata lists Mallas as eastern tribes together with the Angas, Vangas, and Kalingas.
Located north of Magadha, the Malla mahajanapada was divided into two main parts with the
Kakuttha river (present day Kuku) as the dividing line.A democratic, the Mallas territory was
divided into two parts, each with its own capital. Kushinara (identified with Kasia in the
district of Gorakhpur) and Pava (modern
Padrauna) were the two capitals. In the
history of Buddhism, the importance of these
two cities is very great as Buddha took his
last meals and was taken ill at Pava and died
at Kusinara.

Manusmriti mentions the Mallas, like the

Lichchhavis, as Vratya Kshatriyas. In the
Mahapparnibbana Suttanta, they are called Vasishthas (Vasetthas). Initially the Mallas had a
monarchical form of government but later they became a Samgha (republic) whose leaders
were called rajas. The Mallas were a brave and warlike people, and Jainism and Buddhism
were followed by many. The Mallas seemed to have formed an alliance of self-defense with
Lichchhavis, but not long after the death of Buddha, they lost their autonomy and were
annexed to the Magadhan Empire.

The Malla became an influential family in eastern India in the ninth century.

14. Assaka:

The Assaka Kingdom (Asmaka) was located in the south of the Godavari
River, and over time it became economically important. Patlia or Potna was its capital. In

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contemporary politics, all 16 Mahajanapadas did not play the same role, Kashi, which at first
was the most important, lost his position to Kosla and Magadha. These two kingdoms rallied
to control the Ganga basin, which had some clear strategic and economic advantages due to
the riverine commercial traffic.

In the 6th B.C. century. Just four states survived, namely Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and
Magadha. India's sixth century B.C political history. The history of the wars for hegemony
between these countries. Eventually, Magadha's kingdom emerged as the most powerful and
succeeded in building an empire.

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CONCLUSION

In those days the people or the tribes used to live in groups and as a result they started to have
similar customs and traditions which used to vary from tribe to tribe. This gradually made for
the formation of the janapadas and many small janapadas combine together to form the
mahajanapadas which are total sixteen in number which later rose to popular and powerful
empires in the Indian subconteinent. Even the way they make their law and the process of
legislation like monarchy and democracy have been noted in that olden days itself. The
democratic countries were in the regions of the gangetic plains or the centers of the gangetic
plains. And the main country and the powerful country or the dynasty is the Magadha dynasty
which was also one of the country in the gangetic plain. The people were having a better kind
of administration which is similar to that of the administration now a days. At the end of the
project I was doubtful whether the people in those days were much civilized or else the
present people were less civilized.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS

TRIBES IN ANCIENT INDIA BY BIMALA CHURN LAW

ONLINE SOURCES

www.indianmirror.com

www.newworldencyclopedia.org

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