Rajasthan During Mahajanpada Period - RajRAS - RAS Exam Preparation

The term “Janapada” literally means the foothold of a tribe, in Pāṇini’s “Ashtadhyayi”, Janapada
stands for country. The Pre-Buddhist north-west region of the Indian sub-continent was divided
into several Janapadas demarcated from each other by boundaries. Each of these Janapadas
was named after the Kshatriya tribe (or the Kshatriya Jana) who had settled therein. Ancient
Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikaya make reference to sixteen Mahajanpadas and Janapada
(Republics) which had evolved and flourished in Indian Sub-Continent. The region surrounding
modern districts of Bikaner & Jodhpur was referred to as Jangaldesh during Mahajanpada
period. Here, we first look at Mahajanpada’s and then at Republics of Rajasthan:
Rajasthan during Mahajanpada period (600 BCE -300 BCE) :
The end of Vedic India is marked by linguistic, cultural and political changes. By the 6th century
BCE, the political units consolidated into large kingdoms called Mahajanapadas. The age is also
referred to as period of second urbanization. The modern state of Rajasthan was also part of
referred to as period of second urbanization. The modern state of Rajasthan was also part of
several Mahajanpadas mentioned below:
Matsya Mahajanpada
The modern districts of Jaipur, Alwar & Bharatpur formed part of Mahajanpada of Machcha or
Matsya.
The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagari (present-day Bairat), which is said to have been named
after its founder king, Virata.
The kingdom came under the control of the neighboring Chedi Kingdom in the 5th century.
Saurasena Mahajanpada
Saurasena Mahajanpada
The capital of Saurasena janpada is located near modern day Mathura.
It covers region of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur & Karauli.
Kuru Mahajanpada
The capital of Kuru Janpada was Indrapath.

It covered parts of northern Alwar region.
Rajasthan after Alexander Invasion (326 BC)
In 326 BC Alexander invaded India, he never reached Rajasthan. However, his Indian incursion
profoundly affected the course of its history. Weakened by his invasion republican tribes of
South Punjab especially Malav, Shivi and Arjunayan migrated to Rajasthan. Punjab and Rajasthan
became the nucleus of a number of oligarchies, or tribal republics whose local importance rose
and fell in inverse proportion to the rise and fall of larger kingdoms.
According to coins recovered, the politically most important republics of Rajasthan were the
Audambaras, Arjunayanas, Malavas, Kunindas, Trigartas, Abhiras, Yaudheyas and Shibis (Shivi).
Arjunayana Janapada
Arjunayanas had their base in the present-day Bharatpur-Alwar region.
They emerged as a political power during the Shunga period (c. 185 – c. 73 BCE).
Rajnaya Janapada
Different scholars have ascribed different regions to Rajnaya janpada:
Based on coins Cunningham suggested their region as near Mathura,
Smith suggested former Dholpur state as orginal home of Rajnaya and

Smith suggested former Dholpur state as orginal home of Rajnaya and
Rapson ascribed them in same region as of Arjunayanas & Kings of Mathura.
Shivi or Sibi Janapada
Shivi gana covered present districts of Udaipur & Chittorgarh.
The Shibis (Shivi) migrated from the Punjab to Rajasthan and settled in areas adjoining modern
day Chittaurgarh.
Madhyamika (later Nagri) was the capital of Sibis
Nagri was excavated in 1904 A.D by D. R. Bhandarkar.
Malavas
The Malavas are actually mentioned in the Mahabhashya of Patanjali.
According to D. R. Bhandarkar, they initially lived in the Punjab; later, they migrated to eastern
Rajasthan (Jaipur & Tonk), and finally to region in Madhya Pradesh, which is known as Malwa
after them.
Their capital in Rajasthan was Nagar, located in Tonk.
Shalvya
The Salvas were settled north of the Matsyas State.

Salvaputras must have been a branch of these Salvas. Modern day Alwar is a corrupt form of
Salvaputra mentioned in Maharabharata.
Yodheya or Yaudheyas
Yaudheya or Yaudheya Gana was an ancient confederation who lived in the area between the
Indus river and the Ganges river.
Present Ganganagar & Hanumangarh districts formed part of their gana.
They find mention in Pāṇini’s Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha.
Their Constitution has been regarded as quasi-monarch as in the Bijaygarh (Bharatpur)

inscription, their chief is given title of Maharaja-Senapati and is said to be appointed to the post
by Yaudheya-gana.
by Yaudheya-gana.
In 2nd Century A.D. the Yaudheyas came into conflict with Rudradaman I (Saka ruler), who
though defeated them but acknowledged the military might of the Yaudheyas as in the Junagadh
rock inscription (c. 150 CE) of Rudradaman I .
Image Source: Wikipedia Commons

Rajasthan During Mahajanpada Period - RajRAS - RAS Exam Preparation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rajasthan During Mahajanpada Period - RajRAS - RAS Exam Preparation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rajasthan During Mahajanpada Period - RajRAS - RAS Exam Preparation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The term “Janapada” literally means the foothold of a tribe, in Pāṇini’s “Ashtadhyayi”, Janapada

Rajasthan during Mahajanpada period (600 BCE -300 BCE) :

The capital of Saurasena janpada is located near modern day Mathura.

It covers region of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur & Karauli.

The capital of Kuru Janpada was Indrapath.

Rajasthan after Alexander Invasion (326 BC)

Arjunayanas had their base in the present-day Bharatpur-Alwar region.

Different scholars have ascribed different regions to Rajnaya janpada:

Based on coins Cunningham suggested their region as near Mathura,

Smith suggested former Dholpur state as orginal home of Rajnaya and

Shivi or Sibi Janapada

Shivi gana covered present districts of Udaipur & Chittorgarh.

The Malavas are actually mentioned in the Mahabhashya of Patanjali.

The Salvas were settled north of the Matsyas State.

They find mention in Pāṇini’s Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha.

Their Constitution has been regarded as quasi-monarch as in the Bijaygarh (Bharatpur)

Image Source: Wikipedia Commons

You might also like