Which were the 16 Mahajanapadas?

Which were the 16 Mahajanapadas?

Before the rise of Buddhism in India, the following 16 Mahajanapadas arose:...

16 Mahajanapadas Map

List of 16 Mahajanpadas of Ancient India...

List of 16 Mahajanpadas- Facts For UPSC Exam

Sr. No.                           Mahajanpadas       Capital     Modern Name  Significance 1 Anga Champa Munger and Bhagalpur  It got references in the Mahabharata and Atharva Veda.   During the reign of Bimbisara, it was won by the Magadha Empire.   It was an important trading centre on trade routes and traders sailed from here to Suvarnabhumi (Southeast Asia).  2 Magadha   Rajagriha Gaya and Patna districts It finds mention in the Atharva Veda.  Anguttara Nikaya mentioned the details about the kings and people of Magadha.  It became a centre of Jainism.    Rajagriha was the place where 1st Buddhist council was held. 3 Kashi  Kashi Banaras Kashi was located in Varanasi.  It got its name from the rivers Varuna and Asi as cited in the Matsya Purana.  It got captured by Kosala. 4 Vatsa Kausambi Allahabad  It is also known as Vamsa.   It was located on the banks of the Yamuna.   It was a monarchy.  This was an important centre for economic activities.  After the rise of the Buddha, King Udayana made Buddhism the state religion. 5 Kosala Shravasti (northern), Kushavati (southern) Eastern Uttar Pradesh  It was located in the modern Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.   It included Ayodhya, a city associated with the Ramayana.  Kosala included the Sakya tribal area of ​​Kapilavastu.   Lumbini in Kapilavastu is the birthplace of Buddha.   6 Surasena Mathura Western Uttar Pradesh  This place was a centre for Krishna worship in the time of Megasthenes.   It was also known for the followers of the Buddha.   Its capital, Mathura, was on the banks of the Yamuna. 7 Panchala Ahichchhatra and Kampilya Western Uttar Pradesh  Its capital for northern Panchala was Ahichchhatra (modern Bareilly) and Kampala (modern Farrukhabad) for the southern regions.   The city of Kannauj was in the kingdom of Panchala.   The type of government changed from a monarchy to a republic. 8 Kuru                             Indraprastha Meerut and Southeastern Haryana The area around Kurukshetra was the site for Kuru Mahajanapada.  It was a republic form of governance.   The Mahabharata, tells about the conflict between two branches of the reigning Kuru clan. 9 Matsya Viratanagara      Jaipur  The region lies to the west of the Panchalas and to the south of the Kurus.  Areas covered are the Jaipur, Alwar and Bharatpur areas of Rajasthan. 10 Chedi Sothivati Bundelkhand region  It was mentioned in the Rigveda.  The famous King – Shishupala. He was killed by Vasudeva Krishna during the Rajasuya sacrifice of the Pandava king Yudhishthira. 11 Avanti Ujjayini Malwa and Madhya Pradesh   It was significant in the rise of Buddhism 12 Gandhara  Taxila Rawalpindi  It got mentioned in the Atharva Veda.  The people were highly trained in the art of war.  It was significant for international trade. 13 Kamboja Poonch Rajouri and Hajra (Kashmir), NWFP (Pakistan)  It is situated in present-day Kashmir and Hindukush.  It was a republic.  It had an excellent breed of horses. 14 Asmaka or Assaka  Potali  Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and banks of Godavari This was the only Mahajanapada lying south of the Vindhya range.   This also includes the areas of Pratisthan or Paithan in Maharashtra. 15 Vajji Vaishali Bihar It included eight clans, the most powerful of which were the Lichchhavis (capital – Vaishali), Videhans (capital – Mithila) and Jnatrikas (based in Kundapura).   It was non-monarchial state   It got flourished during the time of Buddha and Mahavira. 16 Malla Kusinara Deoria and Uttar Pradesh  It got references in the Buddhist and Jain texts and also in the Mahabharata.   It was a republic state.   The region touched the northern border of Vajji State.   Capitals have a significant place in the history of Buddhism. The Buddha ate his last meal in Pava and went to Mahaparinirvana in Kusinara....

Political Structure of the Mahajanapadas

The Mahajanapadas were a group of ancient kingdoms in India during the Iron Age, which lasted from around 600 BCE to 300 BCE. This period was significant for the socio-political and cultural transformations that took place in the Indian subcontinent. The term “Mahajanapada” literally means “great realm” or “great country”....

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 16 Mahajanapadas and its capital?...