Janpads and Mahajanpada (600BC)

● In Later Rig Vedic Era settlements were increased around

Gangetic Plains,Also Agriculture was now becoming surplus उत्तर
वैिदक काल समाप्त होते होते लोगों ने गंगा के िकनारे बसना शुरू कर िदया था और
खेती ज़्यादा करने लगे थे )
● Some important resource centres were developed like
Kashi,Magadh rich in minerals and elements like Iron etc(मगध और
काशी जैसे जनपद IRON ज़्यादा होने की वजह से काफ़ी Powerful बन गए थे )
● Rituals became complex and religious practises became
Costly(पूजा पाठ बहुत महँ गा हो चुका था )
● Bhramans were predominant
● Religious unrest is also present due to Dharma like Buddhism
and Jainism
● King was powerful

Janapadas (600 BC)

 ● The Janapadas were the major kingdoms of Vedic India. By the
6th century B.C. there were approximately 22 different
Janapadas.
● Aryans were the most influential tribes and were called as
‘janas’. This gave rise to the term Janapada where Jana means
‘people’ and Pada means ‘foot’.
● With the development of iron in parts of UP and Bihar, the
Janapadas became more powerful and turned into
Mahajanapads. (Iron की वजह से ये जनपद जुड़ने लगे थे और महा जनपद बन
गए थे 16)

Large States (Mahajanpada-16)

Note:
● Vajji (Bihar with capital Vaishali) was the only manajanpada

which was republic rest all were Monarch(जहां राजा elect होता था )
● Gandhara (Capital Taxila): Centre for scholars and Cultural
exchange (यहाँ पढ़ाई िलखाई से related changes दे खने को िमले )

1)Magadh
● Around Jharkhand and Bihar
● Famous for Iron resource(More weapons)
Dynasties under Magadh

● Hariyanka Dynasty(544 BC-412 BC)

○ Bimbisara(544-492BC)
 ◆ First Magadh Ruler
◆ Contemporary to Mahavira and Buddha(इसी समय में
महावीर और buddha थे )
◆ Expander territory by Matrimonial Relations(शादी करके
अपना राज्य बढ़ाता था )

○ Ajatshatru(492-460 BC)
◆ Son of Bimbisara

◆ Burhut(MP): Famous for Buddhist sculptures,It is said

that Ajatsatru met Buddha here

◆ He conquered Vajji(विज्ज जीता था इसने )
 ◆ He conquered Vajji(विज्ज जीता था इसने )
◆ Organised First Buddhist council in 483 BC in
Rajagriha(Magadh Capital)(पहली Buddhist मीिटं ग करवायी
थी )

○ Udayan(460-440 BC)
◆ He founded Pataliputra(Patna)

◆ Son of Ajatsatru

○ Nag Dasak(Last Ruler) was killed bu Sisunaga

(Minister):िसशु नागा ने मारकर राज्य हािसल करिलया था

● Shisunaga Dynasty(412-344 BC)

○ Sisunaga (First Ruler)

◆ Changed capital from Rajgriha to Patliputra

◆ Defeated Avanti(Ujjain) Mahajan pada

○ Kalashoka
◆ Son of Shisunaga

◆ Organised 2nd Buddhist council on 383 BC @

 ◆ Organised 2nd Buddhist council on 383 BC @
Vaishali(दू सरी buddhist मीिटं ग)
◆ The last rulers of Shishunaga Dynasty were 10 sons of
Kalasoka who ruled simultaneously. Out of them one
son Nandivardhana is mentioned in Puranas.(पुराण में बस
नंिदवधन
र् के बारे में िलखा है )
◆ Killed by Mahapadma Nanda(Minister)

● Nanda Dynasty(344-323 BC)

○ Mahapadma Nanda : First Ruler

◆ Also known as Ugra Sen as his army was aggressive(उग्र

सेना )
◆ He conquered Kalinga before Ashoka (Specified in
Hathigumpha inscription made by Karavela,Kalinga
Ruler):हाथीगुम्फा िशलालेख में बताया हुआ है
◆ Even Army of Alexander refused to fight with his Army

○ Dhana nanda
◆ Last Nanda Ruler

◆ Defeated by Chandra Gupta Maurya

◆ With the help of Chanakya establishing Maurya Empire
Revision Notes ( All 16 Mahajanapadas & Capitals )

Anga Champa Munger and • Anga

Bhagalpur Mahajanapada
finds reference
in the
Mahabharata
and Atharva
Veda
• During
the rule of
Bimbisara, it
was taken over
 by Magadha
Empire.
• It is
situated in
present-day
Bihar and West
Bengal.
Magadha Rajagriha Gaya and Patna • Magadha
finds mention in
the Atharva
Veda which
conveys that
Magadha was
semi-
Brahmanical
habitation.
• It was
located in
present day
Bihar close to
Anga, divided
by river
Champa.
• Later,
Magadha
became a
center of
Jainism and the
first Buddhist
Council was
held in
 Rajagriha.
Kasi Kasi Banaras • It was
located in
Varanasi.
• This city
got its name
from rivers
Varuna and Asi
as cited in the
Matsya Purana.
Vatsa Kausambi Allahabad • Vatsa is also
known as
Vamsa
• This
Mahajanapada
followed the
monarchical
form of
governance.
• The
capital is
Kausambi.
• This was
a central city for
economic
activities.
• There
were a
prosperous
trade and
business
 scenario in 6th
century BC.
After the rise of
Buddha, the
ruler Udayana
made Buddhism
a state religion.
• Vatsa
was located
around the
present day
Allahabad.
Kosala Sravasti Eastern Uttar • It was
Pradesh located in
modern Awadh
region of Uttar
Pradesh.
• Its
capital was
Sravasti
Saurasena Mathura Western Uttar • This place
Pradesh was a center of
Krishna worship
at the time of
Megasthenes.
Also, there was
a dominant
followership of
Buddha here.
Panchala Ahichchatra and Western Uttar • Its capital
Kampliya Pradesh
 Western Uttar • Its capital
Kampliya Pradesh for northern
Panchala was
Ahichchatra and
Kampilaya for its
southern
regions.
• It was
situated in
present-day
western Uttar
Pradesh.
• Later the
nature of
governance
shifted from
monarchy to
republic.
Kuru Indraprastha Meerut and • The area
Southeastern around
Haryana Kurukshetra
was apparently
the site for Kuru
Mahajanapada.
• It moved
to a republic
form of
governance.
Matsya Viratnagar Jaipur • It was
situated to the
west of the
Panchalas and
 south of the
Kurus.
• The
capital was at
Viratanagar
• It is
situated around
present-day
Jaipur.
Chedi Sothivati Jaipur • This was
cited in the
Rigveda
• The
capital was
Sothivati.
• It
located in the
present-day
Bundelkhand
region.
Avanti Ujjaini or Malwa and • Avanti was
Mahismati Madhya significant in
Pradesh relation to the
rise of
Buddhism.
• The
capital of Avanti
was located at
Ujjaini or
Mahismati.
• It was
 situated around
present-day
Malwa and
Madhya
Pradesh.
Gandhara Taxila Rawalpindi • The capital
was at Taxila.
•
Gandhara is
cited in the
Atharva Veda
• The
people were
highly trained in
the art of war.
• It was
significant for
international
commercial
activities.
Kamboja Pooncha Rajori and Hajra • The capital
of Kamboj is
Poonch.
• It is
situated in
present-day
Kashmir and
Hindukush.
• Several
literary sources
mention that
 Kamboja was a
republic.
Ashmaka or Pratisthan/ Bank of • The capital
Assaka Paithan Godavari of this
Mahajanapada
was located at
Pratisthan or
Paithan.
• It was
located on the
bank of
Godavari.
Vajji Vaishali Bihar • It is the
capital of Vajji
was Vaishali.
• The
main races
residing in this
Mahajanapadas
were Licchavis,
Vedehans,
Jnatrikas and
Vajjis.
• Malla
Malla Kusinara Deoria and Uttar • It finds a
Pradesh reference in
Buddhist and
Jain texts and
Mahabharata.
• Malla
was a republic
• Their
capital was
Kusinara
situated around
present-day
Deoria and Uttar
Pradesh.