The sixth century BC was not only a period of socio-economic and religious development but it also witnessed new political developments.

In the later Vedic period, as we have seen earlier, people had started agriculture, which made them settle down at a particular place.

These permanent settlements led to foundation of janapadas or territorial states under the control of the king.

In the sixth century BC the main area of political activity gradually shifted from Western UP to Eastern UP and Bihar.

The use of better iron tools and weapons enabled some territorial states to become very large and they came to be called mahajanapadas.

Buddhist literature ‘Anguttara Nikaya’ gives a list of 16 great kingdoms or Mahajanapadas in the beginning of 6thcentury B.C

Small or weak kingdoms either submitted to stronger rulers or got eliminated.

The Jaina Bhagvati Sutra gives a slightly different list of 16 Mahajanapadas: Anga, Banga (Vanga), Magadha, Malaya, Malavaka, Accha, Vaccha, Kochcha (Kachcha?), Padha, Ladha (Lata), Bajji (Vajji), Moli (Malla), Kasi, Kosala, Avaha and Sambhuttara. It is evident that the author of Bhagvati is only interested in the countries of Madhydesa and of the far east and south, since the nations from Uttarapatha, like the Kamboja and Gandhara, are omitted.

The more extended horizon of the Bhagvati and its omission of all countries from Uttarapatha clearly shows that the Bhagvati list is of later origin and therefore less reliable

The Sixteen Mahajanapads of the Ancient India

The Sixteen Mahajanapads of the Ancient India

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