Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 13

JANUARY, 1916]
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF MAGADHA
2. Magadha and other lands. In the 7th Cent. B.c. there were several famous kingdoms in Hindustan. The Puranas give the lists of the dynasties of Kabi, Kosala, Kaulambi, Avanti, and Mageha. Of these Kasi seems to have been the most flourishing kingdom. It is mentioned 428 times in the A titavattu, admittedly the oldest portion of the Buddhist Jataka literature. Many kings of Kasi mentioned in the Jatakas could be discovered in the Purânic lists. One may mention Brahmadatta, Vish vaksena, Udaksena, and Bhallata. Of the most famous of these, Brahmadatta and his followers, the Harivasikat says, there were different transmigrations as Brahmans, foresters, deer, water-fowl, swans and Brâhmans again. We have similar beliefs in the Jâta ka tales, where Brahmudatta's reign is mostly referred to, he being an incarnation of the Buddha in some of his former births. Thus then, in the 7th Cent. B.c. Kasi under Brahmadatta and his descendants seems to have been the most important of the kingdoms of Hindustan. Next in importance to Kâbî was Takkha ile (Taxila), mentioned twenty-five times in the Atitavattu, and the Kuru-Panchâlas mentioned nine times. Then comcs, Magadha presumably under the last kings of the Purânic Bårhadratha dynasty. It is mentioned seven times. Of other kingdoms, the Buddhist records have only faint notices of the Kösalas, Avantis, Vatsas, Mallas, Vidêhas, and of the frontier kingdoms of Sibi, Bharucha, Kalinga, Sovira, Mahishmaka, and Tâmraparņi.
Towards the end of the 7th Cent. B.c. the centre of importance and interest is shifted from the Western to the Eastern kingdoms of Hindustan. The Paccuppanna-Vattu mentions Kasi only once, and the western kingdoms of Gândhara, Kuru, Sivi, etc., not at all. Kösala finds mention in 428 places, and there is mostly laid the scene of the Buddha's .former births.' Some of the kings of Kosala are prominent characters, e. g., Mahakösala, probably an elder contemporary of the Buddha. It is clear from the Buddhist records that part of the Kasi kingdom was absorbed by Kôsola in the best period of its existence. This is also indicated by the compound name Kasi-Kausalyâs in the Gópatha Brahmana." The other part was apparently held as a viceroyaltylo by the younger members of the House of Magadha after Sisunaga. But the triumph of Kògala was short lived. The early Puranas mention only three rulers after the Buddha's death and the Bhagavata Purana has only one. In tho Vâsavadatta of Bhâsa, Kosala is not at all referred to, though Avanti, Kausâmbi, the Vatsa country and Magadha figure in the political relationships. Chanda Pradyota of Avanti, the father-in-law of Udayana and contemporary of Ajátasatru, Udaya and Darkaka, was the most distinguished king of his time. But the power of Magadha was rapidly gaining ground over Kosala and Avanti.
3. Rajas of Girlvraja. The founder of the dynasty, Sisunaga took up his abode' at Girivsaja after stationing his son at Benares. The Purâņas add that Sisunaga "annihilated the renown of the Pradyotas." But, as shown in the last article, their version of the Siśunåga as succeeding the Pradyotas of Avanti cannot be accepted as historical. Sisunâga must 6 Vishnu, P. IV, Chap. 19.
1 Harivamsa, Chap. XXI. 8 Brahmadatta king of Bonarea is the Bodhisattva in Jatakas 14, 67, 228, 248 and 469 in Failsboll's edition. The J átakas state that Brahmadatta is the name of a family and not of any particular king. The Purd as have only one Brahmadatta.
9 1. 2, 9.
10 Sisunåga, for instance,"stationed his son at Benares" (as viceroy). This son Kákavarna afterwards became king of Magadha. (Malaya and Vayu Purds). That part of the Kasi kingdom was incorporated into Kogala is seen from the Mathivagga (VIII, 2)