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position of vrātyd when they became champions of non-Brahmanical creeds. The Pali commentary Paramatthajotikā24 contains a legend regarding the Licchavis which traces their origin to a queen of Benares.
The date of the foundation of the Licchavi power is not known. But it is certain that the authority of the clan was firmly established in the days of Mahavira and Gotama, in the latter half of the sixth century B. C., and was already on the wane in the next century. A vivid description of the Licchavis is given by Buddha himself in the following words25 : “Let those of the brethren, who have never seen the tāvatimsa gods, gaze upon this company of the Licchavis, behold this company of the Licchavis, compare this company of the Licchavis—even as a company of tāvatimsa gods.”
Buddhist tradition has preserved the names of eminent Licchavis like prince Abhaya, Otthaddha (Mohali), generals Siha and Ajita, Dummukha and Sunakkhatta26. In the introductory portion of the Ekapanna27 and Chulla Kālinga28 Jātakas it is stated that the Licchavis of the ruling family numbered 7,70729. There was a like number of viceroys, generals, and treasurers. The Jaina Kalpa Sūtra30 refers to the "nine Licchayis”31 as having formed a confederacy with nine Mallakis and eighteen ganarājas of Kasi-Kosala32. We learn from the Nirayāvali Sutra that an important
24 Vol. I, pp. 158-65. 25 SBE, XI, p. 32.
26 Anguttara Nikaya, Nipata III, 74 (P.T.S., Part I, p. 220f.); Mahali Sutta, Dialogues of the Buddha, Part I, p. 198, Part III, p. 17. Mahavagga, SBE, XVII, p. 108; Majjhima Nikaya, I. 234 ; 68; II. 252 ; The Book of the Kindred Sayings, 295. For a detailed account of the Licchavis, see now Law, 'Some Ksatriya Tribes of Ancient India'.
27 149.
28 301.
29 The Dhammapada Commentary (Harvard Oriental Series, 30, 168) informs us that they ruled by turns.
30 & 128. 31 These are probably the Vajji Mahallaka referred to in Anguttara, IV. 19.
82 Dr. Barua is inclined to identify the nine Licchavis and the nine Mallakis with the eighteen ganarajas who belonged to Kasi-Kosala. He refers in this connection to the Kalpadrumakalikavyakhya which represents the 'Mallakis' as adhipas (or overlords) of Kasi-desa and the 'Lecchakis' as adhipas of Kosala-desa, and further describes them as samantas or vassals of Cetaka, maternal uncle of Mahavira (Indian Culture, Vol II, p. 810). It is news to students of Indian history that in the days of Mahavira the kingdoms of Kasi and Kosala acknowledged the supremacy of the Mallas and Licchavis respectively, and formed part of an empire over which Cetaka presided. Even Dr. Barua hesitates to accept this interpretation of the late Jaina commentator in its entirety and suggests that the nine Mallas and the nine Licchavis... derived their
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