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MALLA KINGS
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Pāvā was identified by Cunningham with the village named Padaraona, 12 miles to the N.N.E. of Kasiā, and separated from it by the Bādhi Nala ( identified with the ancient Kakutthā). Carlleyle, however, proposes to identify Pāvā with Fāzilpur, 10 miles S.E. of Kasia and separated from it by the Kuku. In the Sangiti Suttanta we have a reference to the Mote Hall of the Pāvā Mallas named. Ubbhataka: 3 "The Mallas together with the Lichchhavis are classed by Manu as Vrātya Kshatriyas. They, too, like their eastern neighbours were among ardent champions of Buddhism.
Like Videha, Malla had at first a monarchical constitution. The Kusa Jātaka mentions a Malla king named Okkāka (Ikshvāku). The name probably suggests that like the Säkyas* the Malla princes also claimed to belong to the Ikshvāku family. And this is confirmed by the fact that in the Mahā-parinibbāna Suttanta they are sometimes called Vāsetthas, i.e., "belonging to the Vasishtha gotra.' 5 The Mahāsudassana Sutta mentions another king named Mahāsudassana. These rulers, Okkāka and Mahāsudassana, may or may not have been historical individuals. But the tales that cluster round their names imply that Mallarattha was at first ruled by kings. This conclusion is confirmed by the evidence of the Mahābhārata? which refers to an overlord (adhipa) of the Mallas. During the monarchical period the metropolis was a great city and was styled
1 AGI, 1924, 498. 2 Kukutthā ; AGI, 1924, 744. 3 DPPN, II. 194. 4 Cf. Dialogues, Part I. pp. 114-15.
5 Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II, pp. 162, 179, 181, Vasishtha figures in the Rāmāyana as the purohita of the Ikshväkuids.
6 S. B. E., XI, p. 248. 7 II. 30. 3.
