________________ Homage to Vaisali The Licchavi Republic itself was organised as a vast Confederation known as Vajjian Confederation, with its governing body of 7707 Rijas represented in its Federal Assembly. Probably, as the Lalita-vistara explains, the title Raja was then used for a republican citizen. The Executive of each Republic was a body of eight (Astakula) representing its different sections, each of which had its own uniform and colour. There were thus Republics of following colours, blue (nila), yellow (pita), green (harita), light red (man jistha), red (lohita), white (sveta or odata) and variegated or mixed (vyayukta). These colours marked everything about them, dress, chariots, tarbans, umbrellas, down to shoes, whips and sticks. (Mahapari. Suttanta, S.B.E.XI. 31; Angu., P.T.S., ii, 239; Mahavastu, i, 259; Digha., ii, 95). The 9 Licchavis were in charge of foreign policy and Astakulakas of domestic affairs including justice. The Judicial officers were known as Viniscaya-Mahamatras to ascertain the facts of the case. the Vyavaharikas, legal experts and Sutradharas, proficient in legal texts. An appeal lay from the ordinary courts to Senapati, the military chief, and from him to the civil chief or the Deputy-King (Upa-raja), and from him to the Raja as the final judge. * The working of the Republic conformed to Buddba's famous injunctions viz : (1) that its Assemblies should be frequently held and fully attended; (2) that they should meet and act in concord; (3) that it should respect its ancient laws, customs and institutions; and (4) that it should honour its spiritual leaders and women-folk. The Republic showed its efficiency in producing a higher cultural level in its people. The Buddha himself has testified how the Licchavi youths were free from luxury and sloth, "sleeping with logs of wood as pillows, and not delicate, iender, and soft in their arms and legs" (Sam., II, 267-8), and were fond of manly sport, "training elephants and hunting with dogs." They were also keen on education. We read of Mahali, going to Taxila for study and on returning educating 500 Licchavi youths, who again became teachers and spread education through the country. Vaisali maintained its position as one of India's greatest cities for several centuries. Even 1000 years after the Buddha, Vaisali figures as the Capital or Headquarters (Adhisthana) of a Province of the Gupta Empire, as will appear from the find of Inscribed Seals excavated here by the Archaeological Department. These Inscriptions mention the name of the Province as Tira-bhukti of which the modern name is Tirhut Division, with its headquarters removed from Vaisali to Muzaffarpur. These Inscrip
