Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c12.s2.1

c12.s2.1

It was Rhys Davids who first drew pointed attention to the survival, side by side with the monarchies, of a number of small aristocratic republics in the age of the Buddha and of Bimbisāra.¹ The most important amongst these states were the **Vṛijians** of North Bihār and the **Mallas** of Kusinārā (Kuśīnagara) and Pāvā. An account of both these peoples has already been given.² Among the smaller republics we find mention of the **Śākyas** of Kapilavastu, the **Koliyas** of Devadaha and Rāmagāma, the **Bhaggas** (Bhargas) of Suṁsumāra Hill, the **Bulis** of Allakappa, the **Kālāmas** of Kesaputta, and the **Moriyas** of Pipphalivana.