Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s7.279

c9.s7.279

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 Sākyas⁴ 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 Vāseṭṭhas, *i.e.*, "belonging to the Vasishṭha *gotra*."⁵ The *Mahāsudassana Sutta* mentions another king named Mahāsudassana.⁶ These rulers, Okkāka and Mahāsudassana, may or may not have been historical individuals. But the tales that cluster round their names imply that Malla-raṭṭha was at first ruled by kings. This conclusion is confirmed by the evidence of the *Mahābhārata*⁷ which refers to an overlord (*adhipa*) of the Mallas. During the monarchical period the metropolis was a great city and was styled Kusāvatī. Other important cities were, Anupiyā and Uruvelakappa.¹