[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968) › c11.55 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c11.55 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c11.55 - **Language:** English ### [c11.55](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c11.55) It seems likely that Mahāvīra’s father, who was the chief of the Nāyas, was not only connected to Vesālī by the marriage with a Licchavian princess but was also a member of the Vajjian Council of 18. Thus he might have had a residence in Vesālī as well, and Mahāvīra might also have stayed there for sometime. This would give the Jaina writers ground to call him a Vesālian. We do not know how big the Nāya territory actually was, but it seems unlikely that the region occupied by them was very large. We believe that the Nāyas were a small republic occupying a small region around Kuṇḍapura, but we do not know whether or not they had full rights within that territory. The domination of the powerful Licchavis in the Vesālī region would make it improbable if not impossible that the Nāyas should become too conscious of their independence on territory in such close proximity to the political centre of the Licchavis.⁵ - [Previous: c11.54](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c11.54) - [Next: c11.56](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c11.56) - [Up: c11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c11) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c11.55](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c11.55) · Pramāṇa