Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c11.s1.8

c11.s1.8

The antiquity of the Nāyas can be pushed back even further by a careful study of the *Uvāsagadasāo*. This text gives an account of the religious profession of Jaina lay disciples (*Uvāsagas*). It is set out in ten lectures (*adhyayanas*). At the end of each lecture, save one, it is stated that "he will attain perfection in the Great-Videha Country" (*Mahāvidehe vāse sijjhihië*).³ In the *Ācārāṅga Sūtra* the same formula is repeated in connection with Mahāvīra's parents.⁴ Yet in the following section Mahāvīra is called a "Videha, son of Videhadattā, a native of Videha, a prince of Videha who lived 30 years amongst the Videhas".⁵ The constant emphasis on Mahā-Videha and Videha suggests, to our mind, that in spite of the Licchavi newcomers and their establishment of power at Vesāli, the Jainas still called the whole territory to the north of the Ganges by its much older name, Mahā-Videha. The Nāyas occupied a region in Mahā-Videha, and thought of themselves as Videhas. They probably came from the Madhyadeśa along with the Videhas.⁶