Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s3.28

c12.s3.28

Cunningham identifies Pāvā with modern Padraonā in the Gorakhpur district.⁸ This does not seem philologically possible. It must have been somewhere near Kāsiā, for the sick Buddha could not have travelled very far on foot in so short a time.⁹ Moreover, a section of people inhabiting these parts today still call themselves Mallas and claim to be Kṣatriyas.¹⁰ In H. Panday's opinion, "they tally with the ancient Mallas as they have the title of Mallas; they claim origin from the ancestors of recognized Kṣatriyas; the generality of them do not take consecrations prescribed for the twice born: these are all indicative of a close affinity between the present day Mallas and the Mallas of ancient fame".¹¹