Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s3.54

c12.s3.54

The Jaina texts give us reason to believe that the council of the Mallas consisted of nine members (*nava-Mallaī*).² It was the Council of 18 (*nava-Mallaī* and *nava-Lecchaī*) which was consulted by Ceḍaga when Kuṇīya-Ajātasattu was harassing the confederates.³ Again, at the death of the Nigantha Nāyaputta, it was the Council of nine Mallas and nine Licchavis who instituted the festival of lights to mark the passing away of Mahāvīra.⁴ This suggests that in the Vajjian Council the Mallas and the Licchavis had equal representation. But as we have seen, the Videhas⁵ and probably also the Nāyas⁶ were represented in this council, and at the death of the Buddha "eight Malla chiefs" (*aṭṭha Mallapāmokhā*)⁷ intended to bear his corpse. Yet more significant is a following passage in which only "four Malla chiefs" (*cattaro Mallapāmokhā*) proceeded to set fire to the funeral pyre of the Exalted One.⁸ This text suggests that the Mallas had a council of either eight or four.