Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s2.109

c13.s2.109

However, B.C. Law brings forth some evidence in support of Jayaswal’s suggestion of 500 members constituting the assembly of the Sakyas. Law says that “the ‘saṃthāgāra’ is spoken of in the *Mahāvastu* and the *Lalitavistara*, and we are told there that 500 Śākyas usually took their seats in the Hall. The *Mahāvastu* describes how thirty-two princes, the sons of a Śākya girl and Rājā Kola of Benares, came to settle in Kapilavastu, and presented themselves before the Śākya council (Śākya-pariṣad), where 500 Śākya leaders sat together to transact some important business . . . The *Lalitavistara* ⁶ also gives 500 as the members of the Śākya council.” ⁷