Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c14.65

c14.65

The river Rohiṇī divided the Koliyan territory from that of the Sakyas in the north-west,⁷ and in the south-west it probably bordered the Kosalan kingdom.⁸ It is likely that the river Anomā, the modern Rāpti, divided them. To the east of the Koliyas was the territory occupied by the Moriyas of Pipphalivana; to the north-east of the Koliyas lived the Mallas of Kusinārā. To the north of the Koliyas lay the Himālayan hills.⁹ Thus, the Koliyan country was a thin strip of land from the river Sarayū (the modern Ghāgrā) in the south to the northern hills. Between the Rohiṇī on the west and Moriyas to the east the territory was only about 20 miles wide. On the map drawn by Cunningham, it appears that the region occupied by the Koliyas was no smaller than that occupied by the Sakyas.¹⁰