Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c15.s1.t1.5

c15.s1.t1.5

The *Mahāvamsa Ṭīkā* refers to them as the Moriya kings of the Moriya city. The *Ṭīkā* always mentions them in the plural, i.e. *Moriyarājānam*, and the young Moriyas are invariably called *rājakumāras* or princes.⁴ This clearly shows that the Moriyas of Pipphalivana were a republican people like the Sakyas, the Mallas, and the Licchavis, and that the college of Moriyan rulers were all called *rājās*. We have no definite evidence with regard to their internal administration and judicial system. But it would be legitimate to suggest that they had a general assembly of elders who chose a chief from amongst themselves, probably for life. He probably ran the administration of the republic with the help of a few members of the assembly, which was the source of his power. It was this body of the Moriyas which most likely sent an envoy to Kusinārā to claim a share in the relics of the Buddha. We do not know the number of the Moriyas who constituted this assembly and council.⁵