Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s2.39

c9.s2.39

The *Theragāthā* records Vajji 11 times and Licchavi only once, which the Commentator takes to mean “a Vajjian.” “He was reborn as the son of a Licchavi *rājā* at Vesālī. He became known as the Vajjian’s son, because his father was one of the Vajjians.”⁴ This suggests that in order to be known as a Vajji a Licchavi had to be a *rājā* or member of the Licchavian assembly, some of whom might have represented the Licchavis at the Vajjian council. Further references to the Licchavis of Vesālī are found in the *Cūḷa-Saccaka Sutta* of the *Majjhima Nikāya*.⁵ In the *Caṇṇ-Ovāda Sutta* of the same text we read of a “Vajjian village,”⁶ and in the *Cūḷa-Gosiṅga Sutta*⁷ we find a demigod named Digha announcing, “It is a great thing for the Vajjians, a very great thing for the Vajjian race, to have dwelling (in their country) the Truth-Finder, Arahat, All-Enlightened.”⁸ This may indicate the whole territory of the Confederacy. The *Cūḷa-Saccaka Sutta* informs us of the "confederation and federations such as the Vajjians and the Mallians" who had supreme power within their territories.¹