[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968) › c9.s2.39 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s2.39 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s2.39 - **Language:** English ### [c9.s2.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.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 - [Previous: c9.s2.38](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c9.s2.38) - [Next: c9.s2.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c9.s2.40) - [Up: c9.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c9.s2) ## Cites (4) - [Theragāthā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.theragatha) — Pāli - [Cūḷasaccakasutta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.majjhima.35) — Pāli - [Cūḷagosiṅgasutta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.majjhima.31) — Pāli - [Channovādasutta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.majjhima.144) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c9.s2.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c9.s2.39) · Pramāṇa