Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s3: Geographical Location

Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s3

Language: English

Geographical Location

c9.s3.1

Hsüan Tsang refers to the kingdoms of Vaiśālī (modern Basarh)² and Fo-li-shi or Vṛji³ separately, with an area of 5,000 li (833 miles) and 4,000 li (667 miles) in circuit respectively. Cunningham has shown the pilgrim's mistake in separating the two states which actually were one with several branches.⁴ The two taken separately are certainly too large to be accomodated in the region between the mountains and the Ganges.⁵ Cunningham asserts that "it is quite certain that there must be some mistake in the estimated dimensions of one of these. The utmost limit that can be assigned to the joint-districts, with reference to the surrounding states, is not more than 750 or 800 miles in circuit, from the foot of the mountains (in the north) to the Ganges on the south, and from the Gaṇḍaka on the west to the Mahānadi on the east. I conclude, therefore, either that there is some mistake or exaggeration in the estimated size of one or both of the districts, or that the two districts are the same kingdom under different names."⁶ That the latter actually was the case he has shown in detail.⁷ Cunningham further discusses the area covered by the Licchavis, the Videhas, etc., and shows that this entire region was occupied by the *Saṁ-vajjis* or "United Vajjis". Moreover, he shows, on the authority of Hsüan Tsang, that "the country of the Vṛjis was long from east to west, and narrow from north to south. This description," he says, "corresponds exactly with the tract of country lying between the Gaṇḍaka and Mahānadi rivers, which is 300 miles in length by 100 miles in breadth."⁸

c9.s3.2

² Beal, *Life of Hiüen Tsiang*, p. 100.

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³ Beal, *BRWW*, ii, p. 77, fn. 100.

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⁴ *CAGIM*, pp. 509ff.

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⁵ *Ibid.*, p. 509.

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⁶ *Loc. cit.*

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⁷ *Ibid.*, pp. 509-12.

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⁸ *Ibid.*, p. 513.

c9.s3.9

According to Cunningham, we find the Licchavis of Vesāli occupying "the southwest corner of the country of the Vṛijis to the westward of the little Gaṇḍaka river and north of the Ganges".¹ The Videhas of Mithilā occupied the northern tracts, and the Nāyas inhabited the land around the northern suburbs of Vesālī.² The country occupied by these three main clans was collectively called the *Vṛji-Janapada*.³

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¹ *Ibid.*, p. 511; also see *PHAI*, p. 118.

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² *Cf.* above, our map A.

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³ *MPS*, pp. 162, 172, 178, 190, 202, 228; *Majjhima*, i, p. 210.

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Dr. M. S. Pandey, relying on Cunningham, locates the Videhas as "bounded on the north by what is now the Nepalese Teraī, the Kosī river to the east, the Sadānīrā (modern Gaṇḍaka) to the west and the Licchavian territory to the south."⁴ Dr. Pandey does not question Cunningham's location of the Licchavis of Vesālī and refers to the whole territory occupied by the confederates as "Vajji-territory".⁵ He further shows that the Vajjian territory was bounded on the west, south and east respectively, by three rivers, the Gaṇḍak, the Gaṅgā and the Bāgmatī, while on the north was what had been the kingdom of Videha.⁶ We accept this location of the Vajjian territory occupied by the Licchavis of Vesālī as a probable approximation which is not disproved by conflicting evidence.

Linked texts (2)

Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra — Sanskrit
Majjhimanikāya — Pāli