Magadha
Magadha was a kingdom located in southern northeastern India and Nepal. It went through different dynasties like the Brihadratha, Haryanka, Shaishunaga, Nanda, Mauryan, Shunga, and Kanva dynasties. Over time, Magadha lost some of its lands to the Satavahanas in 28 BC and became a smaller principality.[1]
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During the time of the Mauryas, Magadha became a large empire, covering a big part of north India and Nepal. Magadha was central to the Nanda Empire, Maurya Empire, Shunga Empire, and Gupta Empire. The Pala Empire also ruled over Magadha and had a royal camp in Pataliputra.[2] Even after the major empires, the Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya continued to call themselves Magadhādipati and ruled parts of Magadha until the 13th century.[3]
Area of Magadha
Before Magadha expanded, its kingdom was limited by the Ganges, Son, and Campā rivers to the north, west, and east, while the southern border was formed by the eastern spurs of the Vindhya mountains. This initial Magadha kingdom covered what is now Patna and Gaya districts in the Indian state of Bihar.[4]
Greater Magadha, which was part of the eastern Gangetic plains, included nearby areas and parts of Nepal, and had its own unique culture and beliefs.[5]
History
The Magadha people are mentioned in ancient texts like the Atharvaveda along with other groups. The main part of their kingdom was in Bihar, south of the Ganges River. Their first capital was Rajagriha, later known as Rajgir, and then Pataliputra, which is modern Patna. Magadha grew by conquering Vajjika League and Anga, covering most of Bihar and parts of Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.[6]
The kingdom is talked about in Jain and Buddhist texts, as well as in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Puranas. The early rulers are not well-known, but the Haryanka dynasty led for about 200 years from 543 to 413 BCE. Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, lived in Magadha, gaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya and giving his first sermon in Sarnath.[7]
The Haryanka dynasty was followed by the Shishunaga dynasty, and later, Mahapadma Nanda ended their rule in 345 BCE. Chandragupta Maurya defeated the Nandas around 321 BCE, starting the Mauryan Empire. Under King Ashoka, it expanded across India. After the Mauryan Empire, the Shunga and Khārabēḷa empires followed, replaced by the Gupta Empire. The Gupta capital remained in Pataliputra in Magadha.[8]
List of rulers
Following is the Chronology of rulers according to the Buddhist Mahavamsa:[9]
- Haryanka dynasty (c. 544 – 413 BCE)
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| Bimbisara | 544–491 BCE |
| Ajatashatru | 491–461 BCE |
| Udayin | 461–428 BCE |
| Anirudha | 428–419 BCE |
| Munda | 419–417 BCE |
| Darshaka | 417–415 BCE |
| Nāgadāsaka | 415–413 BCE |
- Shishunaga dynasty (c. 413 – 345 BCE)
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| Shishunaga | 413–395 BCE |
| Kalashoka | 395–377 BCE |
| Kshemadharman | 377–365 BCE |
| Kshatraujas | 365–355 BCE |
| Nandivardhana | 355–349 BCE |
| Mahanandin | 349–345 BCE |
- Nanda Empire (c. 345 – c. 322 BCE)
| Ruler | Reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| Mahapadma Nanda | 345–340 BCE |
| Pandhukananda | 340–339 BCE |
| Panghupatinanda | 339–338 BCE |
| Bhutapalananda | 338–337 BCE |
| Rashtrapalananada | 337–336 BCE |
| Govishanakananda | 336–335 BCE |
| Dashasidkhakananda | 335–334 BCE |
| Kaivartananda | 334–333 BCE |
| Karvinathanand | 333–330 BCE |
| Dhana Nanda | 330–322 BCE |
