Everything about Vajji totally explained
Vajji (or
Vrijji) mahajanapada was one of the principal
mahajanapadas of ancient
India. The territory of the Vajji mahajanapada was located on the north of the
Ganga River and extended up to the Terai region of
Nepal. On the west, the
Gandak River was probably the boundary between it and the
Malla mahajanapada and possibly also separated it with the
Kosala mahajanapada. On the east, its territory was probably extended up to the forests along the banks of the rivers,
Koshi and
Mahananda. The capital of this mahajanapda was
Vaishali. other important towns and villages were Kundapura or Kundagrama (a suburb of Vaishali), Bhoganagara and Hatthigama.
The rulers of this mahajanapada were a confederacy of the eight clans (
atthakula) of whom the
Vrijis, the
Lichchavis, the
Jnatrikass and the
Videhas were the most important. The identities of the other four clans are not certain. However, in a passage of the
Sutrakritanga, the
Ugras, the
Bhogas, the
Kauravas and the
Aikshvakas are associated with the
Jnatris and
Licchavis as the subjects of the same ruler and the members of the same assmebly.
Vajji administration
It was one of the world's first
democracies. It was known as
Vajji Sangha (union of Vajji), which consisted of several
janapadas,
gramas (villages),
gosthas (groups). The eminent people were chosen from each
khandas (districts) to represent on their behalf in
Vajji gana parishad (people's council of Vajji).These represetatives were called
gana mukhyas.The chairman of the council was called
Ganapramukh (head of the democracy), but often he was addressed as the
king,though his post wasn't dynastic.The other executives were
Mahabaladhrikrit (equivalent to the minister of internal security),
binishchayamatya (
chief justice),
dandadhikrit (other justices) etc.
Vajji's capital was
Vaishali. It was a prosperous city. In the introductory portion of the
Ekapanna Jataka, the Vaishali was described as encompassed by a triple wall with the three gates with watch-towers. The main gosthas were
Lichchhavis,
Mallas,
Śakyas etc. In around 600 B.C. the Lichchhavis were disciples of Lord
Mahavira, but later they shifted to
Buddha Marga (
Buddhism). During his life time Lord
Buddha visited Vaishali several times, the
vihara where he used to stay in Vaishali was called
Kuthagarshala. It was gifted to him by a
Ganapramukh, Chetaka.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Vajji'.
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