Buddhist Republic

Description of the Buddha Republic

Buddhist Republic

In addition to the sixteen Mahajanapadas in Buddhist India, the following were some republics –

Buddhist Republic 

“As we all had talked about sixteen Mahajanapadas in the previous post, which was a description of the sixth century of India, and it was also said in relation to Mahatma Buddha that in this post we will all know about the Buddha Republic. The main points about the following ten republics.”

Kapilavastu's Shakya:

The Hint Buddhist Republic-            Kapilavastu’s Shakya       Lichchavi of Vaishali            Koliya of Ramgram            Pippaleevan of Moriya            Pava of Malla            Malla of Kushinagar            Videha of Mithila            Mugga of Sunsumagiri            Buly of Allakalpa           Kalam of Keshputra

This republic enjoys a prominent position in Buddhist literature. The Republic of Kapilvastu, which gave birth to a great man like Mahatma Buddha was located in the western part of modern Gorakhpur, the valley of the Himalayas. According to Dighnikaya, after the death of Mahatma Buddha, the Shakya-dynasty had demanded his remains and said that we and Mahatma Buddha belong to the same dynasty. In some places, the Shakya dynasty has been linked with the Ikshvaku dynasty (इक्ष्वाकु). According to Indian religion and culture, the Kshatriyas of the Ikshvaku dynasty were Suryavanshi. This leads to the conclusion that Shakya Suryavanshi was a Kshatriya. This kingdom became very powerful during the time of Mahatma Buddha.

Lichchavi of Vaishali (वैशाली के लिच्छवि):

We have mentioned this republic under the Shodash Mahajanapada, so it can be said here that the Lichchhavi republic of the then Vaishali was a major center of religious awakening. Vaishali, the capital here, was located near a village called Basadh in the modern Muzaffarpur district. Being a Kshatriya, the Lichchhavis also received the ashes of Mahatma Buddha.

Koliya of Ramgram (रामग्राम के कोलिय):-

On the east side of Kapilvastu's Shakya republic, there was a republic called Koli in Ramgram. On the frontier between the Sakyas and the Kolia, the status of the Vemanya was to consume the waters of the Rohini River. Mahatma Buddha's father Shakya was the king of the Republic. In order to establish peace between the two republics, he married two Koliya girls.

Pippaleevan of Moriya (Maurya) (पिप्पलीवन के मोरिय):-

There is no consensus about the status of this republic, but it seems that this state was also in the lowland region of the Himalayas. The ruling class here was a branch of Shakya; Because Chandragupta Maurya has called Moriya of his Shakya dynasty in one place.

Pava of Malla (पावा के मल्ल):-

No more information is available about the area and extent of this state. Here the ruler of the Malla dynasty branch used to rule.

Malla of Kushinagar (कुशीनगर के मल्ल):-

The area of ​​this republic was extended to the nearest region of Kasia village of Gorakhpur. Here, the kings of the Malla dynasty were the head of this republic.

Videha of Mithila(मिथिला के विदेह):-

The boundaries of this republic mentioned in the Jatakas spread around the nearby Janakpur village of Nepal. Its capital was Mithila. It was the major trading center of that period.

Mugga of Sunsumagiri (सुँसुमगिरि के मग्ग):-

The definitive evidence about the status of this republic is inaccessible but it can be said that it was spread evenly around the modern Mirzapur district.

Buly of Allakalpa (अल्ल्कल्प के बुली):-

Probably the adjacent part of Shahabad and Muzaffarpur district of Bihar was under this republic.

Kalam of Keshputra(केशपुत्र के कलाम):-

Gautam Buddha's Guru Kalam lived in this republic - on the basis of this, it can be inferred that this republic must have been situated near Kapilavastu and Ramgram.

           The above republics were not very large in size, but the Vaishali republic was larger and wider than many Mahajanapadas. After the above description of the Shodash Mahajanapada and the republics, we come to the conclusion that the political situation at that time had assumed a very complex nature. In the absence of universal power, a situation of conflict was created and life was tortured by the horrors of war. From a political point of view, it was a transitional state.

         In the literature of Vedic literature, Brahman, Mahakavya and Buddhist-Jain, etc., we find mention of republican states at many places.

According to Dr. KP Jaiswal, "Along with the monarchical system, republican governance was present in many parts of India."

According to Professor Ris Davis, "There were many republics during the time of Mahatma Buddha, in which the Shakya republic of Kapilavastu and the Lichchavi republic of Vaishali were prominent. In Lalitwistar, describing the republic, it is said that" every man there considers himself king. No one is smaller than anyone and neither is bigger than anyone - all are equal”.

According to Panini, the words  ‘Gana’ and  ‘Sangha’ have the same meaning.' The words ‘Gan’ and ‘Sangh’ have also been used in Majjhimnikaya.

        Modern scholars have accepted the meaning of this word 'Gana' as a method of democratic governance. The difference between monarchical and republican law has been explained in Avadanhatan. In Buddhist literature, the list of republic states is also given. Therefore, it is clear that in the sixth century BC, there were many republics in India. Later, the Greek writers have described the republics who fought fiercely against Alexander.

       On the basis of the above description, it can be said that in the sixth century BCE, there was a complete development of the republican pattern in India's political courtyard. The point to be considered was that in a country the state and republic rule This co-existence existed.