16 Mahajanapadas Names and their Details

The history of the Mahajanapadas may be traced back to the growth of eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar during the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. This article sheds light on the 16 mahajanapadas names

The 16 Mahajanapadas Names

In the 6th century BC, India was divided into various kingdoms. During this time, the Indo-Gangetic plain experienced socioeconomic progress as well as religious and political developments.

From Janapadas to Mahajanapadas, these villages paved the way. By the sixth century BC, the concentration of political activity had shifted from the western to the eastern parts of the Gangetic plain. Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh made up the eastern half of the Gangetic plain. The lush soils, better climate, and terrain conditions blessed with rainfall and rivers were the key reasons for this shift. In reality, it was the increased use of iron tools and weaponry that allowed tiny nations to coalesce into the Mahajanapadas monarchy.

Mahajanapadas

16 Mahajanapadas Capital

Significance

Anga

Champa

Anga Mahajanapada is mentioned in both the Mahabharata and the Atharva Veda
Under the reign of Bimbisara, the Magadha Empire captured it
It can be found in Bihar and West Bengal nowadays
Champa, the state capital, was situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Champa rivers.
Merchants travelled from here to Suvarnabhumi, which was a major commerce hub on the routes (South East Asia).

Magadha

Rajagriha

Magadha is mentioned in the Atharva Veda
It was separated from Anga in modern-day Bihar by the Champa River
Magadha later became a Jain centre, and Rajagriha was the site of the first Buddhist Council.

Kasi

The location was Varanasi
This city was called after the rivers Varuna and Asi, according to the Matsya Purana
Kasi was caught by Kosala.

Vatsa

Kaushambi

Vatsa is also known as Vamsa
Located on the banks of the Yamuna
The Mahajanapada was ruled by a monarchical system
The capital was Kausambi/Kaushambi (which was at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna)
This was a significant commercial centre
Trade and commerce prospered throughout the sixth century
The emperor Udayana adopted Buddhism as the state religion after Buddha’s ascent.

Kosala

Shravasti (northern)

Kushavati (southern)

It was in the modern Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
The region also included Ayodhya, an important city associated with the Ramayana
The tribal republican area of Kapilavastu’s Sakyas is also included in Kosala
Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini’s Kapilavastu
Prasenajit was a powerful ruler during Buddha’s lifetime.

Shurasena

Mathura

This place was a centre of Krishna worship during Megasthenes’ time
The Buddha’s disciples also wielded sway
Awantipura is a mighty king (Disciple of Buddha)
Its capital, Mathura, was situated on the Yamuna’s banks.

Panchala

Ahichchhatra and Kampilya

Its northern Panchala capital was Ahichchatra (modern Bareilly), and its southern Panchala capital was Kampilya (modern Farrukhabad)
The famous city of Kannauj was located in the Kingdom of Panchala
The government then converted from a monarchy to a republic.

Kuru

Indraprastha

Kuru Mahajanapada was most likely born in the Kurukshetra area
It switched to a Republican administration
A fight between two branches of the ruling Kuru clan is described in the Mahabharata, an epic poem.

Matsya

Viratanagara

It was located between the Panchalas and the Kurus, to the west of the Panchalas and to the south of the Kurus
The capital of Viratanagara was Viratanagara (modern Bairat)
Jaipur, Alwar, and Bharatpur are all in the Rajasthan area
Virata is the founder.

Chedi

Sothivathi

In the Rigveda, this is referenced
The capital was Sothivati/Shuktimati/Sotthivatinagara
It is presently in the Bundelkhand region (Central India)
The King is Shishupala. Vasudeva Krishna assassinated Pandava ruler Yudhishthira during the Rajasuya sacrifice.

Avanti

Ujjaini or Mahishmati

Avanti was a pivotal figure in the birth of Buddhism
Ujjaini (northern region) and Mahishmati were the capitals of Avanti (southern part)
It was in the present-day states of Malwa, and Madhya Pradesh
Pradyota was a strong ruler.

Gandhara

Taxila

The capital of Taxila was Taxila (Takshashila)
Pakistan’s modern Peshawar and Rawalpindi, as well as the Kashmir valley
Gandhara is mentioned in the Atharva Veda
The people were well-versed in fighting techniques
In terms of international trade, it was significant
Pushkarasarin is a formidable ruler
The Persians conquered Gandhara in the late sixth century BCE.

Kamboja

Poonch

Kamboja’s capital was Poonch
It is found in the Hindukush and Kashmir today
According to numerous literary sources, Kamboja was a republic
The horse breed of Kambojas was remarkable.

Asmara

Postal/Podana

It was on the Godavari’s banks
It was Dakshinapatha’s only Mahajanapada, located south of the Vindhya Range
The Pratisthan or Paithan region is included.

Vajji

Vaishali

The Vajjis dominated the Tirhut section of the state north of the Ganga
The Lichchhavis (Capital – Vaishali), Videhans (Capital – Mithila), and Jnatrikas were the most powerful clans (based in Kundapura)
Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrikas family
The Vajjis were defeated by Ajatashatru.

Malla

Kusinara

The Mahabharata, as well as Buddhist and Jain scriptures, reference it
Malla was a republic with a democratic government
Its area stretched to the northern border of the Vajji state
The capitals are Kusinara and Pava
In Buddhist history, both capitals are noteworthy. Before entering Mahaparinirvana in Kusinara, the Buddha ate his farewell supper at Pava.

Conclusion

Between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE, the 16 mahajanapadas map included sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that flourished in ancient India during the second urbanisation era. A group of sixteen ancient Indian kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas. It all began when tribes (Janas) in the late Vedic period decided to form their territorial organisations. This ultimately gave rise to new and stable settlement zones known as states or ‘janapadas.’

16 Mahajanapadas Names and their Details

The 16 Mahajanapadas Names

Conclusion

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Janapadas and Mahajanapadas, and how do you tell them apart?

Which of the Mahajanapada republics was it?

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Mahajanapadas	16 Mahajanapadas Capital	Significance
Anga	Champa	Anga Mahajanapada is mentioned in both the Mahabharata and the Atharva Veda Under the reign of Bimbisara, the Magadha Empire captured it It can be found in Bihar and West Bengal nowadays Champa, the state capital, was situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Champa rivers. Merchants travelled from here to Suvarnabhumi, which was a major commerce hub on the routes (South East Asia).
Magadha	Rajagriha	Magadha is mentioned in the Atharva Veda It was separated from Anga in modern-day Bihar by the Champa River Magadha later became a Jain centre, and Rajagriha was the site of the first Buddhist Council.
Kasi	Kasi	The location was Varanasi This city was called after the rivers Varuna and Asi, according to the Matsya Purana Kasi was caught by Kosala.
Vatsa	Kaushambi	Vatsa is also known as Vamsa Located on the banks of the Yamuna The Mahajanapada was ruled by a monarchical system The capital was Kausambi/Kaushambi (which was at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna) This was a significant commercial centre Trade and commerce prospered throughout the sixth century The emperor Udayana adopted Buddhism as the state religion after Buddha’s ascent.
Kosala	Shravasti (northern) Kushavati (southern)	It was in the modern Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh. The region also included Ayodhya, an important city associated with the Ramayana The tribal republican area of Kapilavastu’s Sakyas is also included in Kosala Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini’s Kapilavastu Prasenajit was a powerful ruler during Buddha’s lifetime.
Shurasena	Mathura	This place was a centre of Krishna worship during Megasthenes’ time The Buddha’s disciples also wielded sway Awantipura is a mighty king (Disciple of Buddha) Its capital, Mathura, was situated on the Yamuna’s banks.
Panchala	Ahichchhatra and Kampilya	Its northern Panchala capital was Ahichchatra (modern Bareilly), and its southern Panchala capital was Kampilya (modern Farrukhabad) The famous city of Kannauj was located in the Kingdom of Panchala The government then converted from a monarchy to a republic.
Kuru	Indraprastha	Kuru Mahajanapada was most likely born in the Kurukshetra area It switched to a Republican administration A fight between two branches of the ruling Kuru clan is described in the Mahabharata, an epic poem.
Matsya	Viratanagara	It was located between the Panchalas and the Kurus, to the west of the Panchalas and to the south of the Kurus The capital of Viratanagara was Viratanagara (modern Bairat) Jaipur, Alwar, and Bharatpur are all in the Rajasthan area Virata is the founder.
Chedi	Sothivathi	In the Rigveda, this is referenced The capital was Sothivati/Shuktimati/Sotthivatinagara It is presently in the Bundelkhand region (Central India) The King is Shishupala. Vasudeva Krishna assassinated Pandava ruler Yudhishthira during the Rajasuya sacrifice.
Avanti	Ujjaini or Mahishmati	Avanti was a pivotal figure in the birth of Buddhism Ujjaini (northern region) and Mahishmati were the capitals of Avanti (southern part) It was in the present-day states of Malwa, and Madhya Pradesh Pradyota was a strong ruler.
Gandhara	Taxila	The capital of Taxila was Taxila (Takshashila) Pakistan’s modern Peshawar and Rawalpindi, as well as the Kashmir valley Gandhara is mentioned in the Atharva Veda The people were well-versed in fighting techniques In terms of international trade, it was significant Pushkarasarin is a formidable ruler The Persians conquered Gandhara in the late sixth century BCE.
Kamboja	Poonch	Kamboja’s capital was Poonch It is found in the Hindukush and Kashmir today According to numerous literary sources, Kamboja was a republic The horse breed of Kambojas was remarkable.
Asmara	Postal/Podana	It was on the Godavari’s banks It was Dakshinapatha’s only Mahajanapada, located south of the Vindhya Range The Pratisthan or Paithan region is included.
Vajji	Vaishali	The Vajjis dominated the Tirhut section of the state north of the Ganga The Lichchhavis (Capital – Vaishali), Videhans (Capital – Mithila), and Jnatrikas were the most powerful clans (based in Kundapura) Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrikas family The Vajjis were defeated by Ajatashatru.
Malla	Kusinara	The Mahabharata, as well as Buddhist and Jain scriptures, reference it Malla was a republic with a democratic government Its area stretched to the northern border of the Vajji state The capitals are Kusinara and Pava In Buddhist history, both capitals are noteworthy. Before entering Mahaparinirvana in Kusinara, the Buddha ate his farewell supper at Pava.