• The Mahjanapadas were sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that lived in ancient India during the sixth to fourth centuries BCE during the second urbanisation era.
• The 6th–5th century BCE are typically seen as key turning points in early Indian history; after the death of the Indus Valley Civilization, India’s first great cities formed during this period.

Mahajanapadas

• The Janapadas were the main kingdoms ofVedic India. 
• The Aryans were the most powerful tribes of the time, and they were referred to as ‘Janas.’
• Janapada, which means “people” and “foot,” was born as a result of this.
• By the sixth century BCE, there were possibly 22 distinct Janapadas.
• Socioeconomic achievements, notably the use of iron instruments in agriculture and warfare, as well as religious and political advances, resulted in the establishment of the Mahajanapadas from small kingdoms known as Janapadas.
• Rather than the tribe or jana, the residents formed a strong connection to the land or Janapadato which they belonged.
• This is also considered the second urbanisation era, after the Harappan civilisation.
• The political centreshifted from the west to the east of the Indo-Gangetic plains during this period.
• Higher land fertility as a result of increased rainfall and rivers was linked to this.
• This area was also closer to iron-producing areas.

Anga

Capital – Champa

• The Mahabharata and Atharva Veda both mention Anga Mahajanapada.
• It was seized by the Magadha Empire under the reign of Bimbisara.
• It is found in modern-day Bihar and West Bengal.
• Champa, its capital, was situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Champa rivers.
• Merchants travelled from here to Suvarnabhumi, since it was a key commercial centre on the trading routes (South East Asia)

Magadha

Capital – Rajagriha

• The Atharva Veda mentions Magadha.
• It was near Anga in modern-day Bihar, separated by the Champa River.
• Later, Magadha became a Jain centre, and Rajagriha hosted the first Buddhist Council.

Kasi

• Varanasi was the location.
• According to the Matsya Purana, this city was named after the rivers Varuna and Asi.
• Kosala apprehended Kasi.

Vatsa

Capital – Kaushambi

• Vatsa is often spelled Vamsa.
• Located on the Yamuna’s banks.
• This Mahajanapada was governed in a monarchical manner.
• Kausambi/Kaushambi was the capital (which was at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna).
• This was a commercially important city.
• In the sixth century, trade and commerce flourished.
• Following Buddha’s ascension, the monarch Udayana established Buddhism as a state religion.

Kosala

• Shravasti (northern), Kushavati (southern)
• It was in Uttar Pradesh’s current Awadh area.
• Ayodhya, a significant city linked with the Ramayana, was also included in the territory.
• Kosala also includes the tribal republican territory of Kapilavastu’s Sakyas.
• Gautama Buddha was born at Kapilavastu in Lumbini.
• Prasenajit (Buddha’s contemporaries) was an important ruler.

Shurasena

Capital – Mathura

• During Megasthenes’ time, this location was a centre of Krishna devotion.
• The disciples of the Buddha also held sway.
• Awantipura is a powerful king (Disciple of Buddha).
• Mathura, its capital, was located on the banks of the Yamuna.

Panchala

Capital- Ahichchhatra and Kampilya

• Its capital for northern Panchala was Ahichchatra (modern Bareilly), and its capital for southern Panchala was Kampilya (modern Farrukhabad).
• Kannauj, the famed city, was located in the Kingdom of Panchala.
• Later, the form of government changed from monarchy to republic.

Kuru

Capital – Indraprastha

• Kuru Mahajanapada was probably born in the vicinity of Kurukshetra.
• It adopted a republican form of government.
• The Mahabharata, an epic poem, describes a war between two branches of the ruling Kuru clan.

Matsya

Capital – Viratanagara

• It lay to the west of the Panchalas and to the south of the Kurus.
• Viratanagara was the capital (modern Bairat).
• It is located in the Rajasthan region of Jaipur, Alwar, and Bharatpur.
• Founder – Virata

Chedi

Capital – Sothivathi

• This is mentioned in the Rigveda.
• Sothivati/Shuktimati/Sotthivatinagara was the capital.
• It is now located in the Bundelkhand area (Central India).
• Shishupala is the King. During the Rajasuya sacrifice of Pandava monarch Yudhishthira, he was murdered by Vasudeva Krishna.

Avanti

Capital – Ujjaini or Mahishmati

• Avanti had an important role in the emergence of Buddhism.
• Avanti’s capitals were Ujjaini (northern section) and Mahishmati (southern part).
• It was located in what is now Malwa and Madhya Pradesh.
• Pradyota was a powerful king.

Gandhara

Capital- Taxila

• Taxila was the capital (Takshashila).
• Modern Peshawar and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, as well as the Kashmir valley.
• The Atharva Veda mentions Gandhara.
• The people were well-versed in the art of fighting.
• It was noteworthy in terms of international trade.
• Pushkarasarin is a powerful king.
• Gandhara was captured by the Persians in the late sixth century BCE.

Kamboja

Capital- Poonch

• Poonch was the capital of Kamboja.
• It is located in modern-day Kashmir and the Hindukush.
• Kamboja was a republic, according to several literary sources.
• Kambojas had an exceptional horse breed.

Asmaka

Capital – Potali/Podana

• It was on the banks of the Godavari.
• It was the only Mahajanapada in Dakshinapatha, located south of the Vindhya Range.
• It includes the Pratisthan or Paithan area.

Vajji

Vaishali

• The Vajjis ruled the state north of the Ganga in the Tirhut division.
• The most powerful clans were the Lichchhavis (Capital – Vaishali), Videhans (Capital – Mithila), and Jnatrikas (based in Kundapura).
• Mahavira was a member of the Jnatrikas clan.
• Ajatashatru triumphed over the Vajjis.

Malla

Kusinara

• It is mentioned in Buddhist and Jain scriptures, as well as in the Mahabharata.
• Malla was a democratic republic.
• Its territory extended to the Vajji state’s northern boundary.
• Kusinara and Pava are the capitals.
• Both capitals are significant in Buddhist history.
• The Buddha ate his final supper at Pava before entering Mahaparinirvana in Kusinara.