Haryanka Dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
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| 544 BCE–413 BCE | |||||||||||||||||
![The approximate extent of the Haryanka dynasty and the Shaisunaga dynasty between the 6th and 5th century BCE.[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMagadha_Expansion_(6th-4th_centuries_BCE).png) The approximate extent of the Haryanka dynasty and the Shaisunaga dynasty between the 6th and 5th century BCE.[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Rajagriha laterPataliputra | ||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Magadhi Prakrit Other Prakrits | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Jainism[2][3] Buddhism[4] | ||||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||||
| King | |||||||||||||||||
• 544-492 BCE | Bimbisara | ||||||||||||||||
• 492-460 BCE | Ajatashatru | ||||||||||||||||
• 460-444 BCE | Udayin | ||||||||||||||||
• 444-440 BCE | Anuruddha | ||||||||||||||||
• 440-437 BCE | Munda | ||||||||||||||||
• 437-413 BCE | Nāgadāsaka | ||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||
• Established | 544 BCE | ||||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 413 BCE | ||||||||||||||||
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| Today part of | India | ||||||||||||||||
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TheHaryanka dynasty was the ruling dynasty ofMagadha, according to theBuddhist textMahavamsa between 544 BC and 413 BC though some scholars favour a later chronology (5th century BCE to first half of 4th century BCE). Initially, the capital wasRajagriha. Later, it was shifted toPataliputra, near present-dayPatna inIndia during the reign ofUdayin.Bimbisara is considered to be the founder of the dynasty.
According to the Mahavamsa, Bimbisara was appointed king by his father, Bhattiya, at the age of fifteen. This dynasty was succeeded by theShaishunaga dynasty.[5]
The governance structure of Haryanka dynasty is mentioned in ancient texts. They mentiongramakas (village headmen) who headed village assemblies andmahamatras (high-ranking officials) who had executive, judicial and military functions.[6]
Historically, this period coincided with theAchaemenid conquest of the Indus Valley during the rule ofDarius I from about 517/516 BCE.[7]
_at_Rajagriha%2c_the_visit_of_Bimbisara.jpg)
Bimbisara reigned from 544 to 492 BCE, according to the Mahavamsa chronology. The extent of his kingdom is mentioned inMahavagga. His advisors included Sona Kolivisa, Sumana (flower gatherer), Koliya (minister), Kumbhaghosaka (treasurer) andJīvaka (physician). He was given the title ofSeniya.[6]
Both Jain and Buddhist texts claim the king was a follower of their respective religions.Uttaradhyayana Sutra says he was a follower ofMahavira, whereasSutta Nipata depicts him and his wife,Khema, as followers ofBuddha. The latter further mentions he deputedJīvaka to assist Buddha'sSangha.[6] He also married Chellana andKosala Devi, sister ofPasenadi.[8]
According toGeorge Turnour and N.L. Dey, the name of the father of Bimbisara was Bhatiya or Bhattiya, but thePuranas refer him as Hemajit, Kshemajit, Kshetroja or Ksetrauja and the Tibetan texts mention him asMahapadma.[9]
Ajatashatru reigned from 493 to 462 BCE, according to the Mahavamsa chronology.[6] He marriedVajira,Kosala's princess.[10]
In some sources, Bimbisara was imprisoned and killed by his son and successor,Ajatashatru, under whose rule the dynasty reached its largest extent. Ajatashatru was contemporary withMahavira andGautama Buddha. Ajatashatru fought a war against theVajjika League, ruled by theLichhavis, and conquered them.[10]
Udayin or Udayabhadra is mentioned in Buddhist and Jain texts as the successor of Ajatashatru. ThePuranas, however, mention him as the fourth king after Darshaka.[11]
Puranas mention Nandivardhana and Mahanandin as successors of Udayin. According to Buddhist tradition, Anurudhha, Munda andNagadarshaka were his successors.[11] However, Jain texts mention that Udayin was killed by an assassin of rival kingdom. Being childless, he was succeeded byNanda who was selected by his ministers.[12]
According to Mahavamsa:
HistorianK. T. S. Sarao — who favors the Buddhist "short chronology" — has dated Bimbisara's reign to c. 457-c.405 BCE, Ajatashatru's reign to c. 405-373 BCE, and Udayin's reign to c. 373-357 BCE, i.e., only a short time before theNanda dynasty which precededChandragupta Maurya. Sarao has suggested that the kingdom of Magadha became divided after Udayin's death: with the "suspicious" lists of different successors listed in various texts possibly having ruled in different locations simultaneously instead of one after another, until the kingdom was re-unified.[13] Similarly, Keay — another proponent of the Short Chronology — states that there is great uncertainty about the royal succession for this period, probably because there was a period of "court intrigues and murders," during which "evidently the throne changed hands frequently, perhaps with more than one incumbent claiming to occupy it at the same time" untilMahapadma Nanda was able to secure the throne.[14]
According to theMahavamsa, Haryanka dynasty was overthrown by theirAmatya (minister),Shishunaga who then establishedShaishunaga Dynasty.[11] However, Jain texts mention that Udayin was killed by an assassin of rival kingdom. Being childless, he was succeeded byNanda who was selected by his ministers.[12]
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)| Preceded by | Haryanka dynasty middle of 6th century –425 BCE | Succeeded by |