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  Mahajanapada Age   

  • The Mahajanapada Age (600 to 300 BCE) era is characterized by the emergence of large, powerful 16 states known as Mahajanapadas, which played a crucial role in the political, economic, and cultural development of the Indian subcontinent.

  •  In the region of Madhya Pradesh, two significant Mahajanapadas, Avanti and Chedi, were established.

   Avanti Mahajanapad   

  • Avanti was spread in the valley of river Narmada from Mandhata to Maheshwar.

  • The word Avanti is first mentioned in a hymn of Rigveda.

  • From the state's point of view, Avanti was first mentioned in Panini's Ashtadhyayi.

  • The city was established by Avanti, son of Kartivirya Arjun of Haihai Branch of Mahishmati (According to Puranas).

  • Since the 4th century B. C. the city has marked the first meridian of longitude in Hindu geography

  • Avanti Mahatmay of Skand Purana mentions Ujjain as a 84 Mahadevas, 64 Yoginis, 8 Bhairavas and 6 Vinayaks (Ganesh), and   Sun Temple and two tanks, the Surya Kunda and the Brahma Kunda.

  • Other names of Avanti:  Avantika, Avantipuri, Avanti Nagari, Avantikapur, Kushsthali, Kumudvati,Kanakshringa.

  • According to the Dipavansh, King Achutyagami founded the city of Ujjayini.

Avanti was divided into two State

  1.   Northern Part: North Avanti; Capital: Ujjayini

  2.   Southern Part: Avanti Dakshinapatha; Capital: Mahismati (Mahisati)

    Pradyot Dynasty   

  • According to the Vishnu Purana, Avanti was ruled by Ripujanya of the Vrihadratha Dynasty.

  • His Governor Pulik killed Ripujanya, and   established his son Chandra Pradyot on the Throne.

 

Chandra Pradyot (549-527BC)

  • He was appointed by his father Pulik on the throne of Avanti.

  •  The Buddhist text Mahavagga mentioned him as a Chanda and Bhasa called him Mahasen, while according to the Puranas, Pradyota ruled Avanti for 23 years and was also known as Prutivim Bokshanthi, meaning "Enjoying the Earth."

  • He appointed Prince Kumarsena in the Service of Mahakal Temple.

  • Bimbisar's Physician Jivaka visited Ujjain to cure Pradyot.

  •  Chandra Pradyot, a contemporary of Gautam Buddha, accepted Buddhism under the influence of Mahakatyayan and invited Gautam Buddha to Ujjain, although Buddha was unable to come due to bad health.

Marriages of Pradyot

  • Shiva (Shisak), the daughter of Lichhavi King Chetak, also cousin sister of Mahaveer Swami.

  • Local woman Gopalmata

  •  Shudra woman of  Tail-Enali.

Shivaan’s Trivia

  • According to Bhāsa’s Svapnavāsavadattam, Pradyota married his daughter Vasavadatta to Udayana.

  • Queen Gopalmata constructed Kanchanvan Vihar in Kanipura, Ujjain for Buddhist Saint Mahaktyayan.

Lord Buddha gifted five important Gifts to Pradyot

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Important Battles of Pradyot

  • War with King Udrayana of Sindhu-Sauveer: Sindhu-Sauveer, located in the lower Indus Valley region of present-day Pakistan, was ruled by King Udrayana, a devoted follower of Mahavir Swami. He owned a beautiful sandalwood idol of a Tirthankara, cared for by a maid named Devadata. One night, Pradyot abducted both the idol and Devadata. Enraged, Udrayana and ten feudal kings marched on Ujjayini and defeated Pradyot in battle.

  • War with King Angarak of Susumarpur: King Pradyot waged war against King Angarak of Susumarpur, emerging victorious. Following the defeat, Pradyot married Angarwati, the daughter of King Angarak.

  • War with King Durmukh of Kampilyapur:  King Pradyot attacked King Durmukh of Kampilyapur (Current Uttar Pradesh) to seize a valuable crown. However, Pradyot was defeated and taken prisoner. He fell in love with Princess Madanmanjari during his captivity, and they eventually married.

  • Attack on Kaushambi: King Pradyot attacked Shatanik, the King of Kaushambi, aiming to capture his beautiful wife, Mrigawati. However, Pradyot was defeated. In a second attack, Pradyot captured Kaushambi, but by then, Queen Mrigawati had embraced Jainism and became a saint.

  • Fear of Ajatshatru: Haryanka King Ajatshatru fortified his capital, Rajgrih, to protect it from a potential invasion by Pradyot.

 

Palak (549-499BC)

  • He was the son of Pradyot.

  • He ascended the throne on the same day that Mahavir Swami passed away.

  • He successfully conquered Vatsa’s Capital Kosambi.

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Aryak (499-478BC)

  • After death of Palak, his Minister's son Aryak sat on throne.

 

Nandivardhan

  •  He was considered the last king of the Pradyot Dynasty and was killed by Shishunag, who then merged Avanti into the Magadh Empire.

   Chedi Mahajanapada   

  • The Chedi Mahajanapada, located in the eastern part of modern Bundelkhand with its capital at 'Sotthivati' according to the Chetiya Jataka or 'Shuktimati' according to the Mahabharat's Karna Parva, expanded between the Narmada and Son rivers.

  • Tripuri and Sahjati were two important region of Chedi

 

King Uparichara Vasu

  • He was a friend of Lord Indra.

  • Celebrating festival in which, Plant Bamboo Pole in honour of Indra

 

Vrihadratha

  • He was installed in Magadha

  • He diverted the waters of river Suktimati from the locks of the Mountain Kolahala, for irrigating his capital-city which he named Suktimati.

 

Shishupala

  • Also called Sunitha, killed by Vasudeva Krishna

 

Dhrishtaketu

  • He was considered to be army-general in the army of Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.

  • Last King: Upchar (according to Chetiya Jatak).

  • Chedi dynasty merged into Magadh Dynasty during rule of Nanda King Dhananand.

  • They established one branch in Kalinga as a Mahameghavansh, which was ruled by King Kharvela.

 

Other Areas during Mahajanpada

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   Administration during Mahajapada   

  • In the administration of the Mahajanapadas, both monarchical and republican systems coexisted.

  • In Madhya Pradesh, the Mahajanapadas of Avanti and Chedi followed a monarchical system.

  •  In these monarchies, the council consisted solely of Amatyas, and its size was relatively small.

  • The king was supported by a cabinet.

  • The departmental ministers were referred to as Mahamattas (or Mahamatras).

  • In village governance, the Village Bhojak held a significant position.

  

Important post during Mahajapada

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Society

  • Society was divided into four Varnas: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.

  • In Avanti, caste discrimination diminished due to the teachings of Bhagwan Gautam Buddha and Bhagwan Mahaveer Swami. Even King Chandrapradyot broke societal norms by marrying a Shudra woman named Tail-Enali.

  • Buddhism flourished during this period, with Chandrapradyot and his royal priest Mahakatyayan actively supporting and promoting it.

  • Bhikshus (Buddhist monks) and Brahmins held the highest social status.

  • In Uttarpurana Ujjain was called Tapobhumi of Mahaveer, Mahaveer Swami performed penance at Atimukta Shamshan.

  • Pradyot was a tolerant ruler who helped in flourishing Jain religion in Ujjain.  

 

Economy

  • Besnagar, Mahishmati, and Ujjayini were important trading cities of Avanti, while Kurargarh, Makkarkat, and Sudarshanpur were also significant cities.

  • Ujjain, a prominent trade center since ancient times, also had agriculture as the primary occupation of its people.

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  • Farmers in Ujjain were among the earliest paddy cultivators in India.

  • Irrigation was carried out using wells and canals, with a canal system excavated from Besnagar.

  • The currency used during this period was Karshapan coins, made of copper.

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         In the history of the 6th century BCE Mahajanapadas, Madhya Pradesh held a distinct place, particularly with the dominance of the Avanti and Chedi Mahajanapadas. The region has a rich legacy of political, cultural, social, economic, educational, artistic, architectural, and folk traditions, which contribute to its historical significance.

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