With this we began serialising Babasaheb’s famous book, Buddha & His Dhamma, just published by the Maharastra govt. Vol. 11
From Birth to Parivraja
1- HIS KULA
- Going back to the sixth century B.C .., Northern India did not form a single Sovereign State.
- The country was divided into many States, some large, some small. Of these some were monarchical and some non- monarchical. 3. The monarchical States were altogether sixteen in number. They were known by the name of Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala,Vriji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Sauresena, Asmaka, Avanti, Gandhra and Kambhoja. 4. The non-monarchical States were those of the Sakyas of Kapilvatsu, the Mallas of Pava and Kushinara, -the Lichhavis of Vaisali, the Videhas of Mithila, the Koliyas of Ramagam, the Bulis of Allakapa, the Kalingas of Resaputta, the Mauriyas of Pipphalvana and the Bhaggas with their capital on Sumsumara Hill. 5. The monarchical States were known as Janapada and the non-monarchical as Sangh or Gana. 6. Not much is known about the nature of the polity of the Sakyas of Kapilavatsu, whether it was republican or oligarchic. 7. This much, however, is definitely known, that there were many ruling families in the Republic of the Sakyas and that they ruled in turns.
- The head of the ruling family was known as Raja. 9. At the time of birth of Siddharth Gautama it was the turn of Suddhodana to be the Raja. 10. The Sakya State was situated in the north-east corner of India. It was an independent State. But at a later stage the King of Kosala had succeeded in establishing his paramountcy over it. 11. The result of this paramountcy was that the Sakya State could not exercise certain sovereign powers without the sanction of the King of Kosala. 12. Of the kingdoms then in existence, Kosala was a powerful kingdom. So was the kingdom of Magadha. Pasanedi, King of Kosala and Bimbisara, King of Magadha, were the contemporaries of Siddharth Gautama.
Il – HIS ANCESTRY
- The capital of the Sakyas was the city called Kapila vatsu, perhaps after the name of the great Rationalist Kapila. 2. There lived in Kapila vatsu a Sakya by name Jaya Sena. Sinahu was his son. Sinahu was married to Kaccana. Sinahu had five sons, Suddhodana, Dhotodana, Sakkodana and Amitodana. Besides five sons, Sinahu had two daughters, Amita and Pamita. 3. The Gotra of the family was Aditya. 4. Suddhodana was married to Mahamaya. Her father’s name was Anjana and mother’s Sulakshana. Anjana was a Koliya and was residing in the village called Devadaha. 5. Suddhodana was a man of great military prowess. When Suddhodana had shown his martial powers he was allowed to take a second wife and he chose Mahaprajapati. She was the elder sister of Mahamaya.6. Suddhodana was a wealthy person. The lands he held were very extensive and the retinue under him was very large. He employed, it is said, one thousand ploughs to till the land he owned. 7. He lived quite a luxurious life and had many palaces.
(Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches, Volume XI, Rs.90 1992, Gout ., of Maharashtra, Bombay). The book may be had from Director, Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Netaji Subhash Road, Bombay – 400 004.
