A Historical Study of Kaushambi
by Nirja Sharma | 2021 | 30,704 words
This is a Historical study of Kaushambi from a literary and archaeological perspective. Kaushambi is an ancient Indian city situated to the south-east of Allahabad now represented by the extensive ruins near the village Kosam. In the 6th century B.C. (during the time of the Buddha), Kausambi functioned as the capital of the Vatsa Janapada, one of t...
The Vasas (or Vatsas) and their Land
Kaushambi or Koshambi was the capital of Vatsa, the land or kingdom of the Vasas (Pali Vamsas) or Vatsas (Ardha-Magadhi Vachchhas). The Vaaas or Vatsas after whom was named the land or territory occupied and governed by them, find mention in the Aitareya Brahmana (VIII, 14. 3) along with the Usinaras, Kurus and Panchalas as Indo-Aryan peoples who founded kingdoms separately amongst them. They are all spoken of as peoples or tribes of Kshatriyas that lived or settled in the Dhruva Madhyamadik, a term which may be taken to correspond to Madhyadesa of the Manu-Samkita. The close association of the Vasas with the Usinaras is also to be found in the Gopatha Brahana (1, 2, 9), in the expression Savas with the Usinareshu. In the Kaushitaki Upanishad (IV, 1), too, we have mention of the Vasas together, with the Usihara, Matsyas, Kurus and Panchalas, In the Pali Anguttaru-Nikaya (Vol. I, p. 213; IV, pp. 252, 256 and 260), the land of the Vamsas is counted among the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the rest being those of the Chedis, Kurue, Panchalas, Matsyas, Surasenas, etc.[1] The Janavasabha-Suttanta associates the Vamsas rather with the " Chedis than with the Usinaraas, and mentions the powerful ruling peoples of the time in such groups as Kasi-Kosala, Vajji-Malla, Chedi-Vamsa, Kuru-Panchata, and Machchha-Surasena.[2]
The Mahabharata embodies certain items of traditional information regarding Vatsa-bhumi or land of the Vatsas. In one reference (Sabhaparva, Ch. 30), we are told that prior the Rajasuya sacrifice performed by King Yudhishthira, Bhimasena led an expedition towards the east and conquered the Vatsa-bhumi. In another reference (Vanaparva, Ch. 253), we read that the Vatsa country was conquered by Kama. In a third reference (Amddsanaparva, Ch, 30), we find that the Haihayas of the Chedi country took hold of the capital of the Vatsas after killing Haryyashva. In the fourth reference (Bhishmaparva, Ch. 50), we are informed that in the Kurukshetra war the Vatsas fought on the side of the Pandavas.[3]
The Anguttara-Nikaya (IV,. pp. 252, 256, 260) speaks of the land of the Vamas as a country which abounded in seven kinds of gems and was consequently regarded as very rich and prosperous. The Arthasastra mentions Vatsa as one of those countries of which the cotton fabrics were of the very best quality.[4]
Hiuen Tsang has.left the following testimony to the land and its people. First, in Beal's rendering: "this country is about 6,000 li in circuit, and the capital about 30 li. The land is famous for its productiveness; the increase is very wonderful. Rice and sugarcanes are plentiful. The climate is very hot the manners of the people hard and rough. They cultivate learning and are very earnest in their religious life and in virtue."[5] Secondly, in Watters’ rendering: “This is described by the pilgrim as being above 6,000 K in circuit, and its capital (evidently named Kaushambi) as being above 30 li in circuit. It was a fertile country with a hoi climate: it yielded much upland lice and sugarcane; its people were enterprising, fond of the arts, and cultivators of religious merit."[6] As attested by the Lalitavistara, (Ed. Lefrnann, p. 21) this was the general Buddhist opinion about the people of Vatsa who are criticised as: “Prakritam cha chandam cha”, i.e., ‘rude and rough’.
From the earliest times the Vatsas, as the Aitareya Brahmana clearly attests, established a monarchical form of government in their land with Kaushambi as their capital. They formally anointed their kings in accordance with the prescribed Vedic rites, and they are not known to have deviated from this practice at any period of their history. Ordeal by walking unhurt through fire was applied as a test of purity of descent of the kings.[7] In the Buddha's time Vatsa was just one of the four principal monarchies in northern India with Udena or Udayana as its reigning king and Kaushambi as its capital. The history of Vatsa since the Buddha's demise' as we shall see anon, was one of decline.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Diaha N, II., p. 200.
[4]:
Arthasastra, Shamasastri, Tr. p. 94.
[5]:
Beal, Records of the Western World, I, p. 235.
[6]:
Watters, Yuan Chwang, I, p. 366.