Haryanka dynasty

Haryanka dynasty
Middle of 6th century BCE–413 BCE
The approximate extent of the Magadha in the 5th century BCE
Capital		Rajagriha, later Pataliputra
Languages		Sanskrit
Religion		Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Government		Monarchy
King
•	544-492 BCE	Bimbisara
•	492-460 BCE	Ajatashatru
•	460-440 BCE	Udayin
		Anuruddha
		Munda
•	437-413 BCE	Nāgadāsaka
History
•	Established	Middle of 6th century BCE
•	Disestablished	413 BCE
Preceded by Succeeded by Brihadrathas dynasty Vedic period Shishunaga dynasty
Today part of		India

The Haryanka dynasty was the second ruling dynasty of Magadha, an ancient kingdom in India, which succeeded the Barhadratha dynasty. The reign of this dynasty probably began in the middle of 6th century BCE. Initially, the capital was Rajagriha. Later, it was shifted to Pataliputra, near the present day Patna in India. The founder of this dynasty was either Bimbisara himself or his father Bhattiya. According to the Buddhist text, the Mahavamsa, Bimbisara was anointed king by his father at the age of fifteen.^[1] According to George Turnour and N.L. Dey, the name of the father of Bimbisara was Bhatiya or Bhattiya, but the Puranas refer him as Hemajit, Kshemajit, Kshetroja or Ksetrauja and the Tibetan texts mention him as Mahapadma.^[2] This dynasty was succeeded by the Shishunaga dynasty.

Bimbisara

Eastern border of the Achaemenid Empire

The Haryanka king Bimbisara was responsible for expanding the boundaries of his kingdom through matrimonial alliances and conquest. The land of Kosala fell to Magadha in this way. He is referred to as King Shrenik in Jain scriptures.

Estimates place the territory ruled by this early dynasty at 300 leagues in diameter, and encompassing 80,000 small settlements.

Ajatashatru

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 with Mahavira (599–527BCE) and Gautama Buddha (563–483 BCE). Ajatashatru fought a war against Vajji, ruled by the Lichhavis, and conquered the republic of Vaisali. Ajatashatru followed policies of conquest and expansion. He defeated his neighbors including the king of Kosala; his brothers, when at odds with him, went to Kashi, which had been given to Bimbisara as dowry. This led to a war between Magadha and Kosala. Ajatashatru occupied Kashi and captured the smaller kingdoms. Magadha under Ajatashatru became the most powerful kingdom in North India.

Udayin

The Mahavamsa states that Udayabhadra eventually succeeded his father, Ajātasattu, moving the capital to Pataliputra, which, under the later Mauryan dynasty, would become the largest city in the world. He is believed to have ruled for sixteen years.

Later rulers

The kingdom had a particularly bloody succession. Anuruddha eventually succeeded Udaybhadra through assassination, and his son Munda succeeded him in the same fashion, as did his son Nagadasaka.

Due in part to this bloody dynastic feuding, it is thought that a civil revolt led to the emergence of the Shishunaga dynasty.

See also

• Legendary kings of Magadha
• Pradyota dynasty

Notes

1. Raychaudhuri 1972, pp. 97
2. Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 105ff

References

• Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta
• Bhargava, P.L., The origins of the Nanda (PDF)