1516 IndiYatra Quiz on Republican Traditions of India It was Buddha’s era. The people of deccan asked the merchants who had come from the north, “Who is your King?” The merchants replied, “some countries are under ganas and some are under Kings.” By the term “ganas,” they meant republics. Monarchy wasn’t the only form of Government then. Alexander was at the present day AfPak border. Aculphis was surrendering to Alexander. He would tell Alexander, “we inhabit Nysa, a free city, and we ourselves are independent, conducting our Government with constitutional order.” They meant they were a Republic. Wait, did we not become a Republic on 26th January, 1950 only? Yes, we did, but it wasn’t for the first time. Republics of various form had grown in India thousands of years before. They were eventually eclipsed by legendary monarchies. So we didn’t become a republic for the first time, but we did become the largest republic and an evolved one. Scholars in early 20th century, amongst the independence movement, researched our republican traditions. They combed out these traditions from Hindu, Jain and Buddhist texts; and commentaries of Greek travellers. This 26th January, explore the geography of India’s republican traditions with this IndiYatra quiz. 1 / 10 The official name of our country is ‘Republic of India’. Indian Passports state the Hindi equivalent – Bharat Ganarajya. “Gana” refers to a republic. Which is the earliest recorded use of the term Gana in India? Rig Veda Rajatarangini Arthashastra Jataka Tales Gana is derived from “to count” or “numbers.” It meant rule by numbers or a republican form of governance. “Bharat Ganarajya” means Bharat whose state is a “gana” i.e. a republic. The Hindi word for a republican form of government is “gana-tantra.” Gana is first mentioned in Rig Veda in 46 places. Its exact meaning in Vedic texts is interpreted variously, as tribes, as tribal republics or republican form of governance. Prof. Altekar of BHU wrote, “even if we grant that these were tribes, they also had a republican form of government. It can be proved beyond doubt that gana indicated a certain type of state, sharply distinguished from monarchy.” In any case, by the 6th century BCE, the association of ganas with republican states is well established in historical records. Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” R. S. Sharma, “Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India” K. P. Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” Picture Credit: Gana is derived from “to count” or “numbers.” It meant rule by numbers or a republican form of governance. “Bharat Ganarajya” means Bharat whose state is a “gana” i.e. a republic. The Hindi word for a republican form of government is “gana-tantra.” Gana is first mentioned in Rig Veda in 46 places. Its exact meaning in Vedic texts is interpreted variously, as tribes, as tribal republics or republican form of governance. Prof. Altekar of BHU wrote, “even if we grant that these were tribes, they also had a republican form of government. It can be proved beyond doubt that gana indicated a certain type of state, sharply distinguished from monarchy.” In any case, by the 6th century BCE, the association of ganas with republican states is well established in historical records. Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” R. S. Sharma, “Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India” K. P. Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” Picture Credit: 2 / 10 The word “Sabha” in Lok Sabha too is of ancient origin. It was used to refer to a council. Where is the first reference to “Sabha?” Chandogya Upanishad Rajatarangini Rig Veda Ashtadhyayi Sabha is referred to in Rig Veda eight times. Sabha means “a body of men shining together,” thus referring to a group of eminent people. The head of the sabha was called sabhapati, another term that continues to be in use today. Free discussions were held in the Sabha and a resolution of the Sabha was considered binding on all and inviolable. Sabha was also a judicial forum. Rig Veda describes a man who has come back successfully from Sabha as “free from blame.” The Jataka stories enjoin members of the Sabha to speak out Dhamma or justice. In addition to Sabha, vedic texts refer to other forms of governance too, such as Samiti, Vis, Vidatha and Parisad. Source: K. P. Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” J. P. Sharma, “Republics in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons Sabha is referred to in Rig Veda eight times. Sabha means “a body of men shining together,” thus referring to a group of eminent people. The head of the sabha was called sabhapati, another term that continues to be in use today. Free discussions were held in the Sabha and a resolution of the Sabha was considered binding on all and inviolable. Sabha was also a judicial forum. Rig Veda describes a man who has come back successfully from Sabha as “free from blame.” The Jataka stories enjoin members of the Sabha to speak out Dhamma or justice. In addition to Sabha, vedic texts refer to other forms of governance too, such as Samiti, Vis, Vidatha and Parisad. Source: K. P. Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” J. P. Sharma, “Republics in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons 3 / 10 The Andhaka Vrishnis were a republic in modern day Gujarat that were mentioned in Mahabharata, Panini and Arthashastra. The republic is also believed to have been headed by a key player in Mahabharata. Who was that leader? Shakuni Krishna Sishupala Jarasanda The Andhaka Vrishnis were a republic with a dyarchy – there were two elected leaders whose titles included Vasudeva and Bhojaka. Their constitution was called Bhaujya in the Aitreya Brahmana. Bhojas later emerged as a separate clan & ruling dynasty and the city of Bhuj is their legacy. Krishna’s Yadavas are part of the Vrishni clan who migrated from Mathura to Dwarka. In the Mahabharata, Krishna mentions that “he had control over half his realm” alluding to this dyarchy. He laments to Narada that he has to endure a lot of nonsense in the assembly from rival factions. Towards the end of Mahabharata, we know that the clan and their city Dwarka were destroyed in a civil war between factions which also resulted in Krishna’s death. Puranic legend suggests that the Andhaka Vrishnis were cursed to never have kings, probably reflecting their proud republican tradition. Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” Picture Credit: The Andhaka Vrishnis were a republic with a dyarchy – there were two elected leaders whose titles included Vasudeva and Bhojaka. Their constitution was called Bhaujya in the Aitreya Brahmana. Bhojas later emerged as a separate clan & ruling dynasty and the city of Bhuj is their legacy. Krishna’s Yadavas are part of the Vrishni clan who migrated from Mathura to Dwarka. In the Mahabharata, Krishna mentions that “he had control over half his realm” alluding to this dyarchy. He laments to Narada that he has to endure a lot of nonsense in the assembly from rival factions. Towards the end of Mahabharata, we know that the clan and their city Dwarka were destroyed in a civil war between factions which also resulted in Krishna’s death. Puranic legend suggests that the Andhaka Vrishnis were cursed to never have kings, probably reflecting their proud republican tradition. Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” Picture Credit: 4 / 10 Republics had become common by the Buddhist period and influenced Buddhist principles. Which of the following aspects of Buddhism captures the prominence of republican traditions of those times? Dharmachakra Stupa Parasol Sangha Sangha is the monastic order of Buddha. “Sangham Sharnam Gatchami,” ( I take refuge in the Sangha), is a basic Buddhist chant. Sangha is one among the Triratnas (Three Jewels) of Buddhism, the other two being Buddha and Dhamma. Mahabharata and Panini use the term Sangha to describe a republic. The rules of the monastic order of Buddha were modelled on the rules of the republics in his time. The Mahaparinibbanasuttanta, a Buddhist text, mentions that the rules for conducting the Buddhist sangha were based in principle on those commonly found in political sanghas or ganas. Prof Jayaswal says, “The birth of the religious brotherhood of Buddha from the constitutional womb of an Indian republic is of interest to the world.” The key organizational virtue of Sangha was the full participation (like in a republic) of all the monks in the ritual and disciplinary acts of their group. Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”; C Rajendran, “Democratic Principles in the Polity of Ancient India”, SVU Oriental Journal, Golden Jubilee Volume. Steve Muhlberger, “Democracy in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons, “The Buddha preaches the Vessantara Jataka to the Sangha and his Family, Chedi Traiphop Traimongkhon Temple, Hatyai” Sangha is the monastic order of Buddha. “Sangham Sharnam Gatchami,” ( I take refuge in the Sangha), is a basic Buddhist chant. Sangha is one among the Triratnas (Three Jewels) of Buddhism, the other two being Buddha and Dhamma. Mahabharata and Panini use the term Sangha to describe a republic. The rules of the monastic order of Buddha were modelled on the rules of the republics in his time. The Mahaparinibbanasuttanta, a Buddhist text, mentions that the rules for conducting the Buddhist sangha were based in principle on those commonly found in political sanghas or ganas. Prof Jayaswal says, “The birth of the religious brotherhood of Buddha from the constitutional womb of an Indian republic is of interest to the world.” The key organizational virtue of Sangha was the full participation (like in a republic) of all the monks in the ritual and disciplinary acts of their group. Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”; C Rajendran, “Democratic Principles in the Polity of Ancient India”, SVU Oriental Journal, Golden Jubilee Volume. Steve Muhlberger, “Democracy in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons, “The Buddha preaches the Vessantara Jataka to the Sangha and his Family, Chedi Traiphop Traimongkhon Temple, Hatyai” 5 / 10 The Yaudheya republic halted Alexander from progressing further beyond the river Beas. Fear of Yaudheyas (and Nandas too) created doubts and dissent among Alexander’s troops triggering a retreat. Yaudheyas were also known as Mattamayurakas (dancing peacocks) as they were devotees of a God of war, now worshipped mostly in Tamil Nadu. Which God are we referring to? Indra Ganesha Rama Kartikeya Yaudheyas worshipped Kartikeya whose vehicle is the peacock. They were a large republic ruling from Bhawalpur in the West to Panchala in East, from Ludhiana in North to Delhi. Their war like reputation and size of their military alarmed Alexander’s army (as did the reputation of Nandas) which turned back from the Beas and did not cross into their territory. They were temporarily defeated by Kanishka, the Kushan emperor but they reasserted their independence and dealt the Kushan empire a death blow in the process. They were governed by a central assembly with 5000 members. They pass out from history about 350CE. Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Karthikeya at the Parasurameshwar temple in Bhubaneswar, S. R. Ramanujam Yaudheyas worshipped Kartikeya whose vehicle is the peacock. They were a large republic ruling from Bhawalpur in the West to Panchala in East, from Ludhiana in North to Delhi. Their war like reputation and size of their military alarmed Alexander’s army (as did the reputation of Nandas) which turned back from the Beas and did not cross into their territory. They were temporarily defeated by Kanishka, the Kushan emperor but they reasserted their independence and dealt the Kushan empire a death blow in the process. They were governed by a central assembly with 5000 members. They pass out from history about 350CE. Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Karthikeya at the Parasurameshwar temple in Bhubaneswar, S. R. Ramanujam 6 / 10 Kautilya’s Arthashastra advises that republics cannot be defeated in war. It recognizes the presence of republics; and provides advice on how they can be overcome. What is the method suggested in Arthashastra? Forming a confederation Internal Sabotage Protracted siege Matrimonial alliance Kautilya considered republics as invincible through war. The republic was considered a nation-in-arms. The whole community was their army compared to hired soldiers of monarchies. The Arthashastra outlines the special strategies that the would-be conqueror could use to vanquish the ganas. Because they were different, the strategies recommended to defeat monarchies would not work. Kautilya’s advice focused on creating dissension among their ranks. He marked out personal rivalry and greed of power in aristocracies as a fit soil for sowing seeds of dissension. The Mahabarata also comments that it is almost impossible for the enemy to crush republics. Buddha too advised Ajatasatru that Lechcchavis, who were a republic, could not be conquered by war. Heeding the advice, Ajasasatru sent his minister to create dissension within the Lechcchavis and this strategy succeeded. Source: Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”. Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons Kautilya considered republics as invincible through war. The republic was considered a nation-in-arms. The whole community was their army compared to hired soldiers of monarchies. The Arthashastra outlines the special strategies that the would-be conqueror could use to vanquish the ganas. Because they were different, the strategies recommended to defeat monarchies would not work. Kautilya’s advice focused on creating dissension among their ranks. He marked out personal rivalry and greed of power in aristocracies as a fit soil for sowing seeds of dissension. The Mahabarata also comments that it is almost impossible for the enemy to crush republics. Buddha too advised Ajatasatru that Lechcchavis, who were a republic, could not be conquered by war. Heeding the advice, Ajasasatru sent his minister to create dissension within the Lechcchavis and this strategy succeeded. Source: Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”. Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons 7 / 10 This republic in modern day Bihar is known to us in several ways. The Hindi film ‘Amrapali’ starring Vyjantimala and Sunil Dutt is set in this republic. The Republic formed the first known confederation with other republics. The Republic also survived for about 1000 years in some form or the other. Which is it? Kosala Lichcchavi Videha Magadha Lichcchavi was a republic centered around Vaishali, north of Patna, across the river Ganga. It formed the Vajji confederacy with Videhas, Mallas and others. Lichcchavi was ruled by a large body of families. The Jatakas refer to Lichcchavis having 7707 kings, probably a reference to the council of warriors. The Lalitavistara, in an obvious satirical jab, depicts Vesali as being full of Lichcchavi rajans , each one thinking, “I am king, I am king.” Amrapali was born here and she was beautiful and perfect. It was a law in the Lichcchavi republic that the perfect woman cannot marry and should become common property of the State. Thus she became a courtesan. Bimbisara, king of neighbouring Magadha kingdom is reported to have had an affair with Amrapali. Bimbisara’s elder son Ajatasatru developed enmity with the kingdom and carried out a long-drawn battle. The Lichcchavis were defeated and their power was weakened. They rose again after the fall of the Mauryan empire. They continued till the Gupta era and thus reigned for about 1000 years. The first Gupta emperor rose to power through a marriage alliance with a Lichcchavi princess, Kumaradevi. The republic then slides into oblivion. Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” J. P. Sharma, “Republics in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Cinestaan Lichcchavi was a republic centered around Vaishali, north of Patna, across the river Ganga. It formed the Vajji confederacy with Videhas, Mallas and others. Lichcchavi was ruled by a large body of families. The Jatakas refer to Lichcchavis having 7707 kings, probably a reference to the council of warriors. The Lalitavistara, in an obvious satirical jab, depicts Vesali as being full of Lichcchavi rajans , each one thinking, “I am king, I am king.” Amrapali was born here and she was beautiful and perfect. It was a law in the Lichcchavi republic that the perfect woman cannot marry and should become common property of the State. Thus she became a courtesan. Bimbisara, king of neighbouring Magadha kingdom is reported to have had an affair with Amrapali. Bimbisara’s elder son Ajatasatru developed enmity with the kingdom and carried out a long-drawn battle. The Lichcchavis were defeated and their power was weakened. They rose again after the fall of the Mauryan empire. They continued till the Gupta era and thus reigned for about 1000 years. The first Gupta emperor rose to power through a marriage alliance with a Lichcchavi princess, Kumaradevi. The republic then slides into oblivion. Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” J. P. Sharma, “Republics in Ancient India” Picture Credit: Cinestaan 8 / 10 “There seems to be a strange fatality in their history. They rose to power with the help of a republic, they conquered most of the republics, and they in turn were shaken off their foundations by a republic”. About which great dynasty is this written? Mauryas Satvahanas Kushanas Guptas The Guptas rose to power in the early 4th century through a marriage alliance – Chandragupta I married a princess of the Lichcchavi republic. Samudragupta is known as Lichchhavi-dauhitra (grandson of the Lichchhavis) in inscriptions. Their imperium of roughly 200 years saw the almost complete eclipse of republics in North India. The prashasti of Samudragupta on the Prayagraj Ashokan Pillar records the ganas that were overcome by Guptas. This included the Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, Abhiras, Prarjunas, Sanakanikas, Kakas and Kharaparikas. The Gupta’s rule was weakened by the short-lived republic of the Pusyamitras around the Vindhyas. The Emperor Kumaragupta is supposed to have been killed in battle with the them around 450CE. His successor Skandagupta defeated them but he candidly mentions that they had made the empire totter. Skandagupta revived the Guptas and even pushed back the Huna invasion but the empire went into terminal decline after him. Source: Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”. Picture Credit: The Guptas rose to power in the early 4th century through a marriage alliance – Chandragupta I married a princess of the Lichcchavi republic. Samudragupta is known as Lichchhavi-dauhitra (grandson of the Lichchhavis) in inscriptions. Their imperium of roughly 200 years saw the almost complete eclipse of republics in North India. The prashasti of Samudragupta on the Prayagraj Ashokan Pillar records the ganas that were overcome by Guptas. This included the Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, Abhiras, Prarjunas, Sanakanikas, Kakas and Kharaparikas. The Gupta’s rule was weakened by the short-lived republic of the Pusyamitras around the Vindhyas. The Emperor Kumaragupta is supposed to have been killed in battle with the them around 450CE. His successor Skandagupta defeated them but he candidly mentions that they had made the empire totter. Skandagupta revived the Guptas and even pushed back the Huna invasion but the empire went into terminal decline after him. Source: Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”. Picture Credit: 9 / 10 The Uttaramerur inscriptions are celebrated as a record of democratic traditions in South India from 1100 years ago. What tradition do these inscriptions attest to? Sharing of surplus produce Village Governance Control on right of kings Criminal justice system Uttaramerur is about 80 kms south west of Chennai, near Kancheepuram. Inscriptions on temple walls tell us about the democratic traditions of the village sabha starting in the 8th century. The village sabha continued through the reigns of different kings in the region, from Pallavas to the Cholas and till the decline of Cholas. The sabha performed several public welfare functions, e.g widened roads, created drinking water facilities, set standards for testing gold, desilted tanks, took loans, alienated land to retire debt and created schools. The village had a refined electoral system for its Sabha and committees (for testing gold, tank maintenance, gardens etc). It also had a written constitution prescribing the mode of elections. Interestingly, the constitution was also amended formally to alter voting procedures. “This inscription, dated around 920 A.D. in the reign of Parantaka Chola [907-955 A.D.],” explains Dr. R. Nagaswamy, former Director of the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology, “is an outstanding document in the history of India. It is a veritable written constitution of the village assembly that functioned 1,000 years ago”. Source: K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, “Studies in Cola History and Administration.” https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Uttaramerur-model-of-democracy/article16566830.ece Picture Credit: Nilakanta Sastry Uttaramerur is about 80 kms south west of Chennai, near Kancheepuram. Inscriptions on temple walls tell us about the democratic traditions of the village sabha starting in the 8th century. The village sabha continued through the reigns of different kings in the region, from Pallavas to the Cholas and till the decline of Cholas. The sabha performed several public welfare functions, e.g widened roads, created drinking water facilities, set standards for testing gold, desilted tanks, took loans, alienated land to retire debt and created schools. The village had a refined electoral system for its Sabha and committees (for testing gold, tank maintenance, gardens etc). It also had a written constitution prescribing the mode of elections. Interestingly, the constitution was also amended formally to alter voting procedures. “This inscription, dated around 920 A.D. in the reign of Parantaka Chola [907-955 A.D.],” explains Dr. R. Nagaswamy, former Director of the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology, “is an outstanding document in the history of India. It is a veritable written constitution of the village assembly that functioned 1,000 years ago”. Source: K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, “Studies in Cola History and Administration.” https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Uttaramerur-model-of-democracy/article16566830.ece Picture Credit: Nilakanta Sastry 10 / 10 Both Buddha and Mahavira were born in republics. Buddha also attained Parinirvana in a republic. One of the names of Buddha is derived from the name of the republic in which he was born. Which republic is this? Malla Kosala Videha Sakya Buddha is also known as Sakyamuni. Siddhartha, before he became Buddha, is represented as a royal prince. But his father Suddhodana was not a hereditary King, nor was there monarchy in Sakya region where he was born. Sakya was one of the republics of the era. All the chiefs of Sakyas, who were probably large and wealthy landowners, were called kings. The eldest son would inherit the position of the chief in the assembly and was called uparaja or prince. The multiplicity of chiefs or kings in Sakya is referred to by several scholars. Thus Buddha was not a crown prince the way we understand the term these days. Sakya was founded by a cadet prince of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Lord Rama. The Buddha fondly mentioned this fact many times in his life. Probably because of this connection, in later Puranic tradition, he was incorporated as Vishnu’s incarnation. Buddha attained Parinirvana at Kusinagara, which was in the Malla republic. Sakyas claimed a share in his relics and later built a stupa at their capital town. Both the Mallas and Lechcchavis are supposed to have requested Buddha to deliver a sermon during the opening of their assembly hall. Sakya was controlled by Kosala, the neighbouring monarchy, but was not fully subordinate to it, and had its own identity. However, during Buddha’s time, the Sakya state was invaded multiple times by the king of Kosala; and soon after destroyed. Literature mentions how the Sakya assembly met, discussed and voted to surrender, a republican way even in the dissolution of power! Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Koenraad Elst, Lectures on Buddha available on you tube. Picture Credit: Root Buddha at Ayuthaya, Thailand. S. R Ramanujam Buddha is also known as Sakyamuni. Siddhartha, before he became Buddha, is represented as a royal prince. But his father Suddhodana was not a hereditary King, nor was there monarchy in Sakya region where he was born. Sakya was one of the republics of the era. All the chiefs of Sakyas, who were probably large and wealthy landowners, were called kings. The eldest son would inherit the position of the chief in the assembly and was called uparaja or prince. The multiplicity of chiefs or kings in Sakya is referred to by several scholars. Thus Buddha was not a crown prince the way we understand the term these days. Sakya was founded by a cadet prince of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Lord Rama. The Buddha fondly mentioned this fact many times in his life. Probably because of this connection, in later Puranic tradition, he was incorporated as Vishnu’s incarnation. Buddha attained Parinirvana at Kusinagara, which was in the Malla republic. Sakyas claimed a share in his relics and later built a stupa at their capital town. Both the Mallas and Lechcchavis are supposed to have requested Buddha to deliver a sermon during the opening of their assembly hall. Sakya was controlled by Kosala, the neighbouring monarchy, but was not fully subordinate to it, and had its own identity. However, during Buddha’s time, the Sakya state was invaded multiple times by the king of Kosala; and soon after destroyed. Literature mentions how the Sakya assembly met, discussed and voted to surrender, a republican way even in the dissolution of power! Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Koenraad Elst, Lectures on Buddha available on you tube. Picture Credit: Root Buddha at Ayuthaya, Thailand. S. R Ramanujam We prepare quizzes about Indian festivals and heritage. If you want to be alerted about our quizzes by email or whatsapp, please fill the form below. This is entirely voluntary. You can also join the quiz whatsapp group through this link Join the Notification Only Quiz Group Share your experience with your friends and relatives. 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IndiYatra Quiz on Republican Traditions of India
1 / 10
The official name of our country is ‘Republic of India’. Indian Passports state the Hindi equivalent – Bharat Ganarajya. “Gana” refers to a republic. Which is the earliest recorded use of the term Gana in India?
Gana is derived from “to count” or “numbers.” It meant rule by numbers or a republican form of governance. “Bharat Ganarajya” means Bharat whose state is a “gana” i.e. a republic. The Hindi word for a republican form of government is “gana-tantra.”
Gana is first mentioned in Rig Veda in 46 places. Its exact meaning in Vedic texts is interpreted variously, as tribes, as tribal republics or republican form of governance.
Prof. Altekar of BHU wrote, “even if we grant that these were tribes, they also had a republican form of government. It can be proved beyond doubt that gana indicated a certain type of state, sharply distinguished from monarchy.” In any case, by the 6th century BCE, the association of ganas with republican states is well established in historical records.
Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” R. S. Sharma, “Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India” K. P. Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”
Picture Credit:
2 / 10
The word “Sabha” in Lok Sabha too is of ancient origin. It was used to refer to a council. Where is the first reference to “Sabha?”
Sabha is referred to in Rig Veda eight times. Sabha means “a body of men shining together,” thus referring to a group of eminent people. The head of the sabha was called sabhapati, another term that continues to be in use today.
Free discussions were held in the Sabha and a resolution of the Sabha was considered binding on all and inviolable. Sabha was also a judicial forum. Rig Veda describes a man who has come back successfully from Sabha as “free from blame.” The Jataka stories enjoin members of the Sabha to speak out Dhamma or justice.
In addition to Sabha, vedic texts refer to other forms of governance too, such as Samiti, Vis, Vidatha and Parisad.
Source: K. P. Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” J. P. Sharma, “Republics in Ancient India”
Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons
3 / 10
The Andhaka Vrishnis were a republic in modern day Gujarat that were mentioned in Mahabharata, Panini and Arthashastra. The republic is also believed to have been headed by a key player in Mahabharata. Who was that leader?
The Andhaka Vrishnis were a republic with a dyarchy – there were two elected leaders whose titles included Vasudeva and Bhojaka. Their constitution was called Bhaujya in the Aitreya Brahmana. Bhojas later emerged as a separate clan & ruling dynasty and the city of Bhuj is their legacy.
Krishna’s Yadavas are part of the Vrishni clan who migrated from Mathura to Dwarka. In the Mahabharata, Krishna mentions that “he had control over half his realm” alluding to this dyarchy. He laments to Narada that he has to endure a lot of nonsense in the assembly from rival factions.
Towards the end of Mahabharata, we know that the clan and their city Dwarka were destroyed in a civil war between factions which also resulted in Krishna’s death. Puranic legend suggests that the Andhaka Vrishnis were cursed to never have kings, probably reflecting their proud republican tradition.
Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century”
4 / 10
Republics had become common by the Buddhist period and influenced Buddhist principles. Which of the following aspects of Buddhism captures the prominence of republican traditions of those times?
Sangha is the monastic order of Buddha. “Sangham Sharnam Gatchami,” ( I take refuge in the Sangha), is a basic Buddhist chant. Sangha is one among the Triratnas (Three Jewels) of Buddhism, the other two being Buddha and Dhamma.
Mahabharata and Panini use the term Sangha to describe a republic. The rules of the monastic order of Buddha were modelled on the rules of the republics in his time. The Mahaparinibbanasuttanta, a Buddhist text, mentions that the rules for conducting the Buddhist sangha were based in principle on those commonly found in political sanghas or ganas.
Prof Jayaswal says, “The birth of the religious brotherhood of Buddha from the constitutional womb of an Indian republic is of interest to the world.” The key organizational virtue of Sangha was the full participation (like in a republic) of all the monks in the ritual and disciplinary acts of their group.
Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”; C Rajendran, “Democratic Principles in the Polity of Ancient India”, SVU Oriental Journal, Golden Jubilee Volume. Steve Muhlberger, “Democracy in Ancient India”
Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons, “The Buddha preaches the Vessantara Jataka to the Sangha and his Family, Chedi Traiphop Traimongkhon Temple, Hatyai”
5 / 10
The Yaudheya republic halted Alexander from progressing further beyond the river Beas. Fear of Yaudheyas (and Nandas too) created doubts and dissent among Alexander’s troops triggering a retreat. Yaudheyas were also known as Mattamayurakas (dancing peacocks) as they were devotees of a God of war, now worshipped mostly in Tamil Nadu. Which God are we referring to?
Yaudheyas worshipped Kartikeya whose vehicle is the peacock. They were a large republic ruling from Bhawalpur in the West to Panchala in East, from Ludhiana in North to Delhi. Their war like reputation and size of their military alarmed Alexander’s army (as did the reputation of Nandas) which turned back from the Beas and did not cross into their territory.
They were temporarily defeated by Kanishka, the Kushan emperor but they reasserted their independence and dealt the Kushan empire a death blow in the process. They were governed by a central assembly with 5000 members. They pass out from history about 350CE.
Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India”
Picture Credit: Karthikeya at the Parasurameshwar temple in Bhubaneswar, S. R. Ramanujam
6 / 10
Kautilya’s Arthashastra advises that republics cannot be defeated in war. It recognizes the presence of republics; and provides advice on how they can be overcome. What is the method suggested in Arthashastra?
Kautilya considered republics as invincible through war. The republic was considered a nation-in-arms. The whole community was their army compared to hired soldiers of monarchies.
The Arthashastra outlines the special strategies that the would-be conqueror could use to vanquish the ganas. Because they were different, the strategies recommended to defeat monarchies would not work. Kautilya’s advice focused on creating dissension among their ranks. He marked out personal rivalry and greed of power in aristocracies as a fit soil for sowing seeds of dissension.
The Mahabarata also comments that it is almost impossible for the enemy to crush republics. Buddha too advised Ajatasatru that Lechcchavis, who were a republic, could not be conquered by war. Heeding the advice, Ajasasatru sent his minister to create dissension within the Lechcchavis and this strategy succeeded.
Source: Upinder Singh, “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone Age to 12th Century” KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity”.
7 / 10
This republic in modern day Bihar is known to us in several ways. The Hindi film ‘Amrapali’ starring Vyjantimala and Sunil Dutt is set in this republic. The Republic formed the first known confederation with other republics. The Republic also survived for about 1000 years in some form or the other. Which is it?
Lichcchavi was a republic centered around Vaishali, north of Patna, across the river Ganga. It formed the Vajji confederacy with Videhas, Mallas and others.
Lichcchavi was ruled by a large body of families. The Jatakas refer to Lichcchavis having 7707 kings, probably a reference to the council of warriors. The Lalitavistara, in an obvious satirical jab, depicts Vesali as being full of Lichcchavi rajans , each one thinking, “I am king, I am king.”
Amrapali was born here and she was beautiful and perfect. It was a law in the Lichcchavi republic that the perfect woman cannot marry and should become common property of the State. Thus she became a courtesan. Bimbisara, king of neighbouring Magadha kingdom is reported to have had an affair with Amrapali. Bimbisara’s elder son Ajatasatru developed enmity with the kingdom and carried out a long-drawn battle. The Lichcchavis were defeated and their power was weakened. They rose again after the fall of the Mauryan empire. They continued till the Gupta era and thus reigned for about 1000 years. The first Gupta emperor rose to power through a marriage alliance with a Lichcchavi princess, Kumaradevi. The republic then slides into oblivion.
Source: A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” J. P. Sharma, “Republics in Ancient India”
Picture Credit: Cinestaan
8 / 10
“There seems to be a strange fatality in their history. They rose to power with the help of a republic, they conquered most of the republics, and they in turn were shaken off their foundations by a republic”. About which great dynasty is this written?
The Guptas rose to power in the early 4th century through a marriage alliance – Chandragupta I married a princess of the Lichcchavi republic. Samudragupta is known as Lichchhavi-dauhitra (grandson of the Lichchhavis) in inscriptions.
Their imperium of roughly 200 years saw the almost complete eclipse of republics in North India.
The prashasti of Samudragupta on the Prayagraj Ashokan Pillar records the ganas that were overcome by Guptas. This included the Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, Abhiras, Prarjunas, Sanakanikas, Kakas and Kharaparikas.
The Gupta’s rule was weakened by the short-lived republic of the Pusyamitras around the Vindhyas. The Emperor Kumaragupta is supposed to have been killed in battle with the them around 450CE. His successor Skandagupta defeated them but he candidly mentions that they had made the empire totter. Skandagupta revived the Guptas and even pushed back the Huna invasion but the empire went into terminal decline after him.
9 / 10
The Uttaramerur inscriptions are celebrated as a record of democratic traditions in South India from 1100 years ago. What tradition do these inscriptions attest to?
Uttaramerur is about 80 kms south west of Chennai, near Kancheepuram. Inscriptions on temple walls tell us about the democratic traditions of the village sabha starting in the 8th century.
The village sabha continued through the reigns of different kings in the region, from Pallavas to the Cholas and till the decline of Cholas. The sabha performed several public welfare functions, e.g widened roads, created drinking water facilities, set standards for testing gold, desilted tanks, took loans, alienated land to retire debt and created schools.
The village had a refined electoral system for its Sabha and committees (for testing gold, tank maintenance, gardens etc). It also had a written constitution prescribing the mode of elections. Interestingly, the constitution was also amended formally to alter voting procedures.
“This inscription, dated around 920 A.D. in the reign of Parantaka Chola [907-955 A.D.],” explains Dr. R. Nagaswamy, former Director of the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology, “is an outstanding document in the history of India. It is a veritable written constitution of the village assembly that functioned 1,000 years ago”.
Source: K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, “Studies in Cola History and Administration.” https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Uttaramerur-model-of-democracy/article16566830.ece
Picture Credit: Nilakanta Sastry
10 / 10
Both Buddha and Mahavira were born in republics. Buddha also attained Parinirvana in a republic. One of the names of Buddha is derived from the name of the republic in which he was born. Which republic is this?
Buddha is also known as Sakyamuni. Siddhartha, before he became Buddha, is represented as a royal prince. But his father Suddhodana was not a hereditary King, nor was there monarchy in Sakya region where he was born.
Sakya was one of the republics of the era. All the chiefs of Sakyas, who were probably large and wealthy landowners, were called kings. The eldest son would inherit the position of the chief in the assembly and was called uparaja or prince. The multiplicity of chiefs or kings in Sakya is referred to by several scholars. Thus Buddha was not a crown prince the way we understand the term these days.
Sakya was founded by a cadet prince of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Lord Rama. The Buddha fondly mentioned this fact many times in his life. Probably because of this connection, in later Puranic tradition, he was incorporated as Vishnu’s incarnation.
Buddha attained Parinirvana at Kusinagara, which was in the Malla republic. Sakyas claimed a share in his relics and later built a stupa at their capital town. Both the Mallas and Lechcchavis are supposed to have requested Buddha to deliver a sermon during the opening of their assembly hall.
Sakya was controlled by Kosala, the neighbouring monarchy, but was not fully subordinate to it, and had its own identity. However, during Buddha’s time, the Sakya state was invaded multiple times by the king of Kosala; and soon after destroyed. Literature mentions how the Sakya assembly met, discussed and voted to surrender, a republican way even in the dissolution of power!
Source: KP Jayaswal, “Hindu Polity” A S Altekar, “State & Government in Ancient India” Koenraad Elst, Lectures on Buddha available on you tube.
Picture Credit: Root Buddha at Ayuthaya, Thailand. S. R Ramanujam
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