Consider the following statements regarding Mahajanpadas: The kingd...
- Statement 1 is correct: Magadha was one of the most important ahajanapada. Magadha was a monarchy as there was rule of one person. Vajji was under a different form of government, known as gana or sangha. This was different from Magadha as here there were not one but many rulers, sometimes thousands of men ruled together and each one was called as raja. Vajji was a united republic of eight smaller kingdoms including Lichhavis, Janatriks and Videhas.
- Statement 2 is correct: Both the Buddha and Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas. The Buddha belonged to the Sakya gana and Mahavira belonged to Jantrica clan which belonged to Vajji Sangha.
Consider the following statements regarding Mahajanpadas: The kingd...
Background: Mahajanpadas
- The Mahajanapadas were ancient kingdoms or oligarchic republics in ancient India from around 600 BCE to 325 BCE.
- These kingdoms emerged after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic period.
- They were characterized by the transition from tribal communities to settled agriculture-based societies.
- The Mahajanapadas were often involved in conflicts and alliances with each other.
Statement 1: The kingdom of Magadha was a monarchy whereas the kingdom of Vajji was a republic.
- The kingdom of Magadha, located in present-day Bihar, was indeed a monarchy.
- It was ruled by powerful dynasties such as the Haryanka and Shishunaga dynasties.
- The kingdom of Vajji, also known as Vrijji, was one of the most prominent Mahajanapadas.
- Vajji was an oligarchic republic, characterized by the rule of a council of elected representatives.
- The Vajji republic was governed by the 'Gana' or 'Sangha' system, where the people had a say in decision-making.
Statement 2: Both Gautam Buddha and Vardhaman Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas.
- Gautam Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal.
- He belonged to the Shakya clan and was raised in Kapilavastu, which was part of the Kosala Mahajanapada.
- Gautam Buddha left his royal life and sought enlightenment through meditation and self-realization.
- After attaining enlightenment, he began preaching his teachings and established a monastic order called the Sangha.
- The Sangha was a community of monks and nuns who followed the Buddha's teachings.
- Vardhaman Mahavira, on the other hand, was born in Kundagrama, in present-day Bihar.
- He belonged to the Jnatrika clan and was raised in Vaishali, which was part of the Vajji Mahajanapada.
- Mahavira also renounced his royal life and became an ascetic, seeking spiritual liberation.
- He founded the Jain religion and established a monastic order called the Ganas or Sanghas.
- The Ganas/Sanghas of Jainism were communities of monks and nuns who followed Mahavira's teachings.
Conclusion:
- Both statements are correct.
- The kingdom of Magadha was a monarchy, while the kingdom of Vajji was a republic.
- Both Gautam Buddha and Vardhaman Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas, which were monastic orders associated with their respective religions.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option C, i.e., both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
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