Political History Of Ancient India

This extensive Jain text, "Political History of Ancient India" by Hemchandra Raychaudhari, published by the University of Calcutta in 1950, is a scholarly work that aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ancient Indian political history. The book is structured into two main parts, covering the period from the accession of Parikshit to the extinction of the Gupta Dynasty. The author meticulously draws upon a wide array of sources, including Vedic, Epic, Purāṇic, Jaina, Buddhist, and secular Brāhmaṇical literature, as well as inscriptions, coins, and foreign notices, to reconstruct this complex history.

Part I: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Coronation of Bimbisāra

This section focuses on the early periods of Indian history, beginning with the reign of Parikshit, which the author places shortly after the Bharata War.

• Sources: Raychaudhari acknowledges the absence of direct epigraphic or numismatic evidence for the post-Parikshita to pre-Bimbisārian period, relying heavily on literary sources. He discusses the challenges posed by the late dating and potential biases within the Epics and Purāṇas, while also emphasizing their value in providing kernels of historical facts and clues to chronological relationships. He acknowledges the significant contribution of foreign notices to understanding the post-Bimbisārian epoch, contrasting it with the limited direct foreign contribution to the earlier period. The discoveries at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa are noted as significant for ancient history but offer little direct contribution to political history of the Madhyadeśa.
• Kurus and Videhas: The book delves into the Kuru kingdom, with particular attention paid to the historicity of King Parikshit, examining conflicting interpretations of his identity as a human king versus a divine being and his place in the Kuru genealogy. The author discusses the geographical extent of the Kuru kingdom and its capital, Hastinapura, and its eventual migration to Kausambi. The age of the great Janaka of Videha is also explored, placing him as a later contemporary of the Kurus, and the political landscape of Northern India during his time, listing important contemporary states like Gandhāra, Kekaya, Madra, Kuru, Pañchāla, Kāśi, Kosala, Uśīnara, and Matsya.
• Mahājanapadas and Kingship: Raychaudhari discusses the concept of the "Solasa Mahājanapada" (Sixteen Great Kingdoms) as mentioned in Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikāya, comparing it with the Jaina list and accepting the former as more representative of the political conditions after the fall of the Janaka monarchy. The book examines the initial power of Kāsi, its subsequent absorption into Kosala, and the rise of Kosala as a significant power, highlighting the marriage alliance between Mahākosala and Bimbisāra of Magadha. It concludes this part with an exploration of the various forms of kingship, the social status of rulers, their selection, household members, administrative and military services, limitations on royal authority, and popular participation in state affairs, noting the challenges in piecing together a complete picture from the available data.

Part II: From the Coronation of Bimbisāra to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty

This section covers the more historically documented periods, starting with the rise of Magadha.

• Sources: For this period, the author emphasizes the availability of more reliable historical materials, including inscriptions, coins, foreign accounts (Greek diplomats, navigators, Chinese annalists, and pilgrims), and works by Indian authors of known date and authenticity like Patañjali, Bānabhatta, and Jaina works.
• Rise of Magadha: Raychaudhari details the "New Monarchy" in Eastern India, emphasizing Magadha's strategic advantages, fertile land, and resources. He notes the fusion of cultures and peoples in Magadha, producing both formidable warriors and influential religious figures. The period is characterized by the interplay of local autonomy and imperial unity, influenced by the threat of foreign invasions. The author discusses the administrative system, the rise of Magadhan rulers like Bimbisāra and Ajātaśatru, and their less scrupulous methods contrasted with their administrative sagacity and benevolent activities.
• Republics in the Age of Bimbisāra: The book highlights the existence of aristocratic republics alongside monarchies, focusing on the Vrijians of North Bihar and the Mallas of Kusinara and Pava, as well as smaller republics like the Sākyas and Koliyas. The internal organization of these republics, their judicial procedures, and their eventual fate are explored.
• Minor Principalities and Great Monarchies: The author discusses various petty kingdoms and principalities that existed alongside the major powers, including Gandhāra, Madra, Surasena, Anga, and Alavaka, and the four great kingdoms of Kosala, Vatsa, Avanti, and Magadha.
• The Haryanka-Śaiśunāga Dynasty: The book provides a detailed account of the rise of Magadha under rulers like Bimbisāra and Ajātaśatru, highlighting their administrative reforms, foreign policy shifts, and military campaigns, including the annexation of Anga and Kāśi, and the conquest of Vaiśāli. The chronological discrepancies between Puranic and Ceylonese traditions for this period are acknowledged.
• The Nandas: Raychaudhari discusses the Nanda dynasty, their immense wealth, administrative system, and the eventual fall of their empire, noting the challenges in establishing precise chronology due to divergent traditions. The "barber ancestry" of Agrammes (likely the last Nanda) as recorded by classical writers is discussed in relation to Jaina traditions.
• Persian and Macedonian Invasions: This section details the advance of the Persian Empire into North-West India, its organization into satrapies, and the impact of Persian rule. It then moves to Alexander's invasion, describing the Indian states encountered, the nature of their resistance, and the eventual withdrawal of the Macedonian forces. The book meticulously lists and describes numerous small kingdoms and tribes in the North-West, including the Aspasians, Guraeans, Assakenians, Nysaeans, Peukelaotis, Taxila, Arsakes, Abhisāra, the kingdoms of Poros, the Glauganikai, Gandaris, Adraistai, Kathaioi, Sophytes, Phegelas, Siboi, Agalassoi, Sudracae/Oxydrakai, Malloi, Abastanoi, and the kingdoms in the Lower Indus Valley like Mousikanos and Oxykanos.
• The Maurya Empire: This significant portion of the book chronicles the rise of Chandragupta Maurya, his origins, his victory over the Nandas with the help of Kautilya, and his vast empire that extended across India. The author discusses his administrative system, drawing heavily on Megasthenes, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and Asoka's edicts. The government structure, from the king and his council of ministers to provincial administration and village governance, is explained. The chapter also covers the Seleukidan War, the nature of the friendly relations established, and the role of Megasthenes as an envoy.
• Asoka: A substantial portion is dedicated to Asoka, detailing his early years, the Kalinga War, his conversion to Buddhism, and his subsequent policy of Dhamma-vijaya. Raychaudhari discusses his administrative reforms, benevolent activities, religious toleration, and his efforts to prevent schisms within the Buddhist church. The author also touches upon Asoka's building activities and his overall character, acknowledging both his successes and potential failures in his altruistic policies.
• Later Mauryas and Decline: The book addresses the period after Asoka, the fragmentation of the empire, the rise of provincial powers and foreign inroads, and the challenges in reconstructing the history of the later Mauryas due to scanty data. The conflicting accounts of Asoka's successors, the likely identity of some of them, and the gradual decay of Maurya authority are examined.
• Sunga Empire and Bactrian Greeks: This chapter discusses the aftermath of the Maurya collapse, the rise of the Sunga dynasty, and the impact of the Bactrian Greek invasions. It explores the lineage of Pushyamitra, his successors, the nature of their rule, and their interactions with the Greek rulers. The book details the fragmentation of the Indo-Greek kingdom, the feuds among rival Greek dynasties like those of Demetrios and Eukratides, and the eventual decline of Greek rule.
• Scythian Rule in Northern India: This section analyzes the ascendancy of the Sakas, their migration, their rule in Kipin (Kāpisa-Gandhāra), and their extension into Northern India, Mathura, and the Deccan. It discusses the complex chronology of Saka rulers like Maues and Azes, the relationship between various Saka families, and their administrative systems.
• Pahlavas or Parthians: The book traces the influence of the Parthians in North-West India, their conquest of the Kābul valley, and their interaction with Saka and Greek rulers. It discusses the identity of Gondophernes and his place in the political landscape.
• The Great Kushans: Raychaudhari delves into the origins of the Kushans, their migration, their conquest of Upper India, and the reign of key rulers like Kujula Kadphises I and Vima Kadphises II. The chapter also explores the critical issue of Kanishka's dating, presenting various scholarly theories. It highlights Kanishka's patronage of Buddhism and his administrative and cultural contributions.
• The Nāgas and the Later Kushāns: This section focuses on the Naga dynasties that emerged in Northern and Central India after the decline of Kushan power, discussing their territorial influence and their interactions with the Guptas. The impact of the Sassanians in the North-West and the eventual rise of the Hindu Shāhiyya dynasty are also noted.

In essence, Raychaudhari's "Political History of Ancient India" is a foundational work that provides a detailed and scholarly narrative of the political evolution of ancient India, meticulously piecing together evidence from diverse sources to present a comprehensive, albeit sometimes speculative, account of this crucial period. The book's exhaustive referencing and engagement with scholarly debates underscore its importance in the field of Indian historiography.