Janapada of Kosala: Map & History
Kosala (IPA: [koːɕɐlɐ], Sanskrit: कोशल, sometimes referred to as Uttara Kosala was one of the Mahajanapadas of ancient India.
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Kosala (IPA: [koːɕɐlɐ], Sanskrit: कोशल, sometimes referred to as Uttara Kosala was one of the Mahajanapadas of ancient India. It emerged as a small state during the Late Vedic period and became one of the earliest states to transition from a lineage-based society to a monarchy. By the 6th century BCE, it had consolidated into one of the four great powers of ancient northern India, along with Magadha, Vatsa, and Avanti.
Janapada of Kosala in Depth
History
Koshala's first capital of Shravasti was barely settled by the 6th century BCE, but there is the beginnings of a mud fort. By 500 BCE, Vedic people had spread to Koshala.
By the 5th century BCE under the reign of King Mahakosala, the neighboring Kingdom of Kashi had been conquered. Mahakosala's daughter was the first wife of King Bimbisara of Magadha. As a dowry, Bimbisara received a Kashi village that had a revenue of 100,000. This marriage temporarily eased tensions between Koshala and Magadha.
By the time of Mahākosala's son Pasenadi, Kosala had become the suzerain of the Kālāma tribal republic, and Pasenadi's realm maintained friendly relations with the powerful Licchavi tribe which lived to the east of his kingdom.
Culture
Kosala belonged to the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (c. 700–300 BCE), which was preceded by the Black and red ware culture (c. 1450–1200 BCE until c. 700–500 BCE). The Central Gangetic Plain was the earliest area for rice cultivation in South Asia, and entered the Iron Age around 700 BCE. According to Geoffrey Samuel, following Tim Hopkins, the Central Gangetic Plain was culturally distinct from the Painted Grey Ware culture of the Vedic Aryans of Kuru-Pancala west of it, and saw an independent development toward urbanisation and the use of iron.
Location
Kosala was bounded by the Gomti River in the west, Sarpika River in the south, Sadanira in the east which separated it from Videha, and the Nepal Hills in the north. It encompassed the territories of the Shakyans, Mallakas, Koliyas, Kālāmas and Moriyas at its peak. It roughly corresponds to modern-day Awadh region in India.
The Kosala region had three major cities, Ayodhya, Saketa and Shravasti, and a number of minor towns as Setavya, Ukattha, Dandakappa, Nalakapana and Pankadha. According to the Puranas and the Ramayana epic, Ayodhya was the capital of Kosala during the reign of Ikshvaku and his descendants. Shravasti is recorded as the capital of Kosala during the Mahajanapada period (6th–5th centuries BCE), but post-Maurya (2nd–1st centuries BCE) kings issued their coins from Ayodhya.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kosala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Janapada of Kosala: Key Facts
| Capital | Shravasti |
|---|---|
| Founded | 7th century BCE |
| Dissolved | 5th century BCE |
Facts from Wikidata Q756854 (CC0).
Janapada of Kosala Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Janapada of Kosala appears, with the other states of the time.
Janapada of Kosala Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 4,990 km² in 466 BCE.
Janapada of Kosala: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Janapada of Kosala exist?
Janapada of Kosala is dated to 600 BCE – 451 BCE, in the Bronze & Iron Age Civilizations era.
What was the capital of Janapada of Kosala?
The capital of Janapada of Kosala was Ayodhya and Shravasti of Uttar Kosala.
How large was Janapada of Kosala at its peak?
At its peak in 466 BC Janapada of Kosala covered about 4,990 km².
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