Avanti (India)

Avanti (Sanskrit: अवन्ति) was an ancient Indian janapada (realm), roughly corresponded to the present day Malwa region. According to the Buddhist text, the "Anguttara Nikaya", Avanti was one of the "solasa mahajanapadas" (sixteen great realms) of the 6th century BCE. The "janapada" was divided into two parts by the Vindhyas, the northern part had its capital at Ujjayini and the southern part had its centre at Mahishmati. [Mahajan, V.D. (1960, reprint 2007). "Ancient India", New Delhi:S. Chand, ISBN 81 219 0887 6, p.233] [Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). "Political History of Ancient India", Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.85,129-30]

The Haihayas of Mahishmati

According to the Puranic accounts, the Haihayas were the earliest rulers of Avanti, who captured the region from the Nagas. Initially, they ruled from Mahishmati. Later the whole janapada was divided into two parts with the capitals at Mahishmati and Ujjayini. The Haihayas were a confederation of five clans, the Vitihotras, the Bhojas, the Avantis, the Tundikeras and the Sharyatas. Ripunjaya, the last Vitihotra ruler of Ujjayini was overthrown by his "amatya" (minister) Pulika, who placed his son, Pradyota on the throne. [Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). "Political History of Ancient India", Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.130-1]

Pradyota dynasty

Pradyota was contemporary to Gautama Buddha. He was also known as "Chandapradyota Mahasena". Pradyota captured the Vatsa king Udayana but later he married Pradyota’s daughter Vasavadatta. The "Mahavagga" described him as cruel and according to the Majjhima Nikaya, Ajatashatru, the king of Magadha fortified Rajagriha to protect it from an invasion led by Pradyota. He also waged war on Pushkarasarin, king of Takshashila [Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). "Political History of Ancient India", Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.179-81] Pradyota’s chief queen Gopalamata (mother of prince Gopala) was a disciple of Buddhist monk Mahakatyayana and constructed a stupa in Ujjayini.

Prodyota had two sons, Gopala and Palaka. He was succeeded by Palaka. According to Jaina accounts Palaka ascended to the throne on the day of passing away of Mahavira. According to the Kathasaritsagara and the "Avashyaka Kathanaka", the kingdom of Vatsa was already a part of Avanti during the reign of Palaka and a prince of the royal family was the governor of Kaushambi. In the Mricchakatika, Palaka was described as a tyrant who was overthrown by a popular revolt. This revolt placed Aryaka on the throne of Ujjayini. The Puranas place Nadivardhana or Vartivardhana after Aryaka. But these names are probably corruptions of Avantivardhana, the name of the son of Palaka according to the "Kathasaritsagara" or the son of Gopala according to the Nepali "Brihatkatha". He was defeated by Shishunaga, the king of Magadha. [Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). "Political History of Ancient India", Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.192-5]

Avanti under Magadhan rule

Avanti was a part of the Magadha empire during the rule of the Shaishunaga and the Nanda dynasties. During the Mauryan dynasty rule, Avanti became the IAST|Avantirāṭṭha [Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). "Political History of Ancient India", Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.256] or the western province of the empire, with its capital at Ujjayini. [Thapar, R. (2001). "IAST|Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas", New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 019 564445 X, p.237] The Junagarh Rock inscription of Rudradaman I (150 CE) mentions Pushyagupta as the governor of the western province during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. [Thapar, R. (2001). IAST|Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas", New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 019 564445 X, p.13] During the reign of the next ruler Bindusara, prince Ashoka was the provincial governor. [Thapar, R. (2001). "IAST|Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas", New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 019 564445 X, p.21] After the fall of the Mauryas, at the time of Pusyamitra Sunga, his son Agnimitra was the Magadhan viceroy at Vidisha, but he ruled independent of Magadha for all practical purposes. [Lahiri, B (1974). "Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) ", Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.49]

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