Licchavi (clan)

The Licchavis were the most famous clan amongst the ruling confederate clans of the Vajji mahajanapada of ancient India. Vaishali, the capital of the Licchavis was the capital of the Vajji mahajanapada also. It was later occupied by Ajatashatru, who annexed the Vajji territory into his kingdom. [Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1972), "Political History of Ancient India", University of Calcutta, Calcutta, pp.106-113, 186-90] .

Kautilya in his IAST|Arthaśāstra (ch. XI), describes the Licchavis as a tribal confederation (IAST|gaṇa sangha), whose leader uses the title of IAST|rājā (IAST|rājaśabdopajīvinah). A Buddhist text, the IAST|Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta refers them as "Kshatriya"s and one of the claimants of the relics of Buddha. According to the IAST|Dīgha Nikāya, the Licchavis were of the IAST|Vasiṣṭha gotra. [Thapar, Romila (1984) "From Lineage to State", Oxford University Press, Bombay, p. 85] .

IAST|Buddhaghośa in his IAST|Paramatthajotikā, traced the origin of the Licchavis to Benaras. The date of the establishment of the Licchavi domination over the area consisting of present day north Bihar and terai region of Nepal is not known. By the time of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha this clan was already well settled in the area around their capital IAST|Vaiśālī. Buddhist tradition has preserved the names of a number of eminent Licchavis, which include prince Abhyaya, IAST|Oṭṭhaddha (IAST|Mahāli), generals, IAST|Sīha and Ajita, Dummukha and Sunakkhata. The IAST|Kalpasūtra of IAST|Bhadravāhu refers to the nine Licchavi IAST|gaṇarājas (chieftains) who along with the nine Malla IAST|gaṇarājas and the eighteen IAST|Kāśī-IAST|Kośala IAST|gaṇarājas formed a league against Magadha. The leader of this alliance was IAST|Cheṭaka, whose sister IAST|Triśalā was the mother of Mahavira. [Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1972), "Political History of Ancient India", University of Calcutta, Calcutta, pp.106-113] .

Licchavi administration

The seat of the Licchavi administration was in IAST|Vaiśālī, the capital of the Vajjiian confederacy. The IAST|Rājā was the highest executive and judicial authorityMahajan V.D. (1960, reprint 2007). "Ancient India", S.Chand & Company, New Delhi, ISBN 81 219 0887 6, p.227-8] .

The excutive

The IAST|Aṭṭhakathā mentions about the three chief functionaries of the Licchavi administration, the IAST|Rājā (the ruling chief), the IAST|Uparājā (the deputy chief) and the IAST|Senāpati (the chief of the army)Mahajan V.D. (1960, reprint 2007). "Ancient India", S.Chand & Company, New Delhi, ISBN 81 219 0887 6, p.227-8] . The introductory portion of the IAST|Ekapaṇṇa Jātaka adds one more with it, the IAST|Bhāṇḍāgārika (the chancellor of exchequer). The introductory portions of the IAST|Cullakalinga Jātaka and the IAST|Ekapaṇṇa Jātaka mention the number of the IAST|Rājās as 7707. The introductory portion of the IAST|Bhaddasāla Jātaka mentions about a tank, the water of which was used for the IAST|Abhiṣeka (the coronation) of the IAST|Gaṇarājas of IAST|Vaiśālī. The assembly hall where these IAST|Gaṇarājas met for discussion was known as the IAST|SanthāgāraLaw B.C. (2005). "Kshatriya Clans in Buddhist India", Ajay Book Service, New Delhi, ISBN 81 87077 55 7, pp.107-23] .

The judiciary

According to the IAST|Aṭṭhakathā, a criminal was first handed over to a IAST|Viniccaya Mahāmātta (the inquiring magistrate), who after the investigation and the interrogation of the accused if found guilty took him to the IAST|Vohārika (the jurist-judge). He could discharge him if he found him innocent, otherwise he handed over him to the IAST|Sūttadhāra (the master of the sacred code). The IAST|Sūttadhāra after confirming the guilt of the accused, handed him over to the IAST|Aṭṭhakūlakā(literally, the eight clans, probably a federal court). The IAST|Aṭṭhakūlakāif satisfied of the guilt of the accused made him over to the IAST|Senāpati, who after satisfying himself about the guilt of the accused made him over to the IAST|Uparājā. If the IAST|Uparājā also found him guilty, he handed him over to the IAST|Rājā. In case, the IAST|Rājā found him guilty, the convict received the punishment prescribed in the IAST|Paveṇipotthaka (the book of precedence) for the offence committed by himLaw B.C. (2005). "Kshatriya Clans in Buddhist India", Ajay Book Service, New Delhi, ISBN 81 87077 55 7, pp.107-23] .

Licchavis and the Imperial Guptas

The Gupta emperor Chandragupta I married a Licchavi princess Kumaradevi and the legend "Licchavayah" is found along with a figure of goddess Lakshmi on the reverse of the Chandragupta I-Kumaradevi type gold coins of Samudragupta. [Raychaudhuri Hemchandra (1972), "Political History of Ancient India", University of Calcutta, Calcutta, pp.468-9] . In Allahabad Pillar Inscription, Samudragupta was described as the "Licchavidauhitra" (the grandson of the Licchavis from his mother's side). These probably suggest Licchavi occupation of Magadha immediately before the rise of the imperial Guptas, although there is no direct evidence to prove it. [Lahiri, Bela (1974) "Indigenous States of Northern India (circa 200 BC - 320 AD)", University of Calcutta, Calcutta, p.71,71n] .

Notes