While Magadha became a powerful kingdom, Vajji, with its capital at Vaishali (Bihar), was under a different form of government, known as gana or sangha. In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja. These rajas performed rituals together. They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done and how, through discussion and debate.For example, if they were attacked by an enemy,they met to discuss what should be done to meet the threat. However, women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in these assemblies.Both the Buddha and Mahavira .belonged to ganas or sanghas. Some of the most vivid descriptions of life in the sanghas can be found in Buddhist books. Rajas of powerful kingdoms tried to conquer the sanghas. Nevertheless, these lasted for a very long time, till about 1500 years ago, when the last of the ganas or sanghas were conquered by the Gupta rulers.
While Magadha became a powerful kingdom, Vajji, with its capital at Vaishali (Bihar), was under a different form of government, known as gana or sangha. In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja. These rajas performed rituals together. They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done and how, through discussion and debate.For example, if they were attacked by an enemy,they met to discuss what should be done to meet the threat. However, women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in these assemblies.Both the Buddha and Mahavira .belonged to ganas or sanghas. Some of the most vivid descriptions of life in the sanghas can be found in Buddhist books. Rajas of powerful kingdoms tried to conquer the sanghas. Nevertheless, these lasted for a very long time, till about 1500 years ago, when the last of the ganas or sanghas were conquered by the Gupta rulers.
Comments
Post a Comment