Magdha || Magadha Empire || Ancient History of India || History

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• published: 10 Nov 2015
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here is little certain information available on the early rulers of Magadha. The most important sources are the Hindu Puranas, the Buddhist Pāli Canon and Mahavamsa of Sri Lanka, and the Jain Agamas. Based on these sources, it appears that Magadha was ruled by the Haryanka dynasty for some 200 years, c. 600 BCE – 413 BCE. The Hindu Mahabharata calls Brihadratha the first ruler of Magadha. The second book of the Hindu Mahabharata, the Sabha Parva, also includes the story of how Krishna kills King Jarasandha of Magadha, allegedly to stop him from making human sacrifices of 95 kings Jarasandha had captured. Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Kapilavastu in the Shakya clan in an area of modern-day Nepal[3]) in the 6th or 5th century BCE, a tribal territory which was later absorbed by Kosala. As the scene of many incidents in his life, including his enlightenment, Magadha is often considered a blessed land. King Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty led an active and expansive policy, conquering Anga in what is now West Bengal. The death of King Bimbisara was at the hands of his son, Prince Ajatashatru. King Pasenadi, king of neighbouring Kosala and brother-in-law of King Bimbisara, promptly retook the gift of the Kashi province, triggering a war between Kosala and Magadha. Ajatashatru was trapped by an ambush and captured with his army. However, King Pasenadi allowed him and his army to return to Magadha, restored the province of Kashi, and even gave his daughter in marriage to the new young king.