According to the Jaina text Bhagavati Sutra, how many ganarajyas of Kasi and Kosala formed part of the powerful political confederacy of the Eastern India which opposed Ajatasatru, the King of Magadha?

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UGC NET Paper-2: History 2nd Dec 2019 Shift 1

Answer 1

According to the Jaina text Bhagavati Sutra and also from the Jain Kalpasutras Nirayavaliyao and Uvasagadasao that Chetaka was the President of a confederacy at the time of Mahavira and Buddha who entered into a disagreement with Magadhan king Ajatshatru over shielding two fugitive Magadhan princes Halla and Vihalla.
He consulted Nine(9) Lichchavi, nine Mallaki and eighteen(18) ganarajyas of Kasi and Kosala in case of war with Magadha. They unitedly decided in favour of war.
The king of Koshala was Ajatasatru maternal uncle, but this did not prevent Ajatashatru from annexing Koshala and continuing the advance west until he had included Kashi in his dominion. The war with the Vriji confederacy which included 18 ganarajyas was a more lengthy affair and lasted for sixteen years. Finally, Magadha was victorious and was recognized as the most powerful force in eastern India.