Surasena

Kingdom of Surasena
c. 700 BCE–c. 300 BCE
Surasena and other Mahajanapadas in the post-Vedic period.
Surasena and other Mahajanapadas in the post-Vedic period.
CapitalMathura
Common languagesSanskrit, Prakrit
Religion
Hinduism
Buddhism
GovernmentMonarchy
Maharaja 
Historical eraBronze Age, Iron Age
• Established
c. 700 BCE
• Disestablished
c. 300 BCE
Today part ofIndia

The kingdom of Surasena (IAST: Śūrasena) was an ancient Indian region corresponding to the present-day Braj region in Uttar Pradesh, with Mathura as its capital city. According to the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya, Surasena was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas (lit. 'great realms') in the 6th century BCE.[1] Also, it is mentioned in the Hindu epic poem Ramayana. The ancient Greek writers (e.g., Megasthenes) refer to the Sourasenoi and its cities, Methora and Cleisobra/Kleisobora .[2][3]

  1. ^ Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 85
  2. ^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1995). Ancient India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. p. 173. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.
  3. ^ Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 71