Ajatashatru

Ajatashatru
Ajatashatru worships the Buddha, relief from the Bharhut Stupa at the Indian Museum, Kolkata
King of Magadha
Reignc. 492 – c. 460 BCE[1] or c. 405 – c. 373 BCE[2][3]
PredecessorBimbisara
SuccessorUdayabhadra
Governor of Champa
Reign? – c.492 or c.405 BCE
Died460 BCE[1] or c. 373 BCE[2][3]
Spouse
  • Vajira
  • Padmavati
  • Dharini
  • Subadhra
IssueUdayabhadra
DynastyHaryanka
FatherBimbisara
MotherQueen Chellana (Sanskrit: Cellaṇā), daughter of President Chetaka[4][5] (Jainism)
Queen Kosala Devī (Buddhism)
ReligionJainism, Buddhism

Ajatasattu (Pāli Ajātasattu[1]) or Ajatashatru (Sanskrit Ajātaśatru[1]) in Buddhist tradition, or Kunika (Kūṇika) and Kuniya (Kūṇiya) in the Jain histories,[6] (reigned c. 492 to 460 BCE, or c. 405 to 373 BCE[2][3]) was one of the most important kings of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha in East India. He was the son of King Bimbisara and was a contemporary of both Mahavira and Gautama Buddha. He forcefully took over the kingdom of Magadha from his father and imprisoned him. He fought a war against the Vajjika League, led by the Licchavis, and conquered the republic of Vaishali. The city of Pataliputra was formed by fortification of a village by Ajatashatru.

Ajatashatru followed policies of conquest and expansion. He defeated his neighbouring rivals including the king of Kosala; his brothers, at odds with him, went to Kashi, which had been given to Bimbisara as dowry and led to a war between Magadha and Kosala.

Ajatashatru occupied Kashi and captured the smaller kingdoms. Magadha under Ajatashatru became the most powerful kingdom in North India.

  1. ^ a b c d India's Ancient Past, by R.S. Sharma
  2. ^ a b c Sarao, K. T. S. (2003), "The Ācariyaparamparā and Date of the Buddha.", Indian Historical Review, 30 (1–2): 1–12, doi:10.1177/037698360303000201, S2CID 141897826
  3. ^ a b c India: A History. Revised and Updated, by John Keay
  4. ^ Rapson, Edward James (1955). The Cambridge History of India. CUP Archive. p. 183.
  5. ^ "[Solved] Who was the mother of Ajatashatru, the king of Magadha?". Testbook. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  6. ^ Jain, Kailash Chand (1974). Lord Mahāvīra and His Times. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 21. ISBN 978-8-120-80805-8.