Kosala
Also called: Koshala · Topic: Janapadas, Mahajanapadas and the Second Urbanisation · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 4 "New Beginnings: Cities and States"; Class 12, Ch 2 "Kings, Farmers and Towns"
Meaning
Kosala (also spelt Koshala) was one of the sixteen mahajanapadas of c. 600 BCE. It covered much of present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh. It was a monarchy, meaning a hereditary king ruled it, and it was among the most powerful states of its time. Its capital was Shravasti. Kosala was Magadha's main rival in the Ganga plains, but in the end Magadha absorbed it.
Example
King Prasenajit (Pasenadi) ruled Kosala from Shravasti in c. 6th–5th century BCE, in the time of the Buddha. The Buddha spent many rainy seasons near Shravasti.
Don't confuse with
- Kaushambi: Kaushambi was the capital of a different state, Vatsa. Kosala's capital was Shravasti.
Related concepts
- Mahajanapada
- Gandhara
- Kuru
- Prasenajit
- Vatsa
- Udayana of Vatsa
- Kaushambi
- Avanti
- Pradyota of Avanti
- Ashmaka