Malla
Topic: Janapadas, Mahajanapadas and the Second Urbanisation · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 4 "New Beginnings: Cities and States"
Meaning
Malla was one of the sixteen mahajanapadas of c. 600 BCE. It lay in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh, next to the Vajji state. Like Vajji, it was a gana-sangha. This means that an assembly of many men, all called rajas, discussed matters, voted when needed and even chose the ruler. There was no hereditary king. Its main towns were Kushinagar and Pava.
Example
The Buddha died at Kushinagar, in Malla territory, in c. 5th century BCE. Buddhist texts say the Mallas of Kushinagar cremated his body and then shared his relics with other states.
Don't confuse with
- Monarchies like Magadha: in Magadha a single king inherited power. In Malla, power was shared among many rajas in an assembly.