Pradyota of Avanti
Also called: Chanda Pradyota · Topic: Janapadas, Mahajanapadas and the Second Urbanisation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Pradyota, also called Chanda Pradyota ("Pradyota the fierce"), was king of Avanti. He ruled from Ujjayini (Ujjain) in Madhya Pradesh in the time of the Buddha. He was a powerful and aggressive ruler and a major rival of Magadha. His story shows that the big mahajanapadas often fought or threatened each other. Some time after him, Magadha conquered Avanti under the Shishunaga dynasty.
Example
Buddhist texts say that Jivaka, the famous physician of the Magadhan court, was sent to Ujjayini to cure Pradyota of an illness, in c. 6th–5th century BCE. Tradition also says the Magadhan king Ajatashatru strengthened the walls of Rajagriha because he feared an attack by Pradyota.
Don't confuse with
- Udayana of Vatsa: Udayana was another king of the same period who ruled from Kaushambi. In legend he was Pradyota's son-in-law, as husband of Pradyota's daughter Vasavadatta.