Prasenajit
Also called: Pasenadi · Topic: Janapadas, Mahajanapadas and the Second Urbanisation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Prasenajit (Pali: Pasenadi) was king of Kosala. He ruled from Shravasti in present-day Uttar Pradesh, in the time of the Buddha. Buddhist texts describe him as a friend and follower of the Buddha. His reign shows how the big states tied themselves together through marriage, and also how they fought each other.
Example
In c. 6th century BCE, Prasenajit's sister married Bimbisara of Magadha. She brought a village of Kashi with her as dowry, and it produced a large income. Later Prasenajit lost his throne to his own son, Vidudabha, who then attacked the Shakyas, the clan of the Buddha.
Don't confuse with
- Bimbisara: Bimbisara was king of Magadha, not Kosala. He was Prasenajit's brother-in-law and lived at the same time.
Related concepts
- Mahajanapada
- Gandhara
- Kuru
- Kosala
- Vatsa
- Udayana of Vatsa
- Kaushambi
- Avanti
- Pradyota of Avanti
- Ashmaka