Maps of Ancient Buddhist India
Soëasa Mahàjanapadà
The Sixteen Great States
The map shown above is approx. 1,600 km from East to West and 1,200 km from North to South
In two places in the Aïguttaranikàya (Uposathasuttaü, Bk. 3.71; Vitthatåposathasuttaü, Bk. 8.42) we find the following list of great states (Mahàjanapadà): Aïgà, Magadhà, Kàsã, Kosalà, Vajjã, Mallà, Cetã, Vaüsà,01 Kurå, Paÿcàlà, Macchà, Sårasenà, Assakà, Avantã, Gandhàrà, Kambojà.02
We sometimes come across other forms of this list, so that at Janavasabhasuttaü (DN 18) only the following ten are mentioned: Kàsã, Kosalà, Vajjã, Mallà, Cetã, Vaüsà, Kurå, Paÿcàlà, Macchà,03 Sårasenà. Interestingly, the Sàkiyas and the Koëiyans are omitted from these lists, perhaps they were not considered as great states, being too small in size.
Below is a list of the State Capitals, and their Kings where they are known. The most important ones by far are the first two. Remember that the Buddha lived for 80 years and the political situation was always changing: