Kosala
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Kosala (), sometimes referred to as Uttara Kosala () was one of the Mahajanapadas of ancient India. It emerged as a small state during the Late Vedic period and became (along with Magadha) one of the earliest states to transition from a lineage-based society to a monarchy. By the 6th century BCE, it had consolidated into one of the four great powers of ancient northern India, along with Magadha, Vatsa, and Avanti.
Key facts
- Former country.conventional_long_name
- Kosala
- Former country.common_name
- Kosala
- Former country.era
- Iron Age
- Former country.government_type
- Monarchy
- Former country.year_start
- c. 7th century BCE
- Former country.year_end
- c. 5th century BCE
- Former country.p1
- Black and red ware culture
- Former country.s1
- Haryanka dynastyMagadha
- Former country.p2
- Kāśī (kingdom)Kashi
- Former country.image_map
- The eastern Gangetic plain after Ajatasattu's, Vidudabha's and Udayana's conquests.jpg
- Former country.image_map_caption
- Kosala and its neighboring kingdoms.
- Former country.image_map2
- Mahajanapadas (c. 500 BCE).png
- Former country.image_map2_caption
- Kosala and the other Mahajanapadas in the Post Vedic period.
- Former country.title_leader
- King
- Former country.leader1
- Ikshvaku (first)
- Former country.year_leader1
- ?
- Former country.year_leader2
- c. 5th century BCE
- Former country.leader2
- Sumitra (last)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
Show 3 more facts
- Commons category
- Kosala
- inception
- 0700-00-00
- dissolved, abolished or demolished date
- 0500-00-00
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
~14 min read
Article
19 sectionsContents
- Location
- Geography
- Cities and towns
- Culture
- Religion
- Jainism
- Buddhism
- Religious textual references
- In Buddhist and Jain texts
- In Vedic Literature
- In Puranas
- History
- Pre-Mauryan
- Under Mauryan rule
- Post-Mauryan period
- See also
- References
- Citations
- Sources
Kosala (), sometimes referred to as Uttara Kosala () was one of the Mahajanapadas of ancient India. It emerged as a small state during the Late Vedic period and became (along with Magadha) one of the earliest states to transition from a lineage-based society to a monarchy. By the 6th century BCE, it had consolidated into one of the four great powers of ancient northern India, along with Magadha, Vatsa, and Avanti.
Kosala belonged to the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (c. 700–300 BCE) and was culturally distinct from the Painted Grey Ware culture of the neighboring Kuru-Panchala region, following independent development toward urbanisation and the use of iron. The presence of the lineage of Ikshvaku—described as a raja in the Ṛgveda and an ancient hero in the Atharvaveda—to which Rama, Mahavira, and the Buddha are all thought to have belonged—characterized the Kosalan realm.