The auspicious day had arrived… The kingdom of Vaishali and the land of Bharatkhanda, rather, the world, stood at an epochal moment – the moment of the formation of the first “Ganasangha” – a confederation of ‘ganas’, the districts… - the first republic of the world!
Amidst solemn rhythmic chants of priests, seventy seven chieftains, representing seventy seven districts of Vrij, were coronated as the “Ganarajas” – the district chiefs, along with Vrajesh, who was coronated as the “Maharaaj” – the King. Amogh was coronated as the “heir apparent”.
The ‘sudarshan chakra’ was placed on its stand at the centre of the “Sansthagara”. As mandated by the chakra, the King and the ‘Ganarajas’ vowed to take decisions for the kingdom collectively through regular consultations…
Rikshavi smiled at Vasumna who sat in the audience. He beamed back at her – his Kaawar finally had its own chief! Each district had an appointed “dandadhikrit” – a judge – who would be headed by a chief judge, who would be seated in Vaishali….
Vikram smiled to himself as he quietly prayed for the soul of his father… the vision of Lord Krishna was finally accomplished!
Queen Bhairavi and her father, King Mahendra, were overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude and significance of the ceremony. They knew that they were witnessing history… This was indeed the beginning of a famous chapter in the history of the Bharatkhanda…
Suketu and Kairee too sat in the audience and looked around in awe. “Our kingdom is now a republic!” Suketu proudly whispered to Kairee… “Yes!” Kairee whispered back, “It’s the Republic of Lichhavi!”
Prabhavsen contentedly watched the ceremony…. He had always known that Rikshavi was destined to create history…. The historical moment was now unfolding in front of his eyes… The creation of the first republic of the world, which would become famous in the history of mankind as “The Licchavi Republic”
But the Prime Minister also looked a bit restless… One thought still pursued his mind – “Where was ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, the weapon? Had a weapon never existed?”
*****
Early morning sunrays fell tenderly on the gentle waves of the Kaawar lake, creating an illusion of shiny pearls. Rikshavi sat in a boat in the middle of the lake and calmly watched the ‘Bhairavi Dhanush’, as it gradually sank in the waters. Vikram placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him intently.
“This is not what I want to perpetuate, Vikram!” she said, pointing at the sinking bow, “This land does not need a new weapon!”
*****
900 BCE.
Prabhas, a coastal town in the kingdom of Saurashtra, present day Gujarat.
Krishna stood calmly on a ship which floated near the shores of Prabhas… He had just saved his clan, the Yadavs, from a catastrophe… Women and children of his clan had safely alighted from the Yadav ships, which were now anchored near the shores of Prabhas….
Daruka, Krishna’s trusted minister, stood behind him. “Leave for Hastinapur, Daruka!” Krishna ordered in a solemn voice, “Seek help from my cousins, the Pandavs. They shall certainly rescue and take good care of my people… And don’t forget to tell Arjun and Sahadev that I am leaving behind a legacy for them…”
Daruka flinched at the Lord’s words…. “Leaving behind?!” he exclaimed… “Where are you going, my Lord?”
Krishna simply smiled and placed a hand on Daruka’s shoulder. “Hurry up Daruka!” he said, “Go to Hastinapur! Request my cousins to rescue my people!”
Krishna steered the ship deeper into the sea after Daruka left. He suddenly hurled something in the waters and watched the huge ripples that turbulently rocked his ship.
“This is not what I want to perpetuate….” he said to himself as he watched the drowning object….. “This land does not need a weapon!”
*****
EPILOGUE
2012. Archeological site at Vaishali, Bihar
Rashmi sat on a rock and proudly read the article that appeared in one of the leading national newspapers…. It featured her name…
“This is one of the latest excavations.
About a kilometer and a half from the historical village of Vaishali in Bihar, archaeologists are excavating its ancient history.
Raja Vishal ka Garh is a site spread over 81 acres. It has a mound near the Vaishali village that is believed to be the remains of an ancient parliament house. This location has revealed some significant findings recently: a 50-metre-long and 21-metre-high mud rampart built in the late phase of the Mauryan period (321-185 BC) and Shunga period (185-73 BC) and a brick fortification that runs above the rampart.
Professor K.V. Vasudevan, the in-charge of the excavation from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), says the findings are significant. “This is one of the largest findings in recent Bihar excavations,” says Vasudevan.
The team has discovered structures that hold no idols of gods and goddesses. What were these structures then used for? According to Vasudevan, the discovery of such structures point towards a democratic set-up. Though it would be too early to claim that this was one of the power centres of the Lichhavi clan, signs of a fortified city with settlements around it point to a well-laid out plan that housed both the ruling class and its subjects.
Sahadev Kumar, director of a Patna-based research Institute agrees. “The findings at Vaishali are very significant. The excavations have the potential to reveal findings till the Chalcolithic age. It is a cheerful sign that the ASI has found traces of a fortified city at Raja Vishal ka Garh and signs of a democratic set-up.”.
A group of 25 history and archaeology students from Nalanda Mahavihar University works at the excavation site, cleaning the trench walls meticulously with a brush. Rashmi Lalit, a post-graduate student in ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology from Nalanda Mahavihar University, says, “We have learnt a lot about ancient history with material details and scientific findings. It is amazing to see high-quality shiny pottery being used in the pre-Mauryan period. Here, you can also see one of the first parliaments of ancient India…. actually, the first parliament of the world!”
Vasudevan says while the excavation has revealed clear traces of human settlement till the Shunga period (185-73 BC). ASI has found terracotta figurines, shiny pottery shards and punched copper coins, which could date back to 600 BC when Vaishali used to be a power centre of the Lichhavi Republic. He, however, makes clear that no traces of human settlements beyond 185 BC have been found yet. “We are close to establishing the links of all that has been excavated at the Vaishali site. The wall rampart and the brick fortification are big findings. As we go to the last layer at the site, we will get carbon dating done to know how close we are to the Lichhavi period,” says Vasudevan.
Vaishali is not new to history. Historians say that one of the world’s first democratic republics flourished here in the 6th century BC....”
“Why do you think a republic was formed in those times in India?” Rashmi finally kept the newspaper aside and asked Prof Vasudevan.
The professor smiled. “Why do you ask so?” he counter-questioned his student.
“Well…” Rashmi sagaciously said, “Greek and Roman republics were formed as a result of revolutions of the common people. These revolutions were a direct reaction to the exploitation of the rulers. But I do not see any such possibility in Ancient India… Ancient Indian rulers of those times were not known to be exploitative. In fact, not even the villains from the ancient epic of Mahabharat, the Kauravs, were said to be exploitative of their subjects…. Kings respected the sovereignty of dharma… righteousness”
“Why was then, a republic formed?”
Prof. Vasudevan gave a light clap. “Well analysed!” he appreciated, “But you know, any revolutionary event in ancient Indian history was never a reaction…. It was always the result of a profound thought….”
“Whose ‘profound thought’ was this, then?” Rashmi wondered aloud.
Prof. Vasudevan simply smiled and sh
rugged.
“And why the name “Lichhavi?” Rashmi asked.
“Well…” the professor said, “Historians believe that it may have been a colloquial form of ‘Rikshavi’…
Rashmi was thrilled. “’Rikshavi’ sounds like a female name. Do you think that some queen or princess named ‘Rikshavi’ thought about establishing a republic?” she enthusiastically asked.
“Possible…” the professor agreed.
“What does ‘Rikshavi’ mean?” Rashmi asked.
“‘Riksha’ means ‘a star’ in Sanskrit…” Professor Vasudevan answered. He was amused by Rashmi’s child-like enthusiasm. “By the way, do you know the meaning of the word ‘Rashmi’?” he asked.
“Yes of course!” Rashmi replied, “’Rashmi’ means a ray of the sun!”
“That’s right!” the professor exclaimed.
“Do you also know that each ray of the sun has tremendous energy?” he chuckled.
“You bet!” Rashmi replied with a broad smile.
A few meters away, sunrays fell on a dusty circular bronze plate which the archeologists had just excavated…….
The news report contained herein is based on an actual news report which appeared in a leading national daily in 2012.
GLOSSARY
Indian word
Meaning
1.
Aarti
A ritual of honouring someone with lamps – lighted with cotton wicks and oil/ghee
2.
Abhishek Pushkarni
A man-made water tank located near Vaishali in present day Bihar, India. Its waters were used for the coronation of the kings and princes of the region in ancient times.
3.
Acharya
An epithet used to address revered teachers and scholars.
4.
Adishakti
The primeval energy / force.
5.
Agnimadha
A fictional medicinal powder described in this book. Literally means ‘Fire-honey’.
6.
Ambari
A canopy atop an elephant.
7.
Antariya
A cloth draped on the waist, to cover the lower body, like the Indian dhoti.
8.
Apsara
A mythological beautiful damsel who resides in heaven.
9.
Ashram
A hermitage.
10.
Bharatkhanda
A term used in Hindu texts to describe the Indian sub-continent.
11.
Brahmin
A race of teachers and knowledgeable people of ancient India.
12.
Bramhastra
A powerful mythological missile.
13.
Chakra
A circular object.
14.
Chaturanga
An ancient form of chess.
15.
Dandadhikrit
Magistrate
16.
Dauhitra
Grandson (son of one’s daughter)
17.
Dhanush
Bow (as in a bow and arrow).
18.
Dharma
Has many interpretations – the main one is “the right deed in a specific situation”.
19.
Dharmayuddha
A war fought with rules of fairness.
20.
Gana
A unit of a federation / a district
21.
Ganaraajaas
The kings of ganas / chieftains of ganas
22.
Ganasangha
A federation of ‘ganas’.
23.
Garbhagriha
The innermost sanctum of a temple where the idol of the temple deity resides.
24.
Great War of Kurukshetra
Also known as the great war of Mahabharat – described in the Indian epic, “Mahabharat”. The war happened at Kurukshetra.
25.
Guru
Teacher
26.
Kanchuka
A piece of cloth draped by ancient women to cover their bosoms.
27.
Kauravs
Hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, characters of the epic, Mahabharat.
28.
Kayabandh
A sash which was tied on the waist like a belt by ancient Indian men and women.
29.
Kheer
A sweet Indian delicacy made of milk, sugar, lentils, dry fruits, flavoured with cardamom and saffron.
30.
Kshatriya
A warrior race of ancient India.
31.
Kum-kum
A sacred / auspicious red powder applied by Hindus, especially during religious rituals.
32.
Kund
A man-made water tank, usually found in Indian temples
33.
Lord Krishna
An Indian God / a character of the epic, Mahabharat.
34.
Maaya
Illusion.
35.
Mahabharata
A renowned Indian epic, which mainly revolves around the feud between the royal cousins Kauravs and Pandavs, which led to a full-scale war between kingdoms who aligned themselves with either of the two.
36.
Mahadevi Durga
The great Goddess Durga.
37.
Mahapooja
An Indian ritual of worshipping a deity.
38.
Mahishasur
The buffalo demon.
39.
Mahishasurmardini
The slayer of the buffalo demon.
40.
Mekhala
An ornament worn by Indian women across their waist.
41.
Mogra
A fragrant white Indian flower.
42.
Pagdi
An ancient Indian head gear.
43.
Pancharishis
Five sages
44.
Pandavs
Five sons of Pandu, characters of the epic, Mahabharat.
45.
Payal
An anklet-like ornament worn on feet by Indian women.
46.
Prahara
It is a unit of time used in ancient India. One prahara was approximately three hours long. There were eight praharas beginning at sunrise – four in the day and four in the night.
47.
Pushpa Vatika
A garden of flowers.
48.
Rajayoga
Destiny to become a royal / destiny to become a ruler.
49.
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient collection of Sanskrit hymns – supposed to be the oldest existing text in the world. It is the first of the four Vedas. It contains several mythological and poetical accounts of the origin of the world, hymns praising the gods, and ancient prayers for life, prosperity, etc.
50.
Riksha
It means ‘a star’ in Sanskrit.
51.
Ritu Shanti
An Indian ritual conducted to commemorate the beginning of the menstrual cycle of a girl.
52.
Sanskrit
An ancient Indian language – supposed to be the oldest existing language in the world.
53.
Sansthagara
Literally ‘organisation – room’. A hall meant for holding court.
54.
Shakta
An Indian sect who are the followers of Adishakti / Goddess Durga.
55.
Shakti
Strength / Force / Energy.
56.
Shashthi Poorthi
Celebration of completion of sixty years of age of a person.
57.
Shastras
Ancient texts.
58.
Sheshagara
A room (generally located in royal palaces and forts) with limited access rights.
59.
Shivlinga
A symbolic representation of Lord Shiva.
60.
Sudarshan Chakra
A circular disk like weapon of Lord Vishnu / Lord Krishna
61.
Swayamvara
A ritual of ancient India, where a marriageable girl chose her groom from a group of suitors, who were invited by the girl’s family.
62.
Taat
Father.
63.
Uttariya
A long piece of cloth draped on the upper part of the body. It was used by ancient Indians – both men and women.
64.
Vanaprasthashram
Retirement. The Indian culture describes the last phase of life as “Vanaprasthashram” which literally means leaving the worldly life and moving to a forest.
65.
Vasanta Poornima
The full moon night of the spring.
66.
Vedas
Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts – the oldest texts in the world. The four Vedas are Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.
67.
Vihanga Taal
A lake of birds.
68.
Yadav
A Kshatriya race of ancient India. Lord Krishna belonged to this race.
69.
Yagnya
An ancient Indian fire ritual, where offerings were made to sacred fire.
The Rigveda Code Page 19