Gandhara (Mahajanapada)

Gandhara lay in the northwest, in the lands of modern Peshawar and Rawalpindi. The Pali books and the Puranas name different cities as its capital.

1. Which Mahajanapada was Gandhara?

Gandhara is one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the great countries of the Buddha’s time. The Pali lists put it fifteenth, just before Kamboja.

The first fourteen countries belong to the Middle Country, called Majjhimadesa. The last two, Gandhara and Kamboja, belong to the northwest, called Uttarapatha.

Some lists differ. The Niddesa leaves Gandhara out and puts Yona in its place. The Mahavastu list also omits it.

2. Where was Gandhara?

The Pali dictionary places Gandhara in the modern districts of Peshawar and Rawalpindi, in the northern Punjab. It says Gandhara seems to have included Kasmira. The two lands are always named together as Kasmira Gandhara.

A modern history of Kashmir says the Rigveda and the Avesta show Gandhara was a meeting ground. There the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians came into contact.

The Pali books call Gandhara a border country, a paccantima janapada.

3. Which was the capital, Takkasila or Pushkalavati?

The Pali dictionary says the capital of Gandhara was Takkasila, the Sanskrit Takshashila or Taxila. Its king in the Buddha’s time was Pukkusati.

The Puranas use another name. The Markandeya Purana calls Pushkalavati the ancient capital of Gandhara. The Ramayana names the same city.

So the books do not agree on one capital. Learn both names. For exams, Taxila is the best-known city of Gandhara.

4. Why was Takkasila famous?

Takkasila was a famous centre of learning. The Jatakas mention it often. The Pali dictionary notes that the suttas never mention it.

The books name several students. They include Pasenadi of Kosala, Mahali of the Licchavis and Bandhula of the Mallas. Jivaka and Angulimala also studied there.

Students studied the three Vedas and eighteen sciences. These included archery, medicine and surgery. The usual fee on admission was one thousand gold pieces.

Takkasila was also a great trading centre. People came to it from Benares, Savatthi and other places.

Pukkusati ruled Gandhara in the Buddha’s time. His story is told in the Pali commentaries.

5. How did the two kings become friends?

Merchants travelled between Gandhara and Magadha. Through them a friendly alliance grew between Pukkusati and Bimbisara.

The two kings never saw each other. Even so, a deep bond grew between them.

Visitors and merchants were lodged and fed at the expense of the king. No tariffs were levied on their goods.

6. What gifts did the kings exchange?

Pukkusati sent Bimbisara eight priceless garments in lacquered caskets. The whole court met to accept the gift.

Bimbisara had nothing of equal value to send back. So he sent news of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

He had the news inscribed on a golden plate, four cubits long. It described the Eightfold Path and other teachings. The plate travelled in several caskets on a state elephant.

7. What did Pukkusati do after reading the plate?

Pukkusati read the plate alone in his chamber. He was filled with joy and decided to renounce the world.

He cut off his hair, put on the yellow robes of a monk, and left the palace alone. His subjects wept.

He travelled one hundred and ninety-two leagues to Savatthi. Bimbisara’s letter said the Buddha was at Rajagaha, so he had to go on.

The Pali dictionary says this conversion did not convert Gandhara’s people. His memory was soon forgotten.

8. How did Pukkusati meet the Buddha, and how did he die?

At Rajagaha, Pukkusati stayed in the guest room of the potter Bhaggava. The Buddha asked to share the room, and Pukkusati agreed.

They sat in silence for a time. Then the Buddha taught the Dhatuvibhanga Sutta. At its end Pukkusati recognised the Buddha and asked his forgiveness.

He asked for the upasampada, the full ordination. The Buddha agreed and sent him to find a bowl and a robe.

On the way a mad cow gored him to death. The Buddha said Pukkusati was an Anagamin, one who never returns, and was born in a higher world.

Gandhara was known for its wool and its trade. It later came under Persian rule and then under Ashoka.

9. What was Gandhara famous for?

The Pali dictionary says Gandhara was always famous for its red woollen shawls, called kambala. A well-known caravan route linked Gandhara and Magadha.

Gandhara also traded with Videha. The Maha Niddesa shows Takkasila was a regular centre of trade.

10. Did Buddhism spread in Gandhara?

Not at once. The Pali dictionary says Pukkusati’s conversion did not convert the rest of his people.

Later, Moggaliputta Tissa sent the elder Majjhantika to Gandhara at the end of the Third Council. The people were being harassed by the Naga king Aravala.

Majjhantika converted Aravala and his retinue. He taught the Asivisupama Sutta, and many thousands joined the Order.

11. How did Gandhara come under the Persians and Ashoka?

The Pali dictionary says Gandhara was first subject to the Achaemenid kings. Later it formed part of Ashoka’s empire. Rock Edict V names it.

The Achaemenids were the Persian kings who ruled before Alexander the Great.

Here is a quick comparison for exams.

12. What is the quick comparison?

• List: one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, with Kamboja in Uttarapatha.
• Capital: Takkasila in the Pali books, Pushkalavati in the Puranas.
• King: Pukkusati, friend of Bimbisara.
• Gifts: eight garments from Pukkusati, a golden plate from Bimbisara.
• Death: gored by a cow before the full ordination.
• Famous for: red woollen shawls and the learning at Takkasila.