The war between Magadha Empire and the Vajjis

The Magadha-Vajji war cemented the power of the Magadha empire in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent establishing it as the strongest empire. This war was fought between Ajatshatru of Magadha and the Vajji clan. A few questions that have been hotly debated are the events that led to the war, the role of Buddha, and the socio-economic impact it had on the region. Through a two-part story, let us explore the 2500-year-old contestation.

Mallas Defending Kushinagara | Image Source: World History Encyclopedia

The Vedic period was a period of development as human civilization stepped from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. During this time, 22 small kingdoms referred to as the janapadas developed and grew into greater kingdoms or mahajanapadas. From the 15th century to the 6th century B.C.E., Magadha emerged as one of the strongest kingdoms in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. This was partly because the rivers Ganga and Son made it one of the most fertile lands among all the kingdoms, increasing agricultural production and transportation. With the discovery of iron mines, iron weapons and tools developed. Conflicts and wars between the kingdoms were inevitable, as everyone was vying for regional supremacy and expansionism. It was against this backdrop that Magadha went to war with the Vajjis; a war that changed the course of Indian history.

Magadha was under the reign of Ajatashatru and Vajji, or Vrijji, which was a confederacy of tribes led by the Licchvikas. Although strained by occasional conflicts, the relations between both kingdoms were at least amicable. Vasavi, the daughter of the Licchvikas elite, was the wife of Bimbisara, the king of Magadha. Born from this marriage was a little boy who grew up to be Ajatashatru; one who has no enemies that couldn’t be vanquished. Ironically, Ajatashatru made a lot of enemies, especially when he removed his father from the throne. Under his leadership, Magadha acquired the mahajanapada of Kashi from Kosala. But trouble was already brewing in the distance.

Although there has been a lot of debate as to the reason for war, history has proved time and again that conflict between monarchical and republican ideologies is unavoidable. Magadha was ruled by Ajatashatru, a monarch, and the Vajjis were a confederation of republics.

As for the reason for the war, according to Jaina traditions, it is said that Ajatashatru’s wife, Queen Padmavati, demanded a Sechanaka elephant and a beautiful 18-fold necklace that belonged to his brother's wife. However, after repeated requests by Ajatashatru, the elephant and necklace were denied. Enraged, Ajatashatru ordered the arrest of his brothers who escaped to the Vajji king Chetaka, their maternal grandfather. After Chetaka refused to hand over the brothers, Ajatashatru went to war with the Vajjis.

However, according to Buddhist legends, the actual reason for war is a bit complex. The river Ganga served as a boundary between Magadha and Vajji. During the time of development and exploration, a diamond mine was found on the banks of the Ganga that both kingdoms laid claim to. After a long negotiation, it was agreed that the mine would be shared by both kingdoms. The diamonds would be shared equally. But after some time, the Vajjis were alleged to have broken the agreement by claiming entire loads of diamonds for themselves. Ajatashatru’s complaint to the Vajji kings was also casually dismissed. This led Ajatashatru to declare war on the Vajjis.

Declaring war and defeating the Vajjis were two different things. Vajjis were at the peak of their reign, with 36 republics pledging allegiance to the confederacy. Ajatashatru knew that to defeat the entire confederacy, Vajjis had to be defeated first. Shifting his base from Rajagriha to Pataliputra, Ajatashatru started conducting operations inside Vajji. Pataliputra was the perfect forward base as it was closer to Vaishali, the Vajji capital. There was no lack of fervour among the Vajjis either as they put up quite a fight and held their ground against the Magadhan army. Their unity was their greatest strength.

As the war waged on, Ajatashatru realized that he needed a different approach to defeat the Vajjis. He knew the perfect man. He summoned his chief minister, Vasakkara, and ordered him to pay a visit to the ‘blessed one’, Lord Buddha.

During the Magadha-Vajji war, Lord Buddha was already a well-known figure. Although he was considered to be a wandering ascetic, he stayed in Magadha for some time. Many kings and dignitaries consulted him and sought his advice on problems from all walks of life. He had helped Ajatashatru in the past as the latter struggled with the guilt of patricide. It has been widely recorded that Ajatashatru respected Buddha and sought his wisdom from time to time. Maybe the blessed one could give some guidance that could be beneficial to end the war decisively and defeat the Vajjis. However, Lord Buddha was a man of peace and it was unlikely that he would provide counsel in matters of warfare. Ajatashatru waited in anticipation as Vasakkara made his way to meet the ‘blessed one’.