The Tradition of Kshaatra in India – The Age of Kingdoms

The Tradition of Kshaatra in India – The Age of Kingdoms

Apart from this, there were a few republics like Malava, Madra, Yaudheya, Koliya, Malla, Shakya, and Vajji. The Jain texts have referred to them in many places. At that time, Bharata was divided into small colonies – regions ruled by small-time dynastic or tribal rulers. However, the idea that ‘Bharata’ was one integral unit was always there. Since many people are unaware of this, they hold on to the false notion that Indian attained the status of a nation only because of the British imperialist rule. In our tradition, right from the earliest days, starting from the Aitareya Brahmana of the Rigveda, we have had different divisions of the regions – साम्राज्य (kingdom), भोज्य (state, large kingdom), वैराज्य (extended sovereignty), पारमेष्ठिकराज्य (supreme empire), etc. In the various Puranas, starting from the Vishnupurana, we find several utterances that talk of Bharata as a united entity –