Editing History of India (section)

==== Early Magadha dynasties ====
{{Main|Magadha|Greater Magadha}}
{{See also|Magadha period|Pradyota dynasty|Haryanka dynasty|Shaishunaga dynasty}}
[[File:Magadha Expansion (6th-4th centuries BCE).png|thumb|right|Magadha state c. 600&nbsp;BCE, which is later expanded from its capital [[Rajagriha]] – under the [[Haryanka dynasty]] and the later [[Shishunaga dynasty]].]]

Magadha formed one of the sixteen [[Mahajanapadas]] ([[Sanskrit]]: "Great Realms") or [[Kingdoms of Ancient India|kingdoms in ancient India]]. The core of the kingdom was the area of [[Bihar]] south of the [[Ganges]]; its first capital was [[Rajagriha]] (modern Rajgir) then [[Pataliputra]] (modern [[Patna]]). Magadha expanded to include most of Bihar and Bengal with the conquest of [[Licchavi (kingdom)|Licchavi]] and [[Anga]] respectively,<ref>{{cite book|title=Ancient India|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass Publishers]]|last=Majumdar|first=Ramesh Chandra|author-link=R. C. Majumdar|year=1977|isbn=978-81-208-0436-4|edition=8th}}</ref> followed by much of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Orissa. The ancient kingdom of Magadha is heavily mentioned in Jain and Buddhist texts. It is also mentioned in the [[Ramayana]], [[Mahabharata]] and [[Puranas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iloveindia.com/history/ancient-india/magadha-empire.html|title=Magadha Empire – Magadha Empire in India, History of Magadh Empire|website=iloveindia.com}}</ref> The earliest reference to the Magadha people occurs in the [[Atharva-Veda]] where they are found listed along with the [[Anga]]s, [[Gandhara|Gandharis]], and Mujavats. Magadha played an important role in the development of [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhism]]. Republican communities (such as the community of Rajakumara) are merged into Magadha kingdom. Villages had their own assemblies under their local chiefs called Gramakas. Their administrations were divided into executive, judicial, and military functions.

Early sources, from the Buddhist [[Pāli Canon]], the [[Jain Agamas (Śvētāmbara)|Jain Agamas]] and the Hindu [[Puranas]], mention Magadha being ruled by the [[Pradyota dynasty]] and [[Haryanka dynasty]] ({{circa}} 544–413 BCE) for some 200 years, {{circa}} 600–413&nbsp;BCE. King [[Bimbisara]] of the [[Haryanka dynasty]] led an active and expansive policy, conquering Anga in what is now eastern Bihar and [[West Bengal]]. King Bimbisara was overthrown and killed by his son, Prince [[Ajatashatru]], who continued the expansionist policy of Magadha. During this period, [[Gautama Buddha]], the founder of Buddhism, lived much of his life in the Magadha kingdom. He attained enlightenment in [[Bodh Gaya]], gave his first sermon in [[Sarnath]] and the [[Buddhist councils|first Buddhist council]] was held in Rajgriha.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lumbinitrust.org/articles/view/214|publisher=lumbinitrust.org|title=Lumbini Development Trust: Restoring the Lumbini Garden|access-date=6 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306041858/http://www.lumbinitrust.org/articles/view/214|archive-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> The Haryanka dynasty was overthrown by the [[Shaishunaga dynasty]] ({{circa}} 413–345 BCE). The last Shishunaga ruler, Kalasoka, was assassinated by [[Mahapadma Nanda]] in 345&nbsp;BCE, the first of the so-called Nine Nandas (Mahapadma Nanda and his eight sons).