Editing Ayodhya (section)

=== As Saketa ===
Archaeological and literary evidence suggests that the site of present-day Ayodhya had developed into an urban settlement by the fifth or sixth-century BC.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=2}} The site is identified as the location of the ancient [[Sāketa|Saketa city]], which probably emerged as a marketplace located at the junction of the two important roads, the [[Shravasti]]-[[Pratishthana]] north–south road, and the [[Rajagriha]]-[[Varanasi]]-Shravasti-[[Taxila]] east–west road.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=13}} Ancient Buddhist texts, such as ''[[Samyutta Nikaya]]'', state that Saketa was located in the [[Kosala]] kingdom ruled by [[Prasenajit]] (or Pasenadi; c. sixth–5th century BC), whose capital was located at Shravasti.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=5, 13}} The later Buddhist commentary ''Dhammapada-[[atthakatha]]'' states that the Saketa town was established by merchant Dhananjaya (the father of [[Visakha]]), on the suggestion of king Prasenajit.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=5}} The ''[[Digha Nikaya]]'' describes it as one of the six large cities of India.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=5}} The early Buddhist canonical texts mention [[Shravasti]] as the capital of Kosala, but the later texts, such as the Jain texts ''Nayadhammakahao'' and ''Pannavana Suttam'', and the Buddhist [[Jataka]]s, mention Saketa as the capital of Kosala.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=2,5–6}}

As a busy town frequented by travellers, it appears to have become important for preachers such as [[Gautama Buddha]] and [[Mahavira]].{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=13}} The ''Samyutta Nikaya'' and ''[[Anguttara Nikaya]]'' mention that Buddha resided at Saketa at times.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=5}} The early Jain canonical texts (such as ''Antagada-dasao'', ''Anuttarovavaiya-dasao'', and ''Vivagasuya'') state that Mahavira visited Saketa; ''Nayadhammakahao'' states that [[Parshvanatha]] also visited Saketa.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=6}} The Jain texts, both canonical and post-canonical, describe Ayodhya as the location of various shrines, such as those of snake, [[yaksha]] Pasamiya, Muni Suvratasvamin, and Surappia.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=6}}

It is not clear what happened to Saketa after Kosala was conquered by the [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]] emperor [[Ajatashatru]] around fifth century BC. There is lack of historical sources about the city's situation for the next few centuries: it is possible that the city remained a commercial centre of secondary importance, but did not grow into a political centre of Magadha, whose capital was located at [[Pataliputra]].{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=14}} Several Buddhist buildings may have been constructed in the town during the rule of the [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]] emperor [[Ashoka]] in the third century BC: these buildings were probably located on the present-day human-made mounds in Ayodhya.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|pp=14–18}} Excavations at Ayodhya have resulted in the discovery of a large brick wall, identified as a fortification wall by archaeologist [[B. B. Lal (archaeologist)|B. B. Lal]].{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=2}} This wall probably erected in the last quarter of the third-century BC.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|pp=19–20}}

[[File:Dhanadeva Ayodhya inscription.jpg|thumb|The [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription]], first-century BC]]
[[File:Muladeva coin Kosala.jpg|thumb|Coin of ruler Muladeva, of the [[Deva dynasty (Saketa)|Deva dynasty]] minted in Ayodhya, Kosala. Obv: ''Muladevasa'', elephant to left facing symbol. Rev: Wreath, above symbol, below snake.]]
After the decline of the Maurya empire, Saketa appears to have come under the rule of [[Pushyamitra Shunga]]. The first century BC [[Ayodhya Inscription of Dhana|inscription of Dhanadeva]] suggests that he appointed a governor there.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=20}} The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' mentions Saketa as the residence of a governor, and describes it as being attacked by a combined force of [[Yavanas|Greeks]], [[Mathura]]s, and [[Panchala]]s.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|pp=18–19}} Patanjali's commentary on Panini also refers to the Greek siege of Saketa.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=7,19}}

Later, Saketa appears to have become part of a small, independent kingdom.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=18}} The ''Yuga Purana'' states that Saketa was ruled by seven powerful kings after the retreat of the Greeks.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=20}} The ''Vayu Purana'' and the ''Brahmanda Purana'' also state that seven powerful kings ruled in the capital of Kosala. The historicity of these kings is attested by the discovery of the coins of the [[Deva dynasty (Saketa)|Deva dynasty]] kings, including Dhanadeva, whose inscription describes him as the king of Kosala (''Kosaladhipati'').{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=21}} As the capital of Kosala, Saketa probably eclipsed Shravasti in importance during this period. The east–west route connecting Pataliputra to [[Taxila]], which earlier passed through Saketa and Shravasti, appears to have shifted southwards during this period, now passing through Saketa, [[Ahichhatra]] and [[Kanyakubja]].{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=22}}

After the Deva kings, Saketa appears to have been ruled by the [[Datta dynasty|Datta]], [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]], and Mitra kings, although the chronological order of their rule is uncertain. Bakker theorises that the [[Datta dynasty|Dattas]] succeeded the Deva kings in the mid-1st century AD, and their kingdom was annexed to the Kushan Empire by [[Kanishka]].{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=24}} The Tibetan text ''Annals of Li Country'' (c. 11th century) mentions that an alliance of king Vijayakirti of [[Khotan]], king Kanika, the king of Gu-zan, and the king of Li, marched to India and captured the So-ked city. During this invasion, Vijayakirti took several Buddhist relics from Saketa, and placed them in the stupa of Phru-no. If Kanika is identified as Kanishka, and So-ked as Saketa, it appears that the invasion of Kushans and their allies led to the destruction of the Buddhist sites at Saketa.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=25}}

Nevertheless, Saketa appears to have remained a prosperous town during the Kushan rule.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=25}} The second century geographer [[Ptolemy]] mentions a metropolis "Sageda" or "Sagoda", which has been identified with Saketa.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=18}} The earliest inscription that mentions Saketa as a place name is dated to the late Kushan period: it was found on the pedestal of a Buddha image in Shravasti, and records the gift of the image by Sihadeva of Saketa.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=24}} Before or after the Kushans, Saketa appears to have been ruled by a dynasty of kings whose names end in "-mitra", and whose coins have been found at Ayodhya. They may have been members of a local dynasty that was distinct from the [[Mitra dynasty (Mathura)|Mitra dynasty]] of Mathura. These kings are attested only by their coinage: Sangha-mitra, Vijaya-mitra, Satya-mitra, Deva-mitra, and Arya-mitra; coins of Kumuda-sena and Aja-varman have also been discovered.{{sfn|Bakker, Ayodhya, Part 1|1984|p=23}}