Ancient History ; History of Uttar Pradesh

Aryan Age

It is only from the Rigvedic age that some coherent historical account is found. Initially, the centre of Aryan colonization in India was Sapta Sindhu or the region irrigated by seven rivers (undivided Punjab). The seven rivers were Sindhu (Indus), Vitasta (Jhelum), Askini (Chenab),Purushni(Ravi), Vipasa (Beas) Shatudri (Sutlej) and Saraswati (now lost in the Rajasthan desert). More important of the Aryan clans were Puru, Turvasu, Yadu, Anu, and Druh. These five clans were known as Panchjan. Besides, there was one more prominent clan known as Bharat. Gradually, the Aryans extended their territory towards the east. The Shatpath Brahman gives an interesting account of the victory of Kosal (Awadh) and Videh (north Bihar) by the Brahmans and the Kshatriyas. Expansion of territory saw the creation of new States (Janpadas) and emergence of new people and new centres. The Sapta Sindhu gradually lost importance and the centre of culture shifted to the plains between Saraswati and Ganga ruled by the kingdoms of Kuru, Fanchal, Kashi and Kosal.

The entire region extending up to Prayag in the east bore the name of Madhya Desh. Modern Uttar Pradesh corresponds to this region. It was considered sacred in Hindu mythology as Gods and heroes, whose deeds are recorded in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, lived here. Its inhabitants were considered to be the most cultured Aryans as their speech formed the norm and their conduct was prescribed as the model. They were fully conversant with rituals and could worship and sacrifice without any flaw or fault. The rulers of these States, especially King Pravahna Jaivali of Panchal, became immortal due to their noble deeds. Subsequent history got mingled for a long time with the Puranas and Hindu scriptures, snapping the link with historical records. When this dark period of history comes to an end and outlines of a proper history take shape again in sixth century B.C., we find the 16 Mahajanpadas engaged in a state of serious competition for supremacy. These States (Janapadas) and their capitals were:

1.Kuru                        (Meerut, Delhi and Thaneshwar)

Capital-Indraprasth(Indropal near Delhi)

2.Panchal                  (Bareilly, Budaun and Farrukhabad)

Capitals Ahichhatra (Ramnagar near Bareilly) and Kampilya (Farrukhabad)

3.Vats                        (Area around Mathura)

Capital-Mathura

4.Vats                         (Allahabad and nearby area)

Capital-Kaushambi (Kosam near Allahabad)

5.Kosal                       (Awadh)

Capital Saket (Ayodhya) and Shravasti (Sahet-Mahet in Gonda District)

6.Malla                      (District Deoria)

Capitals-Kushinagar (Kasia) and Pawa (Padrauna)

7. Kashi                     (Varanasi)

Capital-Varanasi

8. Ang                               (Bhagalpur)

Capital-Champa

9.Magadh                      (South Bihar)

Capital-Girivraj (Rajgraha-Rajgiri near Bihar-sharif)

10.Vajji                         (District       Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur)

Capitals Mithila, Janakpur, (on Nepal border) and Vaishali

11. Chedi                       (Bundelkhand)

Capital-Shuktimati (Probably near Banda)

12. Matsya                     (Jaipur)

Capital-Virat (near Jaipur)

13.Ashmak                    (Godawari valley)

Capital-Pandanya (place not known)

14.Avanti                       (Malva)

Capital Ujjaini (Ujjain)

15.Gandhar                    (north-west region, now in Pakistan)

Capital- Taxshila (near Rawalpindi)

16. Kamboj                     Capital-Rajapur (place not known)

Out of the above 16 States, eight (at serial number 1-7 and 11) were in present Uttar Pradesh. More known among them were Kashi, Kosal and Vatsa. Besides these, certain republic states were also within the boundries of present Uttar Pradesh e.g. Shakya state of Kapilvastu, Bhagga state of Samsumergiri and Malla state of Pawapuri and Kushingar.

Vedic Period

There is hardly any mention of the area comprising present Uttar Pradesh in Vedic hymns. Even the sacred rivers, the Ganga and Yamuna, appear only on the distant horizon of the land of the Aryans. In the later Vedic age, the importance of Sapta Sindhu recedes and Brahmarshi Desh or Madhya Desh assumes significance. The region comprising Uttar Pradesh at that time became a holy place of India and foremost centre of Vedic culture and knowledge.

The new States of Kuru-Panchal, Kashi and Kosal find mention in Vedic texts as prominent centres of Vedic culture. The people of Kuru-Fanchcii were regarded as the best representatives of Vedic culture. They enjoyed great respect as outstanding orators of Sanskrit. The conduct of schools and institutions by them was laudable. The life of their kings was a model for other kings and their Brahmins were held in high esteem for their piety and scholarship. The Upanishads prominently mention the Panchal Parishad. The scholars from Kuru-Panchal were specially visited by the Videh king on the occasion of Ashwamedh Yajna. The Panchal king Pravahan Jaivali himself was a great thinker, who was praised even by Brahmin scholars like Shilik, Dalabhya, Shvetketu and his father Uddalak Aruni. Ajatshatru of Kashi was another great philosopher king whose superiority was acknowledged by Brahmin scholars like Dripti, Valhaki, Gargya etc.

Literature in various disciplines was authored on an extensive scale during this age culminating in the Upanishads. They signify the highest reach of human imagination. The Upanishad literature was the product of meditation in the Ashrams of the sages, several of which were in Uttar Pradesh.Eminent sages like Bharadwaj, Yajnavalkya1 Vashishta, Vishwamitra, Valmiki and Atri had either their Ashrams here or were otherwise connected with this State. Some Aranyaks and Upanishads were written in the Ashrams located in this State.

Post Vedic Period

The cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh was maintained in the period of the Ramayana and Mahabharata i.e. the epic period. The story of Ramayan revolves round the ‘Ikshwaku’ dyanasty of Kosal. The Mahabharata portrays the ‘Kuru’ dynasty of Hastinapur. Local people firmly believe that the Ashram of Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, was in Brahmavart (Bithoor in Kanpur District). It was in the surroundings of Naimisharany (Nimsar-Misrikh in Sitapur district) where Suta narrated the story of Mahabharata, which he had heard from Ved Vyas himself. Some of the Smritis and Puranas were also written in this State.

Gautam Buddha, Mahavir, Makkhaliputta Goshal and great thinkers brought about a revolution in Uttar Pradesh in 6th century B.C. Out of these, Makkhaliputta Goshal, who was born at Shravan near Shravasti, was the founder of Ajivika sect.

Mahavir, the 24th Trithankar of Jains was born in Bihar but had a large number of followers in Uttar Pradesh. He is said to have lived twice during rainy season in this State – once in Shravasti and the second time in Padrauna near Deoria. Pawa proved to be his last resting place. In fact, Jainism had entrenched itself in this State even before the arrival of Mahavir. Several Tirthankars such as Parshwanath, Sambharnath and Chandraprabha were born in different cities in this State and attained ‘Kaivalya’ here. Jainism must have retained its popularity in this State in subsequent centuries also. This fact is borne by the ruins of several ancient temples, buildings, etc. The remains of a magnificient Jain Stupa have been dug out near Kankali Tila in Mathura, while Jain shrines built in early Middle Age are still preserved in Deogarh, Chanderi and other places.

Pre-Christ Era

All the States were perpetually at war with each other. Kosal annexed Kashi and Avanti grabbed Vatsa. Kosal and Avanti, in turn, were subjugated one by one by Magadha, which became powerful in the entire region. Magadh was ruled in succession by Haryank, Shishunag and Nand dynasties. The Nands ruled from 343 B.C. to 321 B.C. The Nand empire extended almost to the whole of India except Punjab and probably Bengal. It was during their reign that Alexander invaded India in 326 B.C. Several historians are of the view that the apprehension, that they will not be able to face the forces of the powerful Magadh state, was at the root of Alexander’s forces not advancing beyond Beas river, which compelled him to go back.

With Alexander’s retreat, India witnessed a great revolution. As a result the Nand rulers had to give reins of power to Chandragupta, a scion of the Kshatriya clan "Moriya" of Pippalivana. The whole of Uttar Pradesh enjoyed peace and prospeity during the reigns of Chandragupta, his son Bindusara and grandson Ashok. The Government of India as the State Emblem has adopted the Lion Capital, inscribed in the Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath. The Ashokan Pillars have been found at Sarnath, Allahabad, Meerut, Kaushambi, Sankisa, Kalsi, Siddharthnagar and Mirzapur, all of which are in Uttar Pradesh. The Chinese Travellers Fa-Hien and Yuan-Chawang* have seen several rock edicts as well. Ashok also built the Dharmrajika Stupa at Sarnath.

The downfall of the Magadhan empire began with the death of Ashok  in 232 b.C. His grandsons, Dashrath and Samprathi divided the whole empire among themselves. The entire area south of Narmada became independent and in 210 B.C. Punjab passed into other hands. the last ruler of this dynasty was Brihdrath, who was assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shung in 185 B.C. Pushyamitra kept Magadhan empire intact. Patanjali’s commertary refers to the seize of Saket (Ayodhya) by the Greeks. Menander and his brother mounted a heavy attack in about 182 B.C. The invading armies accupied Kathiawad in far off south-west, Sagal (Sialkot in Punjab) and Mathura. Later on the invaders laid a seize on Saket (Ayodhya) and advanced far in the Ganga valley. Ultimately, Pushyamitra and his grandson Vasumitra challenged the invaders on the banks of the Sindhu and defeated the Greeks. The invaders retreated and made Sagal (Sialkot) their capital. For long, Mathura remained a prominent city of Menander’s empire. Menander or Milind ruled up to about 145 B.c. Later on, small Indo-Greek and Greek states flourished in Punjab up to the first century of Chistain era. During this period the Shung dynasty was replaced by the danasty in Magadh. It is said that the last king of Shung dynasty was of bad character and he was killed by his minister Vasudev.Vasudev established Kanva dnasty in 75B.C. This dynasty continued to rule for 45 years and its was brought to an end in 28 B.C. by Simuk, the founder of the Satavahana or the Andhra Dynasty.

It was at this time that the attention of Central Asian rules was drawn towards India for the first time. By 60 B.C. they had set up their Kashatraps in Mathura. The first Saka king was Maues who died around 38 B.C. Mter the Sakas, the Parthians attecked north India and by the beginning of first century A.D. they started defeating the Sakas. The Kushanas also mounted an attack around 40 A.D. The Kushanas too were one of the five Yueh-Chih castes of Central Asia. Soon the Kushana rulers established their empire right fom Central Asia up to the Indus iver. Gradually, they occupied the whole of north India.