Apart from Magadha, King Prasenajit of Kosala, King
Udayana of Sindhu Sauvira (Lower Indus Valley), Princes of Yadu family of
Sirasena (region round Mathura), Pancala King Sanjaya of Kampilya and many
other small princes of different regions of India became Mahavira's
disciples and entered his order. Discipleship of many of these princes is
claimed even by the Buddhists. It appears that in those days the impact of
Jainism and Buddhism was so great and personalities of the great men of
both the orders - Mahavira and Buddha were so imposing that both were
respected and honoured by most of the ruling princes of India. The fact
that both Jainism and Buddhism led the revolt against sacrificial rituals
and priestly hegemony must have also blurred the philosophical distinction
between their thinking in the eyes of the laity.
All available materials show that most of the
non-monarchical states of that period, except the Vajjis, were not
properly managed by their oligarchical systems. The terms ‘Gana' and
‘Sangha' were used for these states and their leaders were known as
‘Rajas'. They kept on fighting amongst themselves and rendered the
administration insecure for people. People therefore wanted stability
under the suzerainty of a strong ruler. Therefore, non-monarchical states
were eventually destroyed.
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Philosophy
