LATER VEDIC AGE: POLITY

LATER VEDIC AGE: POLITY

The king's power increased; he now ruled over kingdoms rather than over nomadic tribes. Tribal character was not wholly lost, but the kings established permanent capitals and a rudimentary administrative system.
According to the Brahmanas and Upanishads, created during the later-Vedic age, following kingdoms existed then:

Gandhar Situated in Western Punjab's Rawalpindi and Peshawar districts, the Gandhar kingdom had two impor­tant cities- Taxila and Pushakalavarta (Pushakalawati).
Kekaya The Kekaya kingdom was situated on the bank of River Beas, east of Gandhar kingdom. Aswapati ruled Kekaya when Janak was the king of Videha.

Madra There were three Madra kingdoms: Uttar Madra (Kashmir), Eastern Madra (near Kangra), and Southern Madra (near Amritsar).
Kushinagar It was a kingdom probably situated in modern Uttar Pradesh's northern region.

Panchal The ancient Panchal kingdom was located in Bareilly, Badayun and Parrukhabad districts of modern Uttar Pradesh. During King Janak's rule in Videha, Panchal was ruled by Pravahan Jawali.

Kashi The capital of Kashi was Varanasi. King Ajatshatru was a contemporary of King Janak.

Koshal The capital of this kingdom was Ayodhya.Videha kingdom lay east of Koshal.

The old tribal assemblies (of the Rigvedic times) were still extant, but their power was waning rapidly, and by the end of this period the king's autocracy was limited only by the power of the brahmins, tradition and public opinion. At places, the old tribal organisations adapted themselves to the changed conditions, and ganas, or tribal republics, like those of the Sakyas and the Lichchavis, survived for many centuries in outlying districts. However, political divisions based on kinship were giving place to those based on geography.

If the popular assemblies had lost power, another element in the state was rising in influence-the ratnins or 'jewel bearers', the relatives, courtiers and palace officials of the king. These elements became so important that at the king's consecration, special sacrifices were performed to ensure their loyalty. The list of ratnins includes the purohita, senani, chamberlain, royal charioteer, samgrahitri (the treasurer), bhagadugha (revenue-collector), etc. Royal pretensions were supported by grand royal sacrifices like Rajasuya, Vajapeya, Asvamedha, etc.

The judicial machinery had crystallised. Death penalty was still absent. The king now lived on taxes, not voluntary tributes. A standing army was still absent, and according to one ritual for success in war, the king had to eat along with his people (vis) from the same plate.