Avanti (region)

Kingdom of Avanti
Kingdom of Avanti
c. 700 BCE–c. 300 BCE
	Avanti and other Mahajanapadas in the Post Vedic period.
Capital	Ujjayini
Common languages	Sanskrit
Religion	Hinduism; Buddhism; Jainism
Government	Monarchy
Maharaja (Great King)
Historical era	Bronze Age, Iron Age
• Established	c. 700 BCE
• Disestablished	c. 300 BCE
	Succeeded by
Malavas
Today part of	India

Avanti, was an ancient Indian Mahajanapada (Great Janapada), roughly corresponding to the present-day Malwa region. According to the Buddhist texts, the Anguttara Nikaya, Avanti was one of the solasa mahajanapadas (sixteen great realms) of the 6th century BCE. The janapada was divided into two parts by the Vindhyas, the northern part had its capital at Ujjayini and the southern part had its centre at Mahishmati.^[1]^[2]

The Avantis, the ancient people belonging to this realm, were described as mahavala (very powerful) in the Udyoga Parva (19.24) of the Mahabharata.^[3] According to the Vishnu Purana (II.3), the Bhagavata Purana (XII.I.36) and the Brahma Purana (XIX.17), the Avantis were associated with the Malava, the Saurashtras, the Abhiras/Yadavas, the Suras, the Karushas and the Arbudas and were described as dwelling along the Pariyatra (or Paripatra) mountains^[4]^[5] (a western branch of the Vindhyas).

^ Mahajan, V.D. (1960, reprint 2007). Ancient India, New Delhi:S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0887-6, p.233
^ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.85,129-30
^ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, pp.337-43
^ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.63
^ Gokhale, B. G. (1962). Samudra Gupta: Life and Times. New Delhi: Asia Publishing House. p. 18.

[1] Mahajan, V.D. (1960, reprint 2007). Ancient India, New Delhi:S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0887-6, p.233

[2] Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.85,129-30

[law1-3] Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, pp.337-43

[law2-4] Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.63

[5] Gokhale, B. G. (1962). Samudra Gupta: Life and Times. New Delhi: Asia Publishing House. p. 18.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]