26 January Republic Day: Republic in Vedic and Mahabharata period
India was a democracy when Athens did not even exist. The concept of democracy is a gift of India. Its sources are found in the Vedas and in the Mahabharata. In the Buddhist period, republican unions like Vajji, Licchavi, Vaishali are examples of the democratic system. Vishal, the first king of Vaishali, was chosen by-election. There used to be republics in India during the Vedic and Mahabharata times.
The idea of a republic in India has been going on since the Vedic period. The word republic has been used forty times in the first book of the world, the Rigveda, nine times in the Atharvaveda, and several times in the Brahmanical texts. In Vedic literature, it is known from the mentions made at various places that we had a republican system in most places during that period. In the Rigveda, there is a mention of Sabha and Samiti, in which the king used to take a decision only after consulting the minister and scholars. This assembly and committee were used to select Indra for the kingdom. Indra was a post.
There are mentions of 16 Mahajanapadas in the Mahabharata period. In the Mahabharata period, there were mainly 16 Mahajanapadas and about 200 Janpads. Names of 16 Mahajanapadas: 1. Kuru, 2. Panchala, 3. Surasena, 4. Vatsa, 5. Kosala, 6. Malla, 7. Kashi, 8. Anga, 9. Magadha, 10. Vrajji, 11. Chedi, 12. . Matsya, 13. Ashoka, 14. Avanti, 15. Gandhara and 16. Kamboja. There were also small janapadas under the above 16 Mahajanapadas. Many of the above had either monarchy or dictatorship. There is a history of dictatorship in the Magadha district. But in all the above, the history of Shursen district has been a republic. In between, the rule of Kansa had spoiled the image of this district.
The sources of the democratic system are also found in Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata, except the kingdom of Jarasandha and his allies, the republic was given importance in almost all the states. There were hundreds of kingdoms and their kings in the Mahabharata period, some of which were big and some were small. Some claimed to be emperors, some were dictators and tyrants. There was also a herd of some uncivilized people, commonly called demons. But the state which was run by the religious instructions of people like Maharishi Parashar, Maharishi Ved Vyas, there was a republican system. In the Mahabharata period, the union of Andhakavrishnis was republican.
'Yadav: Kukura Bhoja: Sarve Chandhakavrishnay:,
Tvayyasakta: Mahabaho Lokalokeshwarashch Yeh.
'Bhedad Destruction: Sanghanam Sanghamukhosi Keshav' - Mahabharata Shantiparva 81,25/ 81,29
The mention of Vrishnis and Andhakas is found in Puranas. The Republic of Vrishni was located in the region of Shurasen. Mathura and Shauripur were republics under this region. The chief of the Andhakas was Ugrasena, the son of Ahuka and the father of Kansa. On the other hand, Surasena's son was Vasudeva who was the head of the Vrishnis. A union was formed by combining both the kingdoms of Vrishni and Andhakas, whose head was made by King Ugrasen. In this federal state, there was no rule of dynasty or tradition, but there were elected representatives of the people according to time. There was a change in power only during emergencies or wartime.
Reference: Mahabharata Shantiparva
