Virudhaka

Virudhaka (Sanskrit: Virūḍhaka, Pali: Viḍūḍabha) was a king of Kosala during the lifetime of the Buddha.

Virudhaka
Born
Kosala Kingdom
Parents
  • King Pasenadi (father)
  • Vasavakhttiya (mother)
RelativesPrincess Vajira (half sister)

This article is about historic king. For mythological king, see Virūḍhaka (Heavenly King).

Early life

He was the son of Prasenajit and Vāsavakhattiyā, the daughter of a Shakyan chief named Mahānāma by a slave girl Nāgamundā.[1][2] He grew up to be a handsome and healthy young man. He was curious about his grandfather (Mahānāma) and grandmother (Nāgamundā), but his mother Vāsavakhattiyā kept preventing him from visiting them. However, one day, she finally gave in. In the Shakya realm, he did not receive a warm welcome as he expected (he was the son of a slave girl) and was offended when he learnt about his mother's true identity.[3]

Ascension to the throne

Once, while king Prasenjit was away from his capital Shravasti, his minister Dīgha Chārāyana placed Virudhaka on the throne. Prasenjit went to Magadha to seek help from Ajātaśatru in order to regain his throne.Ajatashatru was brother-in-law of Virudhaka ,as Virudhaka's half sister Princess Vajira was married to him. But before being able to meet him, Prasenjit died of exposure outside the gates of Rājagṛha.[4] [5] The Puranas instead of Viḍūḍabha mention the name of Kṣudraka as his successor.[6][7]

Reign

As an act of vengeance for cheating perceived slights against his mother, a servant before her royal marriage,[3][8][9] Virudhaka invaded and virtually annihilated the Shakyas, to which the Buddha belonged, and Koliyas, in the Himalayan foothills. He never returned to his capital, Sravasti, and a little later Ajatshatru, the mighty ruler of Magadha, annexed his kingdom. [10][3]

References
  1. Raychaudhuri H. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.177-8
  2. Kosambi D.D. (1988). The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India in Historical Outline, New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, ISBN 0-7069-4200-0, pp.128-9
  3. A. K. Ghosh (1968). "2". Legends from Indian History (Paperback). Children's Book Trust. p. 19. ISBN 9788170110460.
  4. Raychaudhuri H. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.176-8,186
  5. Sen 1999, p. 107.
  6. Misra, V. S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, pp.287-8
  7. Sastri 1988, p. 17.
  8. Raychaudhuri H. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.177-8
  9. Kosambi D.D. (1988). The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India in Historical Outline, New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, ISBN 0-7069-4200-0, pp.128-9
  10. A.L. Basham, The Wonders that was India, 1967, p. 47

Sources
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