Janapada of Aśmaka: Map & History
Aśmaka or Assaka was a Mahajanapada in ancient India which existed between 700 BCE and 425 or 345 BCE according to the Buddhist texts and Puranas.
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Aśmaka or Assaka was a Mahajanapada in ancient India which existed between 700 BCE and 425 or 345 BCE according to the Buddhist texts and Puranas. It included areas in present day Telangana and Maharashtra in south-central India. In Gautama Buddha's time, many of the Assakas were located on the banks of the Godavari River .The capital of Aśmaka was the city variously named Podana, Potali, Paudanyapura, and Potana. Most scholars identify it with present-day Bodhan in Telangana.
Janapada of Aśmaka in Depth
History
Panini who lived in about the seventh century B.C. makes mention of Asmaka which was in the interior of the Deccan watered by the Godavari, which is identified with modern Nizamabad district.
Aśmaka annexed the small kingdom of Mūlaka located to its west during the Mahajanapada period, after which it became the southern neighbour of the kingdom of Avanti.
The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela (2nd century BCE) mentions Kharavela's threat to a city variously interpreted as "Masika" (Masikanagara), "Musika" (Musikanagara) or "Asika" (Asikanagara). N. K. Sahu identifies Asika as the capital of Asmaka. According to Ajay Mitra Shastri, "Asika-nagara" was located in the present-day village of Adam in Nagpur district (on the Wainganga River).
Location
Aśmaka was located on the Godāvarī river, between Mūlaka and Kaliṅga. The capital of Aśmaka was the city variously named Podana, Potali, Paudanyapura, and Potana, which corresponds to modern-day Bodhan in Telangana.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Asmaka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Janapada of Aśmaka: Key Facts
| Founded | 7th century BCE |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 425 BCE |
Facts from Wikidata Q1194906 (CC0).
Janapada of Aśmaka Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Janapada of Aśmaka appears, with the other states of the time.
Janapada of Aśmaka Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 5,467 km² in 576 BCE.
Janapada of Aśmaka: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Janapada of Aśmaka exist?
Janapada of Aśmaka is dated to 600 BCE – 351 BCE, in the Bronze & Iron Age Civilizations era.
What was the capital of Janapada of Aśmaka?
The capital of Janapada of Aśmaka was Potali, Podana.
How large was Janapada of Aśmaka at its peak?
At its peak in 576 BC Janapada of Aśmaka covered about 5,467 km².
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