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Long before the era of imperial kings, the sands of Rajasthan were ruled by the collective will of warrior clans. These were the Ayudhjivi SanghasтАФRepublics of the SwordтАФwhere every citizen was a soldier and every decision was debated in the open assemblies.
[!NOTE] The term 'Ayudhjivi' (those who live by the sword) was used by Panini to describe these fierce republican tribes who resisted the expansion of empires from the North and West.
| Janapada | Location | Capital | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matsya | Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur | Viratnagar (Bairat) | Only Rajasthan Janapada in the 16 Mahajanapadas. Mentioned in Rigveda. |
| Shivi | Mewar (Chittorgarh) | Madhyamika (Nagari) | Migrated after Alexander's invasion. Coins found with Nagari script. |
| Malwa | Tonk (Uniyara) | Nagar (Karkot Nagar) | Largest ancient coin hoard (Rairh). Defeated Saka Satraps. |
| Yaudheya | Ganganagar, Hanumangarh | North Region | Instrumental in stopping Kushana (Kanishka) expansion southward. |
| Arjunayana | Alwar, Bharatpur | - | Allied with Yaudheyas against foreign invaders. |
| Name | Region | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jungaldesh | Bikaner-Jodhpur | Arid region associated with Kurus. Title: 'Jai Jungaldhar Badshah'. |
| Shalva | Alwar | Located near Matsya; part of the Salva-Bhukti federation. |
| Sapadlaksha | Sambhar-Ajmer | Ancient region of the Chauhans (mentioned in Bijolia). |
| Surasena | Bharatpur-Dholpur | Linked with the Yadavas/Vrishnis. Capital: рдордереБрд░рд╛ (Mathura). |
[!IMPORTANT]
The Coins of Victory: Malva coins are among the smallest and lightest in India. The legend 'Malavanam Jayah' (Victory to Malwas) on their coins reflects their republican pride and military success against the Sakas.
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