Vaishali
Explanation
During the period of the Mahajanapadas (c. 6th century BCE), Northern India was divided into sixteen great states. While some were monarchies, others were republican states known as Gana-Sanghas. The Vajji confederacy was one of the most prominent republican states of this era.
Detailed Analysis:
- Rajagriha is incorrect: Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) was the initial capital of the Magadha Mahajanapada under King Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, before the capital was shifted to Pataliputra.
- Pataliputra is incorrect: Pataliputra (modern Patna) became the capital of the Magadha empire later. It was established as a strategic fortification by Ajatashatru and developed into a capital by his successor, Udayin.
- Vaishali is correct: Vaishali (identified with modern Basarh in the Vaishali district of Bihar) was the capital of the Vajji confederacy. The Vajji state was a union of eight clans (Atthakula), of which the Lichchhavis, the Videhas, the Jnatrikas, and the Vajjis were the most important. The Lichchhavis, who controlled Vaishali, were the dominant clan within the confederacy.
- Kaushambi is incorrect: Kaushambi was the capital of the Vatsa Mahajanapada, located near the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers (near modern Allahabad/Prayagraj).
Key Takeaway:
The Vajji Mahajanapada was a powerful republican confederacy (Gana-Sangha) located north of the Ganga in Bihar, with its headquarters at Vaishali.