During one
hundred years before the Buddhist Era the region called Jamb d pa in ancient times which is presently the locations of Nepal,
India and some parts of Pakistan used to be inhabited by a people by the name of Ariyaka
or Aryan for thousands of years. The Jambdpa
was bordered in the North by the Himalayan range, in the South by the Indian Ocean. Its
borders extended in the East to the forest of Mahavan in the state of Assam, whereas in
the West to the basin of Indus River. However, the parts on the Ganges basin and of other
rivers emptying its water at the Ganges estuary called Maddhayamapadesa, literally the
'Middle or Central Country', were far more prosperous than the rest, which were called
Paccanta Janapada, the external country. Most of the people at the times professed
Brahmanism, with the Yoga discipline winning contemporary popularity to a certain,
although lesser, extent. All in all, the public temperament being then focussed on
spiritual knowledge and psychical feats. |
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| North of
the Jambdpa there was a small state by the name of
Sakka, generally called Sakka Janapada, situated in the basin of Rohin River. At present it is in the country of
Nepal. It was a prosperous state which abounded with teak and was also rich in vegetation.
Located on the foothills of the Himalayan, it was governed by a form of administration
based on unity and harmony, with its chieftains by the name of Sakya lineage. This ruler,
or we may call him king, of this clan or state was called Suddhodana, with the capital
city called Kapilavatlhu. As such, he was chief of all the Sakyan nobles. His state,
including his capital city, was noted for its progress and prosperity in a variety of arts
and knowledge, of that time. All the Sakyan leaders made it a rule to give priority to
agriculture, with a large portion of their time devoted to its improvement and
development, and with all the Sakyan leaders directly overseeing the farming activities.
The people were then blessed with happiness and peace. |
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