Buli (tribe)
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2022) |
Buli (Pāli: Buli) was an ancient Indo-Aryan tribe of north-eastern South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age. The population of Buli, the Bulayas, were organised into a gaṇasaṅgha (an aristocratic oligarchic republic), presently referred to as the Buli Republic.[1]
Buli | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 7th century BCE–c. 5th-4th century BCE | |||||
The Mahajanapadas in the post-Vedic period. Buli was located close to the north of Magadha. | |||||
| Capital | Allakappa | ||||
| Common languages | Prakrit Sanskrit | ||||
| Religion | Historical Vedic religion Buddhism Jainism | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Bulaya | ||||
| Government | Republic | ||||
| Rājā | |||||
| Historical era | Iron Age | ||||
• Established | c. 7th century BCE | ||||
• Conquered by Magadha | c. 5th-4th century BCE | ||||
| |||||
| Today part of | India Nepal | ||||
Location Edit
The territory of the Bulayas was located near Magadha, and their neighbours were the Brāhmaṇa tribe of Veṭhadīpa-Droṇagrāma.[1]
The capital city of the Bulayas was the city of Allakappa.[1]
Name Edit
The exact origin of the name of the Buli tribe is unknown, although it might have been derived from the Sanskrit root bul (Sanskrit: बुल्), meaning to "cause to sink" or "to submerge."[1]
The name of the Bulaya capital of Allakappa might have been a compound of the terms alla, meaning "moist" or "wet," and kappa (kalpa in Sanskrit), meaning "anything made with a definite object in view" or "that which is fit and suitable." The name Allakappa would thus have meant "suitably damp" or "almost damp."[1]
History Edit
The Bulayas became Buddhists during the life of the Buddha, and after he passed away and was cremated in the city of Kusinārā, the Bulayas sent a messenger to the Mallakas of Kusinārā to demand a share of his relics.[1]
Political and social organisation Edit
Republican institutions Edit
The Bulayas were a kṣatriya tribe organised into a gaṇasaṅgha (an aristocratic oligarchic republic).[1]
The Assembly Edit
Like the other gaṇasaṅgha, the ruling body of the Buli republic was an Assembly of the kṣatriya elders who held the title of rājās (meaning "chiefs").[1]
The Council Edit
The Assembly met rarely, and the administration of the republic was instead in the hands of the Council, which was a smaller body of the Assembly, whose members were elected from the assembly. The Council met more often than the Assembly.[1]
The Consul Edit
The Bulaya Assembly elected for life a consul rājā who held the title of Allakappa-rājā ("chief of Alakappa"). The consul rājā administered the republic with the assistance of the Assembly and Council.[1]
References Edit
Sources Edit
- Sharma, J. P. (1968). Republics in Ancient India, C. 1500 B.C.-500 B.C. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill. ISBN 978-9-004-02015-3.