Chetaka

Chetaka, called King Chetaka or President Chetaka, was the representative of the Licchavi clan who ruled as a Republican President in Vaishali (India) reputed to have organised the Vajjian confederation of republics comprising the 9 Mallakis, 18 Gana Rajas of Kashi/Kosala and 9 Licchavi Republics.

He was a 5th century BC contemporary of Gautama Buddha and Jain Tirthankara (Teaching God) Mahavira. His system of government appears to have been a republican committee which elected a ceremonial king to act upon the committee's advice. His sister Trishala was married to Siddhartha and gave birth to 24th Tirthankara Mahavira, and his daughter Chellana married Bimbisara.

Jain tradition

According to Jain text Uttarapurāṇa, Chetaka was the king of Vaishali and was a famous and complaisant king. He is mentioned as a staunch follower of Jainism.^[1] According to the text, Chetaka had ten sons and seven daughters. His sister Priyakarini (also known as Trishala) was married to Siddartha.^[1] His daughter Chellana married Shrenik (also known as Bimbisara).^[2]

See also

• Mahajanapadas
• Dighanikaya
• Ambapali
• Buddhism

Citations

References

• Jain, Dr. Pannalal (2015), Uttarapurāṇa of Āchārya Guṇabhadra, Bhartiya Jnanpith, ISBN 978-81-263-1738-7 

External link references

• Dr. A. N. Upadhye. "MAHAVIRA AND HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. 
• "Chetaka of Lichchavi". Archived from the original on 2013-11-20. 
• "Ancient Jain Tïrthas and historical places". Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. 
• "Life of Vardhamana Mahavira". Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. 
• "Fort of King Vishal (Vaishali)". Archived from the original on 2004-08-27. 
• "VAISALI". Archived from the original on 2014-08-01.