Rise of magadha and some Ruler and Dynasty

About:
              The Epic Mahabharata provided information about the early period of Magadha.
During the period of Mahabharata – Jarasandh and Brihdrath were the ruler of Magadha, and Girivraja was the Magadhan Capital during the early period.

Haryank Dynasty
                             The first king of Haryank dynasty was Bimbisara and he eatablished this dynasty during the period of 544 BC. In Jain Literature he was called as “ Shraunik”.
He had Three Wives – Mahakosala, Chellena, and Khema. His wife Mahakoshala was the sister of Kosal Ruler Prasenjit and Chelana Was Lichchhavi princes.
Bimbisara defeated “Anga” and annexed it. His Physician was “Jivak” and he send Jivak to threat Chand Pradyot of Avanti. Bimbisara was Prisoned by his son Ajatshatru and died in 493 BC.
Ajatshatru sat on magadha throne in 492 BC and he followed on “Expansianist Policy”.
After long struggle he defeated Kasi and Vajji condederacy. He took the services to his minister “Vasakar” to divided the Vajji confederacy. Ajatshatru got a large stupa constructed in Rajghira and he constructed a fort around Rajgirah to protect it from “Licheehavi Attack”.
Ajatshatru was killed by his son Udayin in 461 BC. Udayin transffered the capital  to Patliputra and he followed Jainism.
The Last haryank Ruler was Nagdasak.




Shisunaga Dynasty:
                                  Last haryank ruler Nagdasak was killed by his amatya Shisunaga. Shisunaga estabilished Shisunaga dynasty in 412 BC. He annexed Avanti to Magadha and he estabilished his capital at “Vaishali”. Kalosaka came to the throne in 344 BC and kalosaka again transfer the capital to Patliputra.
During The reign of Kalashoka second “Buddist” Council was organished at Vaishali. Nandivardhana was the last ruler of Shisunaga.

Nanda Dynasty:
                           Nanda Dynasty was estabilished by Mahapadmananada. According to the Puranas he was not Kshatriya.
Mahapadmananda was known as “Ekarat” and “Sarvakshatrantaka”, and he conqured Kalinga.
Last Nanda ruler was Dhananada. Dhananda was the contemporary of Alexander. Nanda Dynasty was destroyed by Chandragupta maurya and chanakya.
Nandas have been termed as first empire builders of India.

Factors For The Rise Of Magadha:
                                                         Magadha enjoyed and Advantageous geographical Position , Iron deposits were situated close to Rajgir, the earliest capital of Magadha. Rajgir and Patliputra were situated at very strategic points.
Patliputra were surrounded by rivers from all sided it was called as Jaladurga(water-fort).
Magadha lay at the centre of the middle Gangetic Plain.
Magadha for the first time used elephants an a large scale in wars. Greek resources have maintained that the Nandas  6000 Elephants.
Magadha society was unorthodox and was recently Aryanized. Ambitious rulers like Bimbhisara, Ajatshatru, and Mahapadmananda established Magadha as a powerful Kingdom.