Freeman14H at 14:40, 20 March 2026

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{{Short description|Haryanka emperor from 544 to 492 BCE}}
{{Distinguish|Bindusara}}
{{About||the 2022 Indian film|Bimbisara (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Bimbisara 𑀩𑀺𑀫𑁆𑀩𑀺𑀲𑀸𑀭𑀸
| image = Bimbisara with his royal cortege issuing from the city of Rajagriha to visit the Buddha.jpg
| image_size = 290x340px
| birth_date = 558 BCE or 472 BCE
| birth_place =
| death_date = 491 BCE or 405 BCE
| death_place = Bimbisar Jail, [[Rajgriha]], [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]], [[Haryanka dynasty|Haryanka Empire]]
| dynasty = [[Haryanka dynasty|Haryanka]]
| caption = Bimbisara with his royal cortege issuing from the city of Rajagriha to visit the Buddha.
| succession = [[List of monarchs of Magadha#House of Haryanka|King of Magadha]]
| reign = {{circa|544|492 BCE}} or {{circa|457|405 BCE}} (52 years)
| predecessor = Bhattiya (as Chieftain)
| successor = [[Ajatashatru]]
| father = Bhattiya
| spouse = [[Kosala Devi|Kosala Devī]] Chellanā Dharini 
[[Khema|Kṣemā / Khemā]] Nandā<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chandra |first1=Jnan |title=SOME UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT BIMBISĀRA |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |date=1958 |volume=21 |pages=215–217 |publisher=Indian History Congress}}</ref> Padmāvatī / Padumavatī [[Amrapali|Ambapālī]]
| issue = [[Ajatashatru]]
| religion = [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]]
| regent = [[Haryanka]]
| reg-type = [[Dynasty]]
}}

'''Bimbisāra''' (in Buddhist tradition) or '''Shrenika''' ({{transliteration|sa|Śreṇika}}) and '''Seniya''' ({{transliteration|sa|Seṇiya}}) in the [[Jain Agamas (Śvētāmbara)|Jain histories]]{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1999|p=40-41}}{{sfn|Jain|Upadhye|2000|p=59}} ({{Circa|558|491 BCE}}<ref>Hugh George Rawlinson (1950), ''A Concise History of the Indian People''. Oxford University Press, p. 46.</ref><ref>F. Max Muller (2001): ''The Dhammapada And Sutta-nipata''. Routledge (UK), p. xlvii. {{ISBN|0-7007-1548-7}}.</ref> or {{circa|472|405 BCE}}<ref name=Sarao>{{citation |last=Sarao |first=K. T. S. |title= The Ācariyaparamparā and Date of the Buddha. |journal=Indian Historical Review |volume=30 |issue=1–2 |year=2003 |pages=1–12 |doi=10.1177/037698360303000201 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/037698360303000201|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>Keay, John: [https://books.google.com/books?id=0IquM4BrJ4YC&dq=bimbisara&pg=PT87 ''India: A History. Revised and Updated'']: "The date [of Buddha's meeting with Bimbisara] (given the Buddhist 'short chronology') must have been around 400 BC."</ref>) was
the King of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]] ({{reign|543|492 BCE}}<ref name=IH>V. K. Agnihotri (ed.), ''Indian History''. Allied Publishers, New Delhi 262010, [https://books.google.com/books?id=MazdaWXQFuQC&dq=Indian%20History%20-APC&pg=SL1-PA166 p. 166] f.</ref> or {{reign|457|405 BCE}}<ref name=Sarao/><ref>Keay, ''India: A History''</ref>) and belonged to the [[Haryanka dynasty]].<ref name=Stearns>Peter N. Stearns (2001), ''The Encyclopedia of World History''. Houghton Mifflin, p. 76 ff. {{ISBN|0-395-65237-5}}.</ref> He was the son of Bhattiya.{{sfn|Raychaudhuri|1923|p=97}} His expansion of the kingdom, especially his annexation of the kingdom of [[Anga]] to the east, is considered to have laid the foundations for the later expansion of the [[Mauryan Empire]].<ref name=be>{{cite web|title=Bimbisara|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/65488/Bimbisara|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|access-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>

According to Jain tradition, he is said to be the first [[tirthankara]] (Padmanabha/Mahapadma) out of the 24 tirthankaras of the future cosmic age.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dundas|first=Paul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8iAAgAAQBAJ|title=The Jains|date=2003-09-02|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-50165-6|language=en}}</ref> He frequently visited the [[Samavasarana]] of [[Mahavira]] seeking answers to his queries.<ref name=":1" />

According to Buddhist Tradition, he is also known for his cultural achievements and was a great friend and protector of the [[Buddha]]. According to the 7th century Chinese monk [[Xuanzang]], Bimbisara built the [[city]] of [[Rajgir]] (Rajagriha).<ref name="IH" /> He was succeeded on the throne by his son [[Ajatashatru]].<ref name="be" />

==Life==
{{multiple image
| align = left
| caption_align = center
| direction =vertical
| total_width=250
| image1 = The eastern Gangetic plain before Bimbisara's conquests.jpg
| caption1 = Map of the eastern Gangetic plain before Bimbisāra's conquests (Licchavi's dependencies, in green, and Malla shown separately)
}}
[[File:Bamboo garden (Venuvana) at Rajagriha, the visit of Bimbisara.jpg|thumb|King Bimbisara visits the Bamboo Garden (Venuvana) in [[Rajgir|Rajagriha]]; artwork from [[Sanchi]]]]
Bimbisara was the son of Bhattiya, a chieftain. He ascended to throne at the age of 15 in 543 BCE.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=112}} He established the [[Haryanka dynasty]] and laid the foundations of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]] with the fortification of a village, which later became the city of [[Pataliputra]].{{sfn|Sastri|1988|p=11}} Bimbisara's first capital was at ''Girivraja'' (identified with [[Rajgir|Rajagriha]]). He led a military campaign against [[Anga]], perhaps to avenge his father's earlier defeat at the hands of its king, ''[[Brahmadatta of Anga|Brahmadatta]]''. The campaign was successful, Anga was annexed, and prince ''Kunika'' ([[Ajatashatru]]) was appointed governor at [[Champa Village|Champa]].{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2016|p=269}} His conquest of Anga gave Magadha control over the routes to the [[Ganges Delta]], which had important ports that gave access to the eastern coast of India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Thapar|first=Romila|title=Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300|publisher=University of California Press|year=2002|isbn=0-520-24225-4|pages=152–154}}</ref>{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1972|p=99}} [[Pushkarasarin|Pukkusati]], the king of [[Gandhara]], sent Bimbisara an embassy.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=112}}

His court is said to have included Sona Kolivisa, Sumana (flower gatherer), Koliya (minister), Kumbhaghosaka (treasurer) and Jivaka (physician).{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2016|p=270}}

===Marriage alliances===
Bimbisara used marriage alliances to strengthen his position. His first wife was [[Kosala Devi]], the daughter of Mahā Kosala, the king of [[Kosala]], and a sister of [[Pasenadi|Prasenajit]].{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2016|p=271}} His bride brought him [[Varanasi|Kashi]] as [[dowry]].<ref>Eck, Diana. (1998) ''Banaras'', Columbia University Press. p. 45. {{ISBN|0-231-11447-8}}.</ref> This marriage also ended the hostility between Magadha and Kosala and gave him a free hand in dealing with the other states. His second wife, Chellana, was a [[Licchavi (tribe)|Licchavi princess]] from [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]] and daughter of the [[Jainism|Jain]]<ref name="Datta 1988">{{Cite book|last=Datta|first=Amaresh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Shrenika&pg=PA1779|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti|date=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1194-0|language=en}}</ref> king [[Chetaka]].<ref>Luniya, Bhanwarlal Nathuram. (1967) ''Evolution of Indian Culture'', Lakshmi Narain Agarwal. p. 114.</ref> His third wife, ''[[Khema|Kshema]]'', was a daughter of the chief of the [[Madra]] clan of [[Punjab]].<ref>Krishna, Narendra. (1944) ''History of India'', A. Mukherjee & bros. p. 90.</ref> ''Mahavagga'' depicts him having 500 wives.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=112}}

==== Death ====
[[Image:Bimbisarajail.jpg|thumb|Bimbisara's jail, where King Bimbisāra was imprisoned, in [[Rajgir]]]]
As per Buddhism, due to influence by [[Devadatta]] (a [[Schism#Buddhism|separatist]] [[Bhikkhu|Buddhist monk]]), Bimbisāra was assassinated by his son [[Ajatashatru]] in {{Circa|493 BCE}}, who then succeeded him to the throne. However, as per Jainism, Bimbisāra committed suicide.<ref name=":0" />

==Traditional accounts==
=== Jainism ===
Bimbisara is referred to as Shrenika{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=36}}{{sfn|Jain|Upadhye|2000|p=59}} of [[Rajgir]] in [[Jain literature]] who became a devotee of [[Jainism]] impressed by the calmness of [[Jain monasticism|Jain Muni]] Yamadhar.<ref>{{citation|title=Queen Chelna and King Shrenik|url=http://www.jainworld.com/literature/story16.htm|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413083034/http://www.jainworld.com/literature/story16.htm|archive-date=13 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Datta 1988"/> He frequently visited [[Samavasarana]] of [[Mahavira]] seeking answers to his queries. He asked about the jain [[Ramayana]]<ref name=":1">{{citation|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC|date=2010|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=[[India]]|isbn=9780143414216|page=338}}</ref> and an illuminating sage (King Prasanachandra).<ref>{{citation|title=Leshyas|url=http://umich.edu/~umjains/jainismsimplified/chapter12.html}}</ref> He is said to be a ''[[Balabhadra]]'' in one of his previous lives.<ref>{{citation|last1=Choksi|first1=Mansi|last2=Chhapia|first2=Hemali|title=Now, meet Ravan the saint|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/Now-meet-Ravan-the-saint/articleshow/6123749.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=10 February 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Padmanabh_Swami.jpg|thumb|An idol of Padmanabh Swami (Shrenika Maharaja), the first Tirthankara of the next time cycle as per Śvetāmbara iconography at Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park, California]]
Per [[Jain literature|Jain Scripture]], Bimbisara killed himself in a fit of passion, after his son had imprisoned him. Consequently, he was reborn in hell, where he is currently residing, until the [[Karma in Jainism|karma]] which led to his birth there comes to an end.{{sfn|Jaini|1998|p=228}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=41}} It is further written, that he will be reborn as ''Mahapadma'' (sometimes called ''Padmanabha''), the first in the chain of future [[tirthankara]]s who are to rise at the beginning of the upward motion (''Utsarpini'') of the next era of time.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=40-41}}

=== Buddhism ===
[[File:Bimbisar welcoming Buddha Roundel 30 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|thumb|Bimbisara welcomes the Buddha]]
According to Buddhist scriptures, King Bimbisara met the Buddha for the first time prior to the Buddha's enlightenment, and later became an important disciple that featured prominently in certain Buddhist suttas. He is recorded to have attained [[sotapanna]]hood, a degree of enlightenment in Buddhist teachings.<ref>{{citation |title=Buddhism and Jainism|chapter=Sotāpanna |series=Encyclopedia of Indian Religions |editor=KTS Sarai, Jeffrey D Long|year=2017|pages=1126–1129 |publisher=Springer |doi=10.1007/978-94-024-0852-2_94|isbn=9789402408522 |url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-94-024-0852-2_94 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Although Bimbisara let the women in his palace visit Buddha in his monastery in the evenings; the women wanted a hair-and-nail [[stupa]] they could use to venerate the Buddha any time. Bimbisara spoke with Buddha who complied with their request.<ref>{{citation |title=Relics of the Buddha|author=John S. Strong|year=2007|page=72|publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691117645|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_KLAxmR8PZAC}}</ref>

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
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* {{citation|last1=Jain|first1=Hiralal|last2=Upadhye|first2=Dr. Adinath Neminath|author-link2=A.N. Upadhye|title=Mahavira his Times and his Philosophy of Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GHfzERhGUjQC|date=2000|publisher=[[Bharatiya Jnanpith]]}}
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Kailash Chand |author-link=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Malwa Through the Ages |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3O7q7cU7k0C |date=1972 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |edition=First |isbn=978-81-208-0805-8 |ref={{sfnref|Kailash Chand Jain|1972}} }}
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Kailash Chand |author-link=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Lord Mahāvīra and His Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-TxcO9dfrcC |date=1991 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-0805-8 |ref={{sfnref|Kailash Chand Jain|1991}} }}
* {{citation |last=Jaini |first=Padmanabh S. |author-link=Padmanabh Jaini |title=The Jaina Path of Purification |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wE6v6ahxHi8C |date=1998 |orig-year=1979 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |location=[[Delhi]] |isbn=81-208-1578-5 }}
* {{citation |first=Hemchandra |last=Raychaudhuri |author-link=Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri |title=Political History of Ancient India |url=https://archive.org/details/politicalhistory00raycuoft |date=1923 |publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] }}
* {{citation |editor-last=Sastri |editor-first=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta |editor-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |title=Age of the Nandas and Mauryas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YoAwor58utYC |date=1988 |orig-year=1967 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |location=[[Delhi]] |isbn=81-208-0465-1 |edition=Second }}
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== See also ==

* [[Avanti-Magadhan Wars]]

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=Bhattiya}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|King of Magadha]]|years=543–491 BC}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ajatashatru]]}}
{{end}}

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bimbisara}}
[[Category:558 BC]]
[[Category:491 BC]]
[[Category:6th-century BC Indian Jains]]
[[Category:6th-century BC Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Jain monarchs]]
[[Category:Haryanka dynasty]]
[[Category:Kings of Magadha]]
[[Category:Disciples of Gautama Buddha]]
[[Category:5th-century BC Indian Jains]]
[[Category:5th-century BC Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:550s BC births]]
[[Category:490s BC deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhist monarchs]]
[[Category:6th-century BC Indian people]]

Bimbisara - Revision history

Freeman14H at 14:40, 20 March 2026