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{{About|the historic kingdom|the kingdom as represented in the epics|Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|the butterfly genus|Panchala (butterfly)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox country
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name = Panchala Kingdom
|common_name = Panchala Kingdom
|era = [[Iron Age]]
|government_type = [[Monarchy]]
|year_leader1=c. 850 BCE
|leader1 = [[Keśin Dālbhya]]
|year_leader2=c. 750 BCE
|leader2 = [[Pravahana Jaivali]]
|year_leader3=c. 400 CE
|leader3=[[Achyuta of Panchala|Achyuta]]
|year_start = c. 900 BCE
|year_end = c. 400 CE
| p1 = Rigvedic tribes
| s1 = Panchala
| s2 = Mahajanapada
|image_map = Late_Vedic_Culture_(1100-500_BCE).png
|image_map_caption = Panchala and other kingdoms in the Late Vedic period.
|image_map2 = Mahajanapadas (c. 500 BCE).png
|image_map2_caption = Panchala and other Mahajanapadas in the Post Vedic period.
|capital = [[Ahichatra]] (northern), [[Kampil]]a
|common_languages = [[Vedic Sanskrit]]
|religion = [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic Hinduism]]<br>[[Brahmanism]]
|title_leader= [[Raja]]
|today = [[India]]
}}
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}

'''Panchala''' ({{lang-sa|पञ्चाल}}, [[IAST]]: {{IAST|Pañcāla}}) was an ancient kingdom of [[northern India]], located in the [[Ganges-Yamuna Doab]] of the upper [[Gangetic plain]]. During Late [[Vedic period|Vedic times]] (c. 900–500 BCE), it was one of the most powerful states of the [[History of India|Ancient India]], closely allied with the [[Kuru Kingdom]].<ref>Witzel, Michael (1995), "Early Sanskritization: Origin and Development of the Kuru state", EJVS |volume=1 |issue=4 |date=1995</ref> By the c. 5th century BCE, it had become an oligarchic confederacy, considered one of the ''solasa'' (sixteen) [[mahajanapadas]] (major states) of the Indian subcontinent. After being absorbed into the [[Mauryan Empire]] (322–185 BCE), Panchala regained its independence until it was annexed by the [[Gupta Empire]] in the 4th century CE.

==Geographical extent==
The Panchalas occupied the country to the east of the [[Kuru (India)|Kurus]], between the upper Himalayas and the river [[Ganges River|Ganges]]. It roughly corresponded to modern Budaun, Farrukhabad and the adjoining districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The country was divided into Uttara-Panchala and Dakshina-Panchala. The northern Panchala had its capital at [[Ahichatra]], (also known as Adhichhatra and Chhatravati, near present-day [[Ramnagar, Bareilly|Ramnagar]] village in [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla]] tehsil of [[Bareilly district]]), while southern Panchala had it capital at Kampilya or [[Kampil]] in [[Farrukhabad district]]. The famous city of Kanyakubja or [[Kannauj]] was situated in the kingdom of Panchala.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

== In Mahabharata==
Drupada the king of Panchala fought for the Pandavas as he was their Father in law and also wanted to revenge his daughter's insult.Bhishma ranked him a Mighty Maharathi ,his son Dhrishtadyumna as an Atirathi and Shikhandi his
son as a Rathi.He provided 3 Akshauhinis armies to the Pandavas

== Vedic period ==
The Panchala [[janapada]] is believed to have been formed by multiple ''[[jana (Vedic period)|janas]]'' (tribes). The ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'' suggests that Panchala was the later name of the Krivi tribe (who, according to Rigveda, lived on the bank of the [[Indus river]]). The later Vedic literature uses the term Panchala to describe the close associates of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kurus]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' sometimes mentions the Saranjayas as a tribe or a family among the Panchalas, sometimes uses the two terms as synonyms, although it also mentions the two separately at some places. The ''Mahabharata'' further mentions that the [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala country]] was divided into two territories: the northern Panchala with its capital at [[Ahichchhatra]], and the southern Panchala with its capital at [[Kampilya]].{{sfn|D. C. Sircar|1985|p=1}}

According to the political scientist Sudama Misra, the name of the Panchala janapada suggests that it was a fusion of five (''pancha'') [[janapadas|janas]] (tribes).{{sfn|Sudama Misra|1973|p=14}} H. C. Ray Chaudhuri theorized that these five clans were the Krivis, the Turvashas, the Keshins, the Srinjayas, and the Somakas.<ref>{{cite book |author=Oroon K. Ghosh |title=The Changing Indian Civilization: A Perspective on India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPUtAAAAMAAJ |year=1976 |publisher=Minerva |isbn=978-0-88386-502-6}}</ref> Each of these clans is known to be associated with one or more princes mentioned in the Vedic{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} texts - the Krivis with Kravya Panchala, the Turvashas with Sona Satrasaha, the Keshins with Keshin Dalbhya, the Srinjayas with Sahadeva Sarnjaya, and the Somakas with Somaka Sahadevya. The names of the last two clans, the Somakas and the Srinjayas, are also mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Puranas]]. King [[Drupada]], whose daughter [[Draupadi]] was married into the [[Pandava]]s, belonged to the Somaka clan.<ref>Pargiter, F.E. (1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.117</ref> However, the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Puranas]] consider the ruling clan of the northern Panchala as an offshoot of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]] clan and [[Divodasa]], [[Sudas]], Srinjaya, Somaka, and [[Drupada]] (also called Yajnasena) were the most notable rulers of this clan.<ref>Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972) ''Political History of Ancient India'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.65-8.</ref> It is also mentioned [[Pandava]] prince [[Bhima]] and Draupadi's son [[Upapandavas#Sutasoma|Sutasoma]] was the king of the Somaka tribe during the [[Kurukshetra War]].

The Panchala kingdom rose to its highest prominence in the aftermath of the decline and defeat of the Kuru Kingdom by the non-Vedic [[Salva (India)|Salva tribe]]. The king of Panchala, [[Keśin Dālbhya]] (approximately between 900 and 750 BCE<ref>[[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects'' in ''Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. [[Colette Caillat|Caillat]], Paris, p.127</ref>), was the nephew of the Kuru king, who had died heirless; Keśin subsequently took over the leadership, establishing his kingdom as the new political and cultural center, and ensuring the continuation of the Vedic tradition.<ref>Witzel (1995), p.22</ref> His dynasty remained in power for many generations; one of his later successors was the philosopher-king [[Pravahana Jaivali]], who was the contemporary of King [[Janaka]] of [[Videha]] and the philosophers [[Uddalaka Aruni]] and [[Svetaketu]] (8th–7th centuries BCE).<ref>Raychaudhury, pp.67–68</ref>

=== Under Magadhan rule ===
{| class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;"
| style="background:#f8eaba; text-align:center;"|
<div class="center">
; Panchala coins
</div>
|-
|
<gallery widths="150px" heights="70px">
File:Panchalas of Adhichhatra.jpg|Coin of the Panchalas of Ahichhatra (75-50 BCE).<br>'''Obv''' [[Indra]] seated facing on pedestal, holding bifurcated object.<br>'''Rev''' ''Idramitrasa'' in [[Brahmi]], Panchala symbols.
File:Coin-of-Agnimitra.jpg|Coin of Agnimitra, showing the depiction of [[Agni]] with flaming hair on the obverse, and a reverse showing the three dynastic symbols of the Panchala rulers and a legend naming the king: Agimitasa.
</gallery>
|-
|
<gallery widths="150px" heights="70px">
File:I38 12karshapana Panchala MACW4540 1ar (8486500958).jpg|A bronze currency of ½ [[karshapana]] of King Indramitra (ca 75-50 BC?) Of Ahichatra of Panchala. '''Obv:''' A inside a rectangle, a line of 3 symbols, under the name of the king. '''Rev:''' Indra standing on a pedestal without pillars. '''Dimensions:''' 15 mm. '''Weight:''' 4.18 g.
File:Coin-of-Achyuta.jpg|Coin of Achyuta, the last Panchala king, showing an 8-spoked wheel and the king's name: Achyu.
</gallery>
|-
|}

[[File:North India in 540 BCE.png|thumb|Map depicting 16 [[mahajanapada]]s kingdoms and other kingdoms of [[vedic era]] India in 540 BCE.]]

Originally a [[Monarchy|monarchical]] [[clan]], the Panchalas appear to have switched to republican corporation around 500 BCE. The Buddhist text [[Anguttara Nikaya]] mentions Panchala as one of the sixteen [[mahajanapada]]s of the c. 6th century BCE.<ref>Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). ''Political History of Ancient India'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.85</ref> The 4th century BCE [[Arthashastra]] also attests the Panchalas as following the ''Rajashabdopajivin'' (king consul) constitution. Panchala was annexed into the [[Nanda Dynasty|Magadha empire]] during the reign of [[Mahapadma Nanda]] in the mid-4th century BCE.<ref>Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). ''Political History of Ancient India'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.206</ref>

=== Post-Mauryan period ===
Numismatic evidence reveals the existence of independent rulers of Panchala during the post-Mauryan period. Most of the coins issued by them are found at Ahichatra and adjoining areas. All the coins are round, made of a copper alloy and have a set pattern on the obverse-a deeply incised square punch consisting of a row of three symbols and the ruler's name placed in a single line below them. The reverse bears depictions of the deities or sometimes of their attributes, whose names form a component of the issuers' names (for example, coins of Agnimitra bear the depiction of [[Agni]]). The names of the rulers found on these coins are Vangapala, Yajnapala, Damagupta, Rudragupta, Jayagupta, Suryamitra, Phalgunimitra, Bhanumitra, Bhumimitra, Dhruvamitra, Agnimitra, Indramitra, Vishnumitra, Jayamitra, Prajapatimitra, Varunamitra, Anamitra, Bhadraghosha and Yugasena (the reverse of the coins of Varunamitra, Yugasena and Anamitra do not exhibit any deity). Shaunakayaniputra Vangapala, ruler of Ahichatra, whom Vaidehiputra Ashadhasena mentioned as his grandfather in his Pabhosa inscription, is identified with king Vangapala, known from his coins. The name of Damagupta is also found on a clay sealing.<ref>Lahiri, B. (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) '', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.170-88</ref><ref>Bhandare, S. (2006). ''Numismatics and History: The Maurya-Gupta Interlude in the Gangetic Plain'' in P. Olivelle ed. ''Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE'', New York: Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-568935-6}}, pp.76,88</ref>

The last independent ruler of Ahichatra was [[Achyuta of Panchala|Achyuta]], who was defeated by [[Samudragupta]], after which Panchala was annexed into the [[Gupta Empire]].<ref>Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). ''Political History of Ancient India'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.473</ref> The coins of Achyuta found from Ahichatra have a wheel of eight spokes on the reverse and the legend ''Achyu'' on the obverse.<ref>Lahiri, B. (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) '', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.182</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kuru Kingdom]]
* [[Vedic period]]
* [[Painted Grey Ware culture]]
* [[Mahajanapadas]]
* [[Mahabharata]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://coinindia.com/galleries-panchala.html Coins of Panchala janapada]
*[http://coinindia.com/galleries-panchala-kingdom.html Coins of Post-Mauryan Panchala Kingdom]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100217061043/http://tdil.mit.gov.in/coilnet/ignca/panchal.htm Panchal Details from IGNCA]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = Panchala
| years =(850 BC–500 BC)
| before =
| after = [[Nanda Dynasty]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Bareilly division topics}}
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}
{{Mahajanapada |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Kingdoms of the Puru clan]]
[[Category:Ancient peoples]]
[[Category:Indo-Aryan peoples]]
[[Category:Iron Age cultures of Asia]]
[[Category:Iron Age cultures of South Asia]]
[[Category:Locations in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Mahajanapadas]]
[[Category:Archaeological cultures of South Asia]]
[[Category:Archaeological cultures in India]]

Panchala - Revision history

Eldarljt: quick fix

imported>Doremo: considered as one of → considered one of