12; The. Licchavis in Ancient India, . — ss 
_ By. Brmsta CHARAN Law, ye Alo iS MRA.» aid ea 
_. The mighty race of the Vajjians fills an important chapter 
in the ancient ‘history of India.. But unfortunately we know 
of very. few historians. who have up till now dealt withithe 
subject with that thoroughness which it deserves. -Their method 
their origin. This conclusion he supports on two grounds :— 
(a) the way in which they disposed of the dead, and (b) their 
judicial system. Dr. Vidyabhdsan, on the other hand,- holds 
that the Licchavis were originally Persians, they having migrat- 
ed from their original home at Nisibi and settled in India and 
‘Tibet. But neither of these theories will stand the test of 
a through critical examination, 3h edd 
Mr. Hodgson holds that they were Seythians.’ It is men- 
tioned in the Vaijayanti that a Ksatriya lady married toa Vratya 
brings forth a Licchavi.* According to the lexicographers Ama- 
rasimha, Halayudha and Hemacandra, they were Ksatriyas and 
Vratyas—sons of Ksatriyas. Béhtlingk and Roth are of opinion 
that they came ofa regal race. - Monier Williams supports this 
view.’ The Dulva states ® that when Moggallana entered Vaisali 
in search of alms, the Licchavis were coming out of the city to 
subdue Ajitagatru. Out of veneration they asked him whether 
they would be successful in a campaign against Ajatasatru. 
Moggallana replied, ‘“ Men of Vasistha’s race, you will conquer. 
1 Ind. Ant; Vol... XXXII, pp. 233-236. 
ty ps Vol. XX) pp. 78-80. |: 
8 ee Essays by Hodgson bea edition), p, 17. 
+ Vaijayant (Oppert), p. 76, y oi BE 
SA Sanskrit OeeKeh Dictionaty by Monier Williams, p. 902. New 
edition 1899. : 
6 The Life of the Buddha, by Rockhill, p97, Footnote. 
