Vaishali and the Licchavis: The Buddhist Blueprint for True Republican Democracy
N. Singh · ·4 min read
Translated from the original Hindi · मूल हिंदी लेख पढ़ें
Whenever democracy is spoken of, our schools and colleges drill the name of Athens in ancient Greece into our heads.
Yet very few people know that centuries before the earliest notions of democracy were being discussed in Athens, on the sacred soil of Bihar, the Licchavi Republic of Vaishali (Vajji Confederacy) was running the world’s most mature, advanced, and successful democratic republic!
In Vaishali, no king was hereditary. There was a parliament of 7,707 kings (representatives), known as the ‘santhagara’ (santhagara [general assembly hall / republic’s parliament]).
There, secret voting (Salaka-Gahapana [voting by distribution of voting-sticks]) was conducted, motions (Natti [formal proposal]) were tabled, debates took place, the assembly was adjourned if the quorum was not met, and laws were passed by majority!
Lord Buddha was deeply influenced by this republican model of Vaishali. He based the entire functioning of the Buddhist monastic sangha (sangha [spiritual community / order]) on this very democratic constitution of Vaishali.
Seven Principles of Non-Decline: The Immortal Rulebook of Democracy
In the first volume of their book, ‘Buddha Dhamma aur Bharat’ (dhamma [righteous path / Buddhist teachings]), the author duo Nathuni Singh and Vimla Singh recount the historic episode from the Mahaparinibbana Sutta when the imperialist king of Magadha, Ajatashatru, plotted an invasion of Vaishali.
Ajatashatru dispatched his minister, Vassakara, to the Buddha to ascertain whether Vaishali could be conquered.
The Buddha asked his disciple Ananda:
- “Ananda! Do the Vajjis hold regular and frequent assemblies in the santhagara?” (Ananda replied: Yes, Bhante! [bhante — venerable sir])
- “Do they assemble together in unity and implement their decisions in unity?” (Yes, Bhante!)
- “Do they refrain from violating ancient established laws, and not enact arbitrary new laws?” (Yes, Bhante!)
- “Do they honour and revere their elders and seniors, and heed their counsel?” (Yes, Bhante!)
- “Do they ensure that no women or household brides are subjected to ill-treatment or coercion?” (Yes, Bhante!)
- “Do they protect and preserve their religious shrines and chaityas?” (chaityas [sacred shrines / memorials]) (Yes, Bhante!)
- “Do they accord full protection and honour to visiting saints, scholars, and seekers from outside?” (Yes, Bhante!)
Looking towards Vassakara, the Tathagata declared: “As long as the citizens of Vaishali continue to observe these seven principles, no superpower in the world can vanquish them!”
The Hard Truth from the Book
“The Buddha’s sangha was the world’s very first institution where, the moment an individual entered, their caste, lineage, clan, and varna (varna [social order / class]) dissolved. Just as the Ganga, Yamuna, Aciravati, and Sarayu lose their separate names upon merging into the ocean and are simply called ‘the ocean’, so too did the Kshatriyas, Brahmins, Vaishyas, and Shudras—all united in the sangha—become known simply as ‘shramanas’ (shramana [renunciant / monk / spiritual seeker]). There, no individual was the master of another; all were subject to the law (vinaya [monastic code of conduct / discipline]), and every decision was arrived at through voting. This was India’s genuine democratic glory, which was later extinguished by the feudal order.”
— ‘Buddha Dhamma aur Bharat’ (Volume 1, pp. 24–27)
What Is the Real Solution?
- Do not reduce democracy merely to elections: Democracy is not simply the act of casting a vote once in 5 years; it is a culture of listening to one another’s perspectives and engaging in dialogue in daily life.
- Decorum in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies: Instead of unruly pandemonium and pushing bills through without debate, the tradition of solemn, dignified, and reasoned deliberation—reminiscent of Vaishali’s santhagara—must be revived.
- Autonomy and safety of women: A democracy in a society where women are disrespected can never be sustainable.
A Question for Reflection (The Book’s Message)
Do today’s Indian Parliament and our political parties measure up to the touchstone of Vaishali’s santhagara and the Buddha’s ‘seven inviolable principles of non-decline’?
In revealing this glorious republican heritage of India, this chapter of the book ‘Buddha Dhamma aur Bharat’ fills every Indian with both immense pride and deep self-reflection.
As long as the Vajjis hold regular assemblies, take decisions unanimously, abide by their constitution, and respect their elders, their downfall is impossible—this was the Tathagata's foremost political maxim.