Shakya caste and kingdom history | Suryavanshi Kshatriya | Goutam Gotra

[Malcom J Haddon]

Shakya Kingdom

Shakya caste is a Suryavanshi Kshatriya community. They belong to the lineage of Lord Rama’s son Kusha as mentioned in Vishnu Puran, hence they are also known as Kushvanshi Kshatriya.

Gotra of Shakya clan is Gautam, derived from Gautam Maharishi.

The name "Shakya" is derived from the Sanskrit word "śākya" meaning "the one who can" or "the one who is capable”.

Kosala (Ayodhya) was ruled by Suryavanshi kings. Most famous was Lord Shree Ram. Ram was succeeded by elder son Kush. Kush’s lineage is also known as Kushvanshi Kshatriya (note that they all belong to Suryavansha). Kushvanshi King Shakya established a kingdom separate from Kosala, which came to be known as Sakya Ganrajya (Shakya Republic)

Location of the Shakya Ganrajya (Shakya Kingdom)

Genealogy of Shakya clan in Vishnu Puran

Vishhu Purana (Book 4, Chapter 22) lists King Sakya as one of the last kings of the Suryavansha lineage. Sakya’s son was Suddhoda Shakya(Shuddhodana) was the ruler of Kapilavastu. Shuddhodana’s son was Siddhartha Shakya. Siddhartha Shakya founded a new religion, Buddhism and later came to be known as Gautama Buddha. Buddha’s son was Langala Shakya (also known as Rahula). Since Buddha had found a new religion and abdicated the throne, hence Langala became the next ruler in Suryavansha.Sumitra was the last ruler of Suryanvansha lineage.

Suryavansha Bloodline from 'Lord Shri Ram' to king 'Shakya' as per Vishnu Puran. And further branches of Shakya clan.

Shakya Kingdoms, Branches and related dynasties

☸️ The Shakya Republic (600–300 BC)

Famous Kings: Suddhodhana Shakya, Siddhartha Shakya (known as Lord Gautam Buddha), Rahula Shakya

Region: Parts of North India and Nepal, Capital was Kapilavastu

☸️ The Moriya Republic ( 500 BC)

A branch of Shakya family established another republic state with Pipphalivana as capital. They adopted Peacock (Mayura) as their state's emblem due to which they came to be known as Maurya. Peacock (Mayura) was considered sacred in ancient mythology.

Famous Kings : Chandravardhan Moriya

Region: Parts of North India and Nepal, Capital was Pipphalivana. It was close to Shakya Republic.

☸️ The Kingdom of Tagaung / Burma ( 1 BC - 1050 AD)

Famous Kings: Abhiraja Shakya

Region: Burma, present Myanmar

☸️ The Kingdom of Anuradhapura / Sinhalese Kingdom (377 BC–1017 AD)

Famous Kings: Pandukabhaya , descendant of Pandu Shakya (Buddha's cousin)

Region: Sri Lanka

☸️ The Maurya Empire (322 and 185 BC)

Famous Kings: Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka. The largest empire in Indian history.

Region: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and some southern parts of China

☸️ The Mori Rajputs ( 7th Century AD )

Famous Kings: Chitrangad Mori. Built Chittor Fort, the largest fort in India.

Region: Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh

☸️ The Maurya Kingdom of Konkan ( 3rd to 7th Century AD )

Famous Kings: Suketuvarman Maurya

Region: Maharashtra, Goa

☸️ The More Maratha Kingdom ( 16th Century AD )

Famous Kings: Chandrarav More

Region: Jaoli State (Western Maharashtra)

☸️ The Kachwaha / Kushwaha / Kush-vanshi Rajputs ( 11th Century AD)

Kushvanshi Rajputs were related to Shakya as both trace lineage from Kushvanshi Kshatriyas. They both are associate clans who formed political and matrimonial relations.

Famous Kings: Raja Man Singh I. He built the Amer Fort. Sawai Jai Singh II. He built the city of Jaipur and five astronomical observatives at Delhi, Jaipur, Benaras, Mathura and Ujjain. He also established Govind Dev Ji temple at Jaipur.

Region: Jaipur, Alwar, Darkoti, Maihar, Keonjhar, Talcher

The Maurya (Shakya) Empire - The Largest Kingdom in Indian History