*🛡️Sixteen Mahajanapadas* ♟️Around the sixth century BCE, many small, clan-based kingdoms were merged into larger kingdoms known as Mahajanapadas. ♟️Early Buddhist and Jaina texts mention sixteen mahajanapadas. ♟️Although the lists vary, some names such as Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara and Avanti occur frequently and were amongst the most important mahajanapadas.