Question

What was the government at Vajji called?
A) Sangha
B) Gana
C) Both a and b
D) Praja

Answer 1

Hint:
The Buddhist text and the Jaina text Included Vajji in their list of Sixteen Mahajanapadas.
The name of this Mahajanapadas was taken from one of its commanding clans, The Vrijs
The clan is mentioned in books of famous administrators such as Chanakya, Panini and Xuanzang.

Complete step by step solution:
The Territory:
The territory of Vajji is located in the north of river Ganges in the state of Bihar and is extended upto the Madhesh, Nepal region. On the West, The Gandaki River becomes the boundary between Vajji and The Malla Mahajanapada and separates it from kosala.On the East, It’s territory expanded upto the forests along the banks of the rivers Koshi and Mahananda.

Commanding Clans:
The rulers of Vajji were a Coalition of Eight Clans; out of which the Vajjis, the Licchavis, the Kshatrikas and the Videhas were of the most importance.

The Government:
Vaishali is the capital of Vajji mahajanapada, It was under a unique government known as gana or sangha.
In a gana or a sangha there are many rulers. Even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was Acknowledged as a raja.
These rajas performed ceremonies together. They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done through discussion and debate

Buddha and Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas. Some of the most graphic descriptions of life in the sanghas can be found in Buddhist’s holy scriptures.
Sanghas lasted for a very long time, till about 1500 years ago, when the last of the ganas or sanghas were overpowered by the Gupta rulers

Hence the solution is C) both A and B.

Note:
Vajji was a coalition of eight neighbouring clans including the LIcchavis and one of the major Mahajanapadas of Ancient India. They ruled the area covering the region of Mithila situated in northern Bihar.