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Kosala Proper or Uttara Kosala is the kigdom of the celebrated personality of Treta Yuga , Raghava Rama . Ayodhya was its capital. Rama's sons Lava and Kusa inherited parts of this kingdom. Lava ruled from the city called Sravasti and Kusa from the city called Kusavati . A colony of Kosala kings existed in Madhya Pradesh . It was called Dakshina Kosala . Rama's mother Kausalya was from this kingdom. King Rama extended his influence up to the island-kingdom of Lanka situated in the southern ocean. He had friendly relations with the southern kingdom of forest dwellers ( Vanaras ) called Kishkindha . Rama's brother Bharata , colonized the Gandhara kingdom and founded the city of Takshasila there. Gandhara lies close to Kekeya Kingdom , the native kingdom of Bharata's mother. Rama's second brother Lakshmana founded the city of Lakshmanapura near river Ganga which is now known as Lucknow . He colonized the Vanga kingdom and founded the city of Chandrakanta there. Rama's youngest brother Satrughna destroyed the forest called Madhu and founded the city of Mathura which later became the capital of the Surasena Kingdom . Nishadha king Nala 's friend Rituparna was a ruler of Kosala. Brihadbala another ruler of Kosala during Dwapara Yuga , took part in Mahabharata war and was killed by Abhimanyu , the son of Arjuna . REFERENCES IN MAHABHARATA The Mothers of Dhritarashtra and Pandu
''The mothers of Dhritarashtra and Pandu , viz Ambika and Ambalika, where described to be Kosala princesses. They were some times described as princesses from Kasi Kingdom , Kasi and Kosala being a single kingdom (often denoted as Kasi-Kosalas) during the time of Mahabharata.'' Then Satyavati and Bhishma and the Kosala princesses were all gratified with the presents Pandu made out of the acquisitions of his prowess. And Ambalika in particular, upon embracing her son of incomparable prowess, became very glad. The Self-Choice event of Panchali
''Kosala king was present in this event'' .........the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, the king of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and many other great kings—all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world—have come, O blessed one (Panchali), for thee. The impact of Magadha king on Kosala
The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of ( Magadha King) Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas , the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas , the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis . And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas , alarmed at the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions. The trip from Kuru Kingdom to Magadha Kingdom
''The following was a route taken by Krishna , Arjuna and Bhima to reach Magadha Kingdom . It passes through the Eastern Kosala Kingdom.'' Having set out from the country of the Kurus, they passed through Kuru-jangala and arrived at the charming lake of lotuses. Passing over the hills of Kalakuta, they then went on crossing the Gandaki, the Sadanira (Karatoya), and the Sarkaravarta and the other rivers taking their rise in the same mountains. They then crossed the delightful Sarayu and saw the country of Eastern Kosala. Passing over that country they went to Mithila and then crossing the Mala and Charamanwati , the three heroes crossed the Ganges and the Sone and went on towards the east. At last those heroes of unfaded glory arrived at Magadha in the heart of (the country of) Kushamva. Reaching then the hills of Goratha, they saw the city of Magadha. Bhima's Military Campaign
Bhima then vanquished king Srenimat of the country of Kumara, and then Vrihadvala, the king of Kosala. Then the foremost of the sons of Pandu , by performing feats excelling in fierceness, defeated the virtuous and mighty king Dirghayaghna of Ayodhya . And the exalted one then subjugated the country of Gopalakaksha and the northern '''Kosalas''' and also the king of Mallas. Sahadeva's Military Campaign
Sahadeva , vanquishing the invincible Bhismaka, then defeated in battle the king of Kosala and the ruler of the territories lying on the banks of the Venwa, as also the Kantarakas and the kings of the eastern '''Kosalas'''. Conversation of Nala and Damayanti
These many roads lead to the southern country, passing by (the city of) Avanti and the Rikshavat mountains. This is that mighty mountain called Vindhya ; yon, the river Payasvini running sea-wards, and yonder are the asylums of the ascetics, furnished with various fruit and roots. This road leadeth to the country of the Vidarbhas —and that, to the country of the Kosalas. Beyond these roads to the south is the southern country. Rituparna, King of Kosala visiting Vidharbha Kingdom
The ruler of the Vidarbhas , approaching Rituparna, said, ‘Welcome! What is the occasion of this thy visit?’ And king Bhima asked this without knowing that Rituparna had come to obtain the hand of his daughter. And king Rituparna, saw that there were no other kings or princes. Nor did he hear any talk relating to the Swayamvara , nor saw any concourse of Brahmanas. And at this, the king of Kosala reflected a while and at length said, ‘I have come here to pay my respects to thee.’ And the king Bhima was struck with astonishment, and reflected upon the (probable) cause of Rituparna’s coming, having passed over a hundred yojanas. Sacred Places in Kosala Kingdom
Sojourning next to the tirtha called Rishabha in Kosala and fasting there for three nights one earneth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and of the gift of a thousand kine, and also delivereth his race. Arriving at 'Kosala, a man should bathe in the tirtha named Kala. Karna's Military Campaign
Having conquered the eastern quarter Karna then presented himself before Batsa-bhumi . And having taken Batsa-bhumi, he reduced Kevali, and Mrittikavati, and Mohana and Patrana, and Tripura, and Kosala,--and compelled all these to pay tribute. Ramayana inside Mahabharata
Behold my plight! The loss of thy kingdom, and then the death of our father, and then the abduction of Sita , and finally this disaster that hath overwhelmed me! Alas, I shall not behold thee return with the princess of Videha to Kosala and seated on thy ancestral throne as the ruler of the entire Earth! They only that are fortunate will behold thy face, like unto the moon emerged from the clouds, after thy coronation bath in water sanctified with Kusa grass and fried paddy and black peas!’ And the intelligent Lakshmana uttered those and other lamentations in the same strain.
That descendant of Raghu, who ruleth at Kosala and whose renown hath spread over the whole world, sayeth unto thee these words suited to the occasion. Accept thou that message and act according to it. Vrihadvala the Ruler of Kosala
'' Bhishma rates the battle skills of every king who were to take part in the Kurukshetra War '' Endued with great impetus and prowess, king Vrihadvala, the ruler of the Kosalas, is, in my judgment, equal to one Ratha (a grade of battle-skill). Kosala King supported Duryodhana in the war
''King Vrihadvala of Kosala, supported Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra War '' Then came Kritavarman at the head of his troops, and that mighty car-warrior, viz., the ruler of the Trigartas , and the king Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers, and Sala, and Bhurisravas, and Salya, and Vrihadratha, the ruler of the Kosalas.
And Suvala’s son Sakuni, and Salya, Jayadratha and the two princes of Avanti named Vinda and Anuvinda, and the Kekeya Brothers , and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas and Srutayudha the ruler of the Kalingas , and king Jayatsena, and Vrihadvala the ruler of the Kosalas, and Kritavarman of Satwata’s race,--these ten tigers among men, stood each at the head of an Akshauhini of troops. These and many other kings and princes, mighty car-warriors conversant with policy, obedient to the commands of Duryodhana , all cased in mail, were seen stationed in their respective divisions.
The mighty bowman Abhimanyu battled with Vrihadvala. Soon, however, in that encounter, O king, the ruler of Kosala cut off the standard and overthrew the charioteer of Subhadra’s son. The son of Subhadra then upon the overthrow of his charioteer, was filled with wrath and pierced Vrihadvala Abhimanyu slays Vrihadvala the king of Kosala
The ruler of the Kosala struck Abhimanyu , in the chest with a barbed arrow. Abhimanyu, however, quickly felled on the earth his antagonist’s steeds and standard and bow and charioteer. The ruler of the Kosalas, then, thus deprived of his car, took up a sword and wished to sever from Abhimanyu’s trunk his beautiful head, decked with ear-rings. Abhimanyu then pierced king Vrihadvala, the ruler of the Kosalas, in the chest, with a strong arrow. The latter then, with riven heart, fell down. Beholding this, ten thousand illustrious kings broke and fled. Those kings, armed with swords and bows, fled away, uttering words inimical (to king Duryodhana’s Interest). Having slain Vrihadvala thus, the son of Subhadra careered it battle. Connection with Saraswati Civilization
It was on that sacred region, the northern part of Kosala, that the sacrifice of high-souled Auddalaka was performed. Before Auddalaka began his sacrifice, he had thought of the Sarasvati . That foremost of rivers came to that region for the sake of those Rishis. Worshipped by all those Munis clad in barks and deer-skins she became known by the name of Manorama, as those Rishis mentally called her. Arjuna's Post War Military Campaign
The sacrificial horse then, equipt with beautiful manes, proceeded at his will along the sea-coast, repairing to the countries of the Bangas , the Pundras , and the Kosalas. In those realms Dhananjaya (Arjuna), with his bow Gandiva, vanquished innumerable Mlechecha armies one after another
That best of steeds then proceeded to the realms of the Kasis , the Angas , the Kosalas, the Kiratas , and the Tanganas. Other References in Mahabharata
''Mention of a Janaka king of Videha , with a wife from Kosala''
There was a king of Kosala possessed of great intelligence, named Vasumanas.
It hath been heard by us that once on a time the sage Kalakavrikshiya came to Kshemadarsin who had ascended the throne of the kingdom of Kosala.
Saudasa, the king of Kosala, though dignified by the performance of Aswamedha and other sacrifices, obtained the status of a man-eating Rakshasa , through the curse of a great Rishi. SEE ALSO Kingdoms Of Ancient India REFERENCES
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