Ajatashatru, the famous Indian king belonged to Harayanka dynasty of Magadha. His father was Bimbisara and a contemporary of Lord Buddha and Mahaveer. He forcefully imprisoned his father Bimbisara and enthroned to the kingdom of Magadha.
Kosaladevi was his mother, the queens also called as vaidehi, so he known as Vaidehiputra. We could find about his story in Buddhist Tripitaka and Jain Agamas. According to Jain tradition Ajatashatru born to Bimbisara and Queen Chelna and the records of Buddhist tradition, Bimbisara and Kosala Devi were his parents.
How Ajatashatru Knew As Kunika?
During the pregnancy, queen Chelna strongly desired to eat her husband’s flesh of Bimbisara and drink liquor. This was known to prince Abhaya kumara, the son of Bimbisara and Queen Nanda and brought a wild fruit like in heart shaped and give to Queen Chelna. Later, she felt very ashamed and thought the desire came because of her waiting born child. So she intended, the grown up child might move fatally at the family. After few months the queen threw the child out of the palace. The child fell into a garbage dump, meanwhile, a cock bit his little finger started bleeding. As soon as the news received to King Bimbisara run out of place and found the child in the garbage.
He took the child into his hands and sucked the bleeding little finger until stopped bleeding. His wound tastes sore, so the child nick named Kunika, which means the sore finger. Later became the emperor, concentrated on expanding the kingdom. In the way, he conquered the ancient republic Vaishali and Kosala. When Ajatashatru became the emperor, the ancient city Kashi announced its freedom from Maghada. Once Kashi had been given as dowry to Bimbisara. The fierce Ajatashatru occupied Kashi and surrounding kingdoms and merged into Maghada. His conquests made him a powerful emperor in North India.
Conquered Lichchhavi Kingdom:
Attacking the Vaishali was an important historical incident in the life of Ajatashatru. Conquering the Lichchhavis of Vaishali made him a powerful king in Indian History. Before going to attack the enemies Ajatashatru chalked out a system to depress the enemy. For instance, before attacking the Lichchhavis, he sent his ministers to Lichchhavis to understand the strength and weakness of Lichchhavis. In the second step, he ordered to construct a new fort near the Lichchhavi territory to attack comfortably. This made to construct the new capital Pataliputra, which became a famous center for ancient Indian political affairs. The third one, he infused the soldiers to learn new techniques in the battle field and give powerful and new weapons. Thus he attacked Lichchhavis on all sides, however, the war continued for sixteen years and finally Vaisali annexed to the Magadha Empire.
An Atrocious Mistake
One day Ajatashatru kept the new born son on his lap and eating meals. Suddenly his urinated some drops into his plate. As soon, the king wiped the drops with his own cloth and continued eating from the same plate. Then the king proudly looked at his mother Chelana and asked who could show such affection at their sons. The Chelana narrated the story of sucking his finger by his father Bimbisara. This narration touched the heart of Ajatashatru and aroused the affection on his father.
At once he took the axe and hurried to prison to break the chains to free Bimbisara. But Bimbisara misunderstand that of his son was coming to kill me. So he thought that kill himself was better than ending life in the hands of own son. So he swallows the Talaputa poison from his ring and ends his life. The shocked Ajatashatru shifted his kingdom to Champa to forget his atrocious mistake.
Ajatashatru Trust in Buddhism:
Ajatashatru was a deep devotee of Lord Buddha. He followed the Buddha preaches and met Buddha personally and discussed the concept of enlightenment. He was also caused to spread the Buddhism in his kingdom. After the death of Buddha, he played the patron role to spread Buddhism. He also organised first Buddhist council at Sattapani cave in Rajgriha. Then the Buddhist monk Mahakassapa headed to the council.