Sala grove

The Malla capital of Kujsinara was, in the Buddhas day, a place of small importance.

Ananda contemptuously refers to it as a little wattle and daub town in the midst of a jungle, a branch township, quite unworthy of being the scene of the Buddhas Parinibbana.

But the Buddha informs Ananda that it was once Kusavati (q.v.), the mighty capital of Kusa and Mahasudassana.

This shows that the Mallas had, at first, a monarchical constitution, but in the sixth century B.C. they were regarded, together with the Vajjis, as a typical example of a republic (sangha, gana) (M.i.231).

The chief Mallas administered the state in turn. Those who were free from such duties engaged in trade, sometimes undertaking long caravan journeys (DA.ii.569).