Quick Facts
Biography
Pasenadi (Sanskrit: Prasenajit) (c. 6th century BCE) was an Aikṣvāka dynasty ruler of Kosala. Sāvatthī was his capital. He succeeded his father Sanjaya Mahākosala. He was a prominent Upāsaka (lay follower) of Gautama Buddha, who built many Buddhist monasteries.
Life
Pasenadi studied in Taxila in his early life. He was the king of Kosala (modern Oudh or Awadh). His first queen was a Magadhan princess. His second queen was Vāsavakhattiyā, daughter of Mahānāma, a Sākya by a slave girl Nāgamundā.Though she was a slave girl not the original daughter of Mahanama. From this marriage, he had a son, Viḍūḍabha and a daughter Princess Vajira, whom he married to Ajatashatru. His third and chief queen was Mallika, daughter of the chief of garland-makers. Once, while he was away from his capital Shravasti, his minister Dīgha Chārāyana placed his son Viḍūḍabha [Viru Dhaka]on the throne. He went to Magadha to seek help from Ajātasattu in order to regain his throne. But before being able to meet him, Pasenadi died of exposure outside the gates of Rājagaha. The Puranas instead of Viḍūḍabha mention the name of Kṣudraka as his successor.