The capital of Aśmaka was the city variously named Podana, Potali, Paudanyapura, and Potana, which corresponds to modern-day Bodhan.[3]
History
The Aśmaka kingdom already existed at the time of the Brāhmaṇas, when its king Brahmadatta was mentioned in the Mahāgovinda Suttanta as a contemporary of Reṇu of Videha and Dhataraṭṭha or Dhṛtarāṣṭra of Kāsī.[3]
Aśmaka annexed the small kingdom of Mūlaka located to its west during the Mahajanapada period, after which it became the southern neighbour of the kingdom of Avanti.[4]
The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela (2nd century BCE) mentions Kharavela's threat to a city variously interpreted as "Masika" (Masikanagara), "Musika" (Musikanagara) or "Asika" (Asikanagara). N. K. Sahu identifies Asika as the capital of Asmaka.[5]: 127 According to Ajay Mitra Shastri, "Asika-nagara" was located in the present-day village of Adam in Nagpur district (on the Wainganga River). A terracotta seal excavated in the village mentions the Asmaka janapada.[6][7] Asmaka also included Mulaka area around Paithan known in ancient times as Pratishthana.[8] According to Sutta Nipata Saketa or Ayodhya was first halting place on the southward road (Dakshinapatha) from Shravasti to Pratishthana.[9]
Bakker, Hans (1984). Ayodhya, Part 1: The History of Ayodhya from the seventh century BC to the middle of the 18th century. Groningen: Egbert Forsten. ISBN9069800071.