| King Bimbisar of the Sisunaga dynasty has been | | | | The Lichhavis were a ruthless lot that never |
| thought to be good looking, well polished and a great | | | | recongised the supremacy of the Magadhan empire. |
| statesman. It is mentioned that he had an affair with | | | | Their soldiers periodically used to cross the river |
| the great dancer of Vaishali (the tribal union of the | | | | Ganga and harass the people of Magadh. It is thought |
| Lichhavis; where Buddha delivered his last sermon). Not | | | | that during an invasion of Vaishali he met her and |
| much is known about her. She is however mentioned | | | | brought her back to Rajgir, the capital of Magadh and |
| in Pali and several Buddhist texts described as one | | | | married her. Some text books mention that she |
| that was found under a mango tree with unknown | | | | remained in Vaishali all her life where she meet the |
| parentage. She was thought to have first appeared | | | | Buddha and converted to Buddhism. |
| near a mango tree (Amra-mango; Pali-leaves) hence | | | | Some mention that it was actually Ajatsatru that was |
| her name. Several tales of Amarpali exists although | | | | fascinated by her. Ajatsatru was the ruthless son on |
| most seems like remixes, misinterpretations and fairy | | | | Bimbisar. However the story goes that Ajatsatru |
| tales of events. | | | | periodically cheated on his wife Khema. Horrified by |
| She grew up in the royal household in the company of | | | | the increasing ruthless activities of the Licchavi soldiers |
| other dancers and entertainers. She surpassed | | | | he disguised himself as a Licchavi soldier and spied on |
| everyone in terms of beauty and hence earned | | | | their war techniques where he met Amarpali at the |
| herself the status of the main courtesan of Vaishali. | | | | courts of Vaishali. |
| Her fame travelled near, far and wide. Some say that | | | | Traveling to the Vaishali district in Bihar today, there |
| it was Ajatsatru after getting rid of his father and | | | | exists a village called "Amvara" and not surprisingly |
| becoming the ruler of Magadh, had an affair with | | | | several mango groves are to be found. Vaishali can |
| Amarpali secretly without the knowledge of royals of | | | | be reached by road or air via Patna approximately 56 |
| Vaishali. | | | | kms. |