The
Haryanka dynasty was the second ruling dynasty of
Magadha, an ancient kingdom in
India, which succeeded the
Barhadratha dynasty. The reign of this dynasty probably began in the middle of 6th century BCE. Initially, the capital was
Rajagriha. Later, it was shifted to
Pataliputra, near the present day
Patna in
India. The founder of this dynasty was either
Bimbisara himself or his father Bhattiya. According to the Buddhist text, the
Mahavamsa, Bimbisara was anointed king by his father at the age of fifteen. According to
George Turnour and N.L. Dey, the name of the father of Bimbisara was Bhatiya or Bhattiya, but the Puranas refer him as Hemajit, Kshemajit, Kshetroja or Ksetrauja and the Tibetan texts mention him as Mahapadma. This dynasty was succeeded by the
Shishunaga dynasty.