Ancient History of Bihar

Bihar’s history may be traced back to the dawn of human civilization and its involvement in the creation of the first myths and narratives of Sanatana Dharma. Viharas’ ancient history dates back to the dawn of human civilization in the region. It has been a centre of scholarship and culture since antiquity, and it has been preserved for thousands of years by strong rulers. Indeed, the name ‘Bihar’ derives from the Buddhist monks’ term ‘viharas,’ which translates as “resting place.” On the other hand, the Muslim monarchs of the 12th century first referred to the state as ‘Bihar,’ and this was the first time the title was used.

Bihar is filled with old historical sites

Samrat Ashok, India’s first emperor, reigned here, and it was the Lichchawi kings of what is now viharas who established the first republic.

Bihar can boast of being the cradle of civilization, the impetus for the rise of Bhagwan Gautam Buddha, Lord Mahavir, Chanakya – the great strategist – and Aryabhatta.

Patliputra’s whereabouts remain unclear.

Patliputra as a city reached its zenith during the reign of the Maurya dynasty when it evolved into one of the world’s most prominent centres. According to the Greek diplomat, adventurer, and historian Megasthenes, this city during the Mauryan Empire had a very effective form of local self-government, making it one of just a few sites where such a system was formed.

Numerous archaeological excavations have taken place in and around modern-day Patna. During early twentieth-century excavations in the Patna region, large castle walls reinforced with timber trusses were discovered. Pataliputra had declined in popularity during the Palas’ rule. It is now believed that Sher Shah Suri (1538–1545) was responsible for revitalising the city and renaming it Pana when it fell out of favour.

Bihar is divided into three regions: the north, the centre, and the south.

Viharas are separated into three distinct regions, each with its history and culture. Magadh, Mithila, and Bhojpur are the names of these three cities. Apart from religious epics, ancient viharas were the source of an avalanche of other ancient Indian masterpieces.

Significance of Magadha 

Magadha was a centre of learning and culture in antiquity for almost a thousand years. The Maurya Empire, one of India’s most powerful empires, and two prominent faiths, Buddhism and Jainism, were founded in what is now Bihar. Both are extensively practised in the state today.

Magadha had grown to become the most powerful kingdom in ancient India, and it remained the most powerful state in its function as northern India’s political centre. Rajagriha, which translates as “royal city,” was Magidha’s capital. From 544 BC until 492 BC, Bimbisara governed the kingdom of Magadha. His son Ajatshatru (492-460 BC) immediately ordered his assassination upon seeing him imprisoned.

Mahajanapada

Sixteen monarchies emerged, which were known as Mahajanpadas, which were,

• Anga

• Magadha

• Vajji

• Malla

• Kashi or Kasi 

• Kosala

• Vatsa

• Chedi

• Kuru

• Panchala

• Surasena

• Matsya

• Avanti

• Ashokaka

• Gandhara

• Kamboja

These Mahajanpadas hold great importance in the ancient history of Bihar, where Kasi and Magadha held notable influence on history.

Mauryas and the Guptas 

Both the Maurya and Gupta empires reigned over significant portions of the Indian subcontinent throughout their respective eras of domination. Pataliputra (located near modern-day Patna) was once an important political, military, and commercial powerhouse in Indian history throughout the country’s ancient and classical ages.

Samrat Ashoka was the Mauryan dynasty’s final notable monarch and the Mauryan dynasty’s final major ruler. The Buddha was an enthusiastic proponent of Buddhism throughout his reign (265–238 BCE), and his efforts helped spread the religion throughout India and the rest of the world. It had already occurred. The Guptas and Mauryas played an important role in the ancient history of Bihar and shaped the nation.

Nanda Institution (alternatively spelt Nalanda University) is a Buddhist research university located in Uttar Pradesh, India’s northernmost state. 

In the ancient kingdom of Magadha, an ancient Mahavihara, a revered Buddhist monastery that also served as a recognized centre of study and research, is said to have existed. It is located around 95 kilometres (59 miles) southeast of Patna in viharas. Sharif was once considered one of the world’s best learning centres from the fifth century BCE until approximately 1200 BCE.

Archaeological evidence also points to a monastery built by one of the Shailendra dynasty’s monarchs within the complex, unearthed and recounted in the book’s text. In the fifth and sixth centuries, the city of Nalanda flourished and prospered under the patronage of the Gupta Empire and later under the leadership of Harsha, the king of Kannauj. He built a university there in the fifth century.

During his tour to Nalanda (602–664 AD), Xuanzang (602–664 AD), a Chinese Buddhist scholar, amassed six hundred and fifty-seven of these Buddhist texts, which included several Mahayanist and also around hundred and fifty relics, which were brought to China with the help of over 20 horses packed in over five hundred cases. Xuanzang translated seventy-four of the texts and returned them to his native China. Although the exact number of volumes in the Nalanda library is unknown, it is believed to be hundreds of thousands. According to legend, Nalanda University’s library and other structures were destroyed in 1193 CE. Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, a Turkic chieftain serving under an Awadh commander at the time, is said to have inflicted the damage.

Conclusion

Bihar’s history is one of the most diversified and intriguing in all of Indian history. Viharas are separated into three distinct regions, each with its history and culture. Magadh, Mithila, and Bhojpur are the names of these three cities. According to archaeological findings, the Neolithic period (approximately 2500–1345 BC) was at Chiron, located on the northern bank of the Ganga River in Nepal’s Saran district.