Ancient History of Bihar
Part of: BPSC
- The word Bihar means 'Viharas' which has the meaning of resting -houses of Buddhist monk during the ancient time.
- However, Bihar finds mention in the Vedas, Puranas, epics, etc., and was the main scene of activities of Buddha, and 24 Jain Tirthankars.
- Further, the Muslim invaders of 12th century started calling this region as Bihar.
- Moreover, Great rulers of the State before the Christian era were Bimbisar, Udayin, who founded the city of Pataliputra.
- Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor Ashoka and Maurya dynasty, the Sungs and the Kanvas.
- Then came the Kushan rulers followed by Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty.
- Muslim rulers made in-roads into the territory during medieval period.
- The first conqueror of Bihar was Mohammed- bin-Bakhtiar Khalji. The Tughluqs and then the Mughals followed the Khaljis.
- Many sources & evidences are available to justify the existence of Bihar and their rulers.
- Nalanda,Vaishali, Jalalgarh fort, Munger fort etc. are some important archaeological sites for pre-historic phase in Bihar.
- Mauryan period (321-185 BC) including ruins of the eighty pillared hall are located at Kumhrar (Patna).
- Each pillar is made of fine sandstone from Chunar and they sustained a wooden roof.
- Ashoka has discovered a Polished pillars at at Vaishali, Lauriya Areraj, Lauriya Nandangarh and Rampurva.
- ALso, the Pala-Sen School of Art flourished in Bihar in Gaya, Nalanda and Nawada.
- Buddhist architecture of Buddhist Shrines, Stupas and Viharas of Gupta and Pala period has excavated at Nalanda and Vikramshila.
- Kushana period were found at Chirand in the remains of monumental buildings.
- Terracota human figurines were found at Buxar and Patna.
- The most important literary sources are Vedic literature, Puranas, Epics, Buddhist literature, Jain literature, Non-religious and Foreign literature.
- The state of Magadha was recorded in the Vedic text much earlier than 600 BCE.
- Some evidence shows that Aryan civilized besides the Ganga in Bihar which was called as Kingdom of Videha.
- Videha description was found Vedic literatures and Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharata.
- If we talk about Puranas, Vishnu Purana is about the Mauryan dynasty, from Vayu Purana is about the Gupta dynasty and from Matsya Purana is about the Shunga dynasty.
- The Empire Anga covers present day of Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Munger which was the main character in the Mahabharata named Angaraj Karna.
- Anga is mentioned for the first time in Atharvaveda.
- Champa was the capital of anga kingdom.
- As per coin evidence, the coin found in Hajipur that belongs to Gupta period.
- Silver coins found in Golakpur in Patna and Purnea in the form of Punch-marked coins.
Literary Source Topic Author Arthashastra Mauryan administration, economy, foreign affairs Chanakya Indica Administration in Patliputra Megasthenes Mudrarakshasa Conflict of Dhana Nanda and Chandragupta Maurya Vishakhadatta Atharvaveda Scriptures of Hindustan, Description of Anga and Magadha Rishi Atharvana and
Angirasa Gargi Samhita Attack of Yavans Katyayana Si-yu-ki About Nalanda University Xuanzang Manusmriti Dharmasastras and History of Bihar Manu (Swayambhuva)