Bihar

Overview

Bihar lies on surrounded by India states boarder West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and International Nepal boarder, The name of Bihar is derived from the Sanskrit and Pali word Vihara (Devanagari), which means in English “abode". The region roughly encompassing the present state was dotted with Buddhist Vihara, the abodes of Buddhist monks in the ancient and medieval periods. The state of Bihar is primarily a rice producing area. Historically, the state has a rich and ancient cultural heritage and geographic. About 25 centuries ago, Pataliputra or the Present day Patna was the capital of the first major empire in Indian History – Magadh, from where the great king, Ashoka had ruled. He’s ruled was followed by that of the Guptas period and the Palas from the 5^th century A.D. to 1197, and a few centuries later by the Mughals. The mid -18^th century saw the rise of the British who ruled the state till Indian Independence in 1947.

Artistically Bihar’s fame lies in its being an important religious and cultural center for the Hindus, the Jains and Buddhists. Buddhism one of the important religions of the world was the place where the Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree before achieving supreme enlightenment. The Small township of Rajgir was the scene of many sermons and numerous important events in the master’s life. Thousands of pilgrims visit Rajgir,Bodhgya and the present descendant of the original Bodhi tree.

Lord Mahavira founder of the Jain sect, is also believed to have spent about 15 years of his life, preaching   at Rajgir and hence its religious Significance  for Jain pilgrims. History record that the Nalanda university, of which only some magnificent ruins now remain ,was once a world famous university for the study of  Buddhism in the 5^th century A.D.

Patna- “Oldest Capital of Magadh Empire”

Modern Patna, situated on the expansive bank of the river Ganga, was built by Sher Shah in the 16^th century. The city, since its inception 2,500 years ago, has been christened often enough from Kusumpura to Puspapura, Pataliputra, Azimabad and finally to Patna. Megasthenes  gives an interesting and informative account of Pataliputra during the 4^th century B.C. the city was protected by a massive  timber palisade with 64 gateways and 570 towers. The palace gates were open all the 24 hours to those who sought the king,s advice, hearing or justice. In the 16^th century Sher Shah laid the foundation of the new city after having defeated  and Mughal. His message in the Afghan style still rises on the city’s skyline while at Kumrahar one can have a glimpse of the ruins of Pataliputra from 600 A.C to 600 A.D. and even later. A 29- meter high granary the Golagahar, in Patna,built in 1789 Served British troops trying to make inroads into India.

Patna is a convenient base for excursions to the  Buddhist and Jain shrines and to the neighboring country of Nepal.

Tourist attractions:-

The Golghar, The Mosque of Sher Shah, Har Mandir, Quila House Sher Shah’s Fort, Kumrahar Park, Sadaquat Asharam, The Patna City Museum, The Khuda Bux Library, Saif Khan’s Mosque, Martyr’s Memorial, The Gurudwara Patna Sahib (Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib), The Indira Gandhi Planetarium (Taramandal) and The Zoom-cum-Botanical Garden, and the 18^th Century church padre ki Haveli.

Bodghgaya:

About 15 kms Gaya, Bodhgaya was the place where Gautam, later called Buddha  or the enlightened One, attained Enlightenment. And here under a peepal tree one of the world, Buddhism, was created. This was twenty five centuries ago. The quietly flowing river Niranjana,and the woods around the temple depicts scenes from the life of the Buddha. A  gilded image of the Buddha adorns the Mahabodhi Temple. The Animeshlochan Chaitya, the Ratnagar the Chakramana and Urabilbva (Modern Urel) are all intimately connected with the life of the Lord Buddha. The archaeological Museum Preserves many Priceless Specimens of early Buddhist art.

Gaya:

 About 92 kilometers from Patna is Gaya, the adobe of a celestial  being as Gaya. Gaya was empowered by Lord Vishnu to offer salvation to sinners on earth. Add thus the town is believed to be second only to Banaras  in sanctity. A pilgrimage center of the Hindus believers comes here from the eternal wheel of rebirth. The temple of Vishnupad is believed to have been built over the footprints of Lord Vishnu and the modern renovated temple was a gift, in 1787, from the Queen of Indore, her name Rani Ahilyabai.

Nalanda:

About 90 Kilometers from Patna is Nalanda, it is a vast ancient ruin which was probably founded by the Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta. It was one of the greatest universities of ancient times and a famous center of oriental art and learning. Among the thousands of schools and priests who studies and taught here was the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang ,who  stayed here for five years from  A.D.637 to 642,by which time Nalanda had become a celebrated centre of Buddhist learning where some 10,000 students  and  monks from various parts of India, China , Japan, Mongolia, Korea, Tibet and  Ceylon  resided .The university of Nalanda was patronized by, among others ,Kings Harshavardhana of Kanauj and later  by the Pala Kings of Eastern India. Those who built monasteries at Nalanda included the 9^th century King Balaputradeva of Swarnadirpa (Sumtra).

Rajgir:

 About 110 Kilometers from Patna is Rajgir, The erstwhile Capital of the Great Magadha Empire, Rajgir or Rajgriha (meaning the Home of the kingdom) is intimately connected with the life and times of the Buddha ,for the Lord delivered many celebrated sermons  in the garden of Veluvana which  was gifted to him by the King Bimbisara. And it was here in the Saptaparni Valve that the first Buddhist council was held shortly after the Buddha’s death.

Vaishali:

 About 55 Kilometers from Patna is Vaishali, the Buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his impending  ‘nirvana’. Some of the great incident in his life also occurred here, like the courtesan Amrapali giving him a mango orchard and becoming a Buddhist nun. One hundred years after the Buddha’s  ‘Parinirvana’ 700 monks from all over north India assembled here to discuss the 10 points of  ‘Vinaya’  the rules of conduct under dispute.

Today Vaishali is best known for second Buddhist council, for very little of the ancient ruins have been excavated yet.Vaishali the capital of ancient Lichhavi is supposed to be the first republic of the world, having an efficient administration as early as 6^th century BC. Vaishali is also the birthplace of Lord Mahavira and is sacred to the Jains.

Bhagalpur:

 About 220 Kilometers from Patna is Bhagalpur, It  lies on the River of Ganga. Bhagalpur city also known as Silk City of India, Bhagalpur is the distorted form of Bhagdatpuram (meaning city of Good Luck) as it was called during the flourishing of the Anga Kingdom. The Vikramasila University was one of the ancient University of India, where were two most important centers of Buddhist learning in India during the Pala dynasty, along with Nalanda University. Vikramasila was established by King Dharmapala (783 to 820) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda. Atisha, the renowned Pandita, is sometimes listed as a notable abbot. It has also a better option of Hindu, Jains and Muslim Religions people. The religious festival of "Vish-Hari Puja" or "the worship of the Snake Queen" or "Manasa Devi, said to be a daughter of lord Shiva and Queen of Snakes" traces its roots back hundreds of years and is still celebrated every year with thousands of believers and snake charmers offering milk to the Nag (the Snake King) and Nageen (The Snake Queen). The hill is equally revered by the Jains who believe that their 12th Tirthankara attained nirvana at the summit, The Jain temple at Nathnagar near by Bhagalpur is an important pilgrimage centre for Jains. Buddha Nath Temple is an ancient Shiva Temple on the bank of Ganges. About 25 Kms away Sultanganj is an important religious center for Hindus from where holy water of the Ganges is carried and offered at Deoghar. Bhagalpur also has Dargha of Shawaz Rahmat-Ulla near Bhagalpur Railway Station One of the most popular place for Muslims.