Ancient History of Bihar | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Introduction

• Bihar, with its deep historical roots in the Vedas, Puranas, and Epics, derives its name from the term “Viharas,” which denotes a Buddhist monk’s place of rest. It was the Muslim rulers in the 12th century who began using the name “Bihar” for the state. Situated along the banks of the Ganges River, Bihar's capital is Patna. The state is divided into three distinct regions—Magadh, Mithila, and Bhojpur—each with its unique history and culture.
• Historically, Bihar was a prominent center of powerful kingdoms and a major hub of learning for many centuries. The ancient history of Bihar began with the rise of Magadh and continued until the middle of the eighth century. Known as the land of Buddha, Bihar has played a significant role in the development of democracy and the first republic in history. Despite facing foreign invasions and periods of decline in medieval times, Bihar was known for its production of valuable goods such as cotton, textiles, saltpetre, and indigo. These resources made India's trade routes highly sought after by Europeans from ancient to medieval times.

Ancient History of Bihar

• Bihar's history is among the most diverse in India.
• The state is divided into three main regions, each with its own distinct history and culture.
• Bihar’s ancient history encompasses the early stages of human civilization and the beginnings of Sanatana Dharma.
• It was an administrative center for powerful kingdoms and a major cultural hub for an extended period under these strong kingdoms.

Stone Age Sites

• Paleolithic Sites: Munger and Nalanda have yielded Paleolithic artifacts.
• Mesolithic Sites: Santhal Pargana, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and Singhbhum (all in Jharkhand) have been identified as Mesolithic sites.
• Neolithic Artefacts: Artefacts dating from 2500 to 1500 B.C. have been discovered in Chirand (Saran) and Chechar (Vaishali).
• Chalcolithic Artefacts: Sites with Chalcolithic Age artifacts include Taradih, Chirand, Chechar, and Vaishali (Gaya).

The Arrival of Aryans in Bihar

• Aryan Migration: During the later Vedic era (1000-600 BC), Aryans started migrating towards Eastern India.
• Satapatha Brahmana: This text discusses the migration and dispersion of the Aryans.
• Varah Puran: This scripture describes Gaya, Punpun, and Rajgir as auspicious places, while it regards Kikat as inauspicious.

Mahajanapadas: Emergence of City-States

• During the sixth century, according to Buddhist and Jaina texts, several small kingdoms or city-states, with Magadha at the helm, governed India.
• Across the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Mahajanapada surfaced, comprising a cluster of sixteen monarchies and republics by 500 BC, holding significant relevance for various competitive examinations.

In Bihar, three prominent Mahajanapadas were Magadha, Anga, and Vajji. These are

• Anga: This region corresponds to the modern districts of Sahibgunj and Godda in Jharkhand, and Bhagalpur and Munger in Bihar.
• Avanti: Located in contemporary Malwa, centered around Ujjayini and Mahishmati.
• Ashmaka: Situated between the Narmada and Godavari rivers, with Podana as its capital.
• Chedi: Covers the modern Bundelkhand region, with Shuktimati as its capital.
• Kashi: Includes the present city of Banaras, with Varanasi as its capital.
• Kosala: Encompasses the current districts of Faizabad, Gonda, Bahraich, etc., with Shravasti as its capital.
• Kuru: Its capital was Indraprastha, covering modern Haryana and Delhi west of the Yamuna River.
• Kamboja: A district in Pakistan, associated with modern Hazara.
• Gandhara: Includes eastern Afghanistan and the western part of Pakistan, with capitals at Taxila and Pushkalvati.
• Magadha: Encompassed Patna and Gaya, with Rajagriha (or Girivraj) as its former capital.
• Malla: The confederacy had two main centers at Kusinara and Pawa, including contemporary Eastern Uttar Pradesh districts like Deoria, Basti, Gorakhpur, and Siddharth Nagar.
• Matsya: Covered the Rajasthani cities of Alwar, Bharatpur, and Jaipur.
• Vajji: Located in northern Bihar, north of the Ganges River, Vajji was a confederacy of eight republican clans with Vaishali as its capital.
• Vatsa: Its capital was Kaushambi, covering modern areas like Allahabad, Mirzapur, and surrounding cities.
• Panchala: A region in Western Uttar Pradesh extending to the east of the Yamuna, with Ahichhatra as its capital.
• Surasena: With Mathura as its capital, Surasena includes the Braj-Mandal region.

Overview of the Magadha Kingdom

• Anga Kingdom:
  • Established by King Mahagovind.
  • First mentioned in the Atharvaveda.
  • Located in the northeast of the Magadha Empire.
  • Included present-day Munger, Bhagalpur, and Khagaria.
  • Champa (modern-day Bhagalpur) was the capital.
  • Hiuen Tsang referred to it as Chenanpo and Malini.
• Magadha Kingdom:
  • First mentioned in the Atharvaveda.
  • Played a crucial role in the development of Buddhism and Jainism.
  • Extent: From the Ganga in the north to the Vindhyas in the south, from Champa in the east to the river Sone in the west.
  • Capital Girivraja (Rajgir) was surrounded by five hills.
  • Later, Patliputra became the new capital.
  • Known for the rise of the Maurya and Gupta empires.
  • Koshal, Vatsa, and Avanti were part of the Magadha Kingdom.
• Vajji Kingdom:
  • Consisted of eight clans.
  • Located in the northern part of India.
  • Major clans: Jnatrika, Videha, and Licchavi.
  • Vaishali was the capital city.
  • Regarded as the world’s first republic.
• Videha Clan:
  • First mentioned in the Yajurveda.
  • Capital was Janakpur, now in Nepal.
  • Founded by Nimi Videh, son of Ishkavaku.
  • Mithila was established by Mithijanak Videh.
  • Goddess Sita, daughter of King Janak, belonged to this clan.
• Licchavi Clan:
  • Most powerful clan in the Vajji confederacy.
  • Capital was Vaishali.
  • Located on the northern banks of the Ganga and in Nepal.
  • Lord Mahavira was born in Kundagram, Vaishali; his mother was a Licchavi princess (sister of King Chetak).
  • Integrated into the Magadha Empire by Ajatshatru of the Haryanka dynasty.
• Jnatrika Clan:
  • Home of Lord Mahavira, whose father was the clan head.

Pre-Mauryan Dynasties under the Magadha Empire

Dynasty of Brihadratha

• The first known ruler of Magadha was Brihadrath, the eldest son of Vasu, the Kuru King of Chedi.
• Under his reign, the capital was Girivraja (Rajgir).
• Brihadrath is mentioned in the Rigveda.
• His son, Jarasandha, was a notable and popular king.
• The Brihadratha dynasty was succeeded by the Pradyota dynasty.

Dynasty of Haryanka

• Time Period: 544 to 492 B.C.
• Bimbisara:
  • Established the Haryanka dynasty and ruled during the time of Buddha.
  • Made Rajgir his capital.
  • Created a permanent military force.
  • Expanded his empire through matrimonial alliances, including with Kosala.
  • Sent royal doctor Jivaka to treat Chanda Pradyota, the king of Avanti, who later became his friend.
• Ajatshatru:
  • Son of Bimbisara, who assassinated his father to become ruler.
  • During his reign, both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira attained Mahaparinirvana and Moksha.
  • Hosted the first Buddhist Council in Rajgir in 483 B.C.
• Udayin:
  • Son of Ajatshatru, who succeeded him by assassinating him.
  • Founded the city of Patliputra at the confluence of the Ganga and Sone rivers, making it his capital.

Dynasty of Shishunaga

• Time Period: 412 B.C. to 344 B.C.
• Shishunaga:
  • Founder of the Shishunaga dynasty and former viceroy of Banaras.
  • Rajgir and Vaishali served as capitals during his reign.
  • Ended a 100-year rivalry by defeating Avanti.
• Kalasoka:
  • Relocated the capital to Patliputra.
  • Under his patronage, the second Buddhist Council was held in Vaishali in 383 B.C.

Dynasty of Nanda

• Time Period: 344 B.C. to 321 B.C.
• Mahapadmananda:
  • Founded the Nanda dynasty after killing the last Shishunaga emperor, Nandivardhana.
  • Known as Mahapadmapati, meaning "sovereign of immense wealth."
  • Referred to as Ugrasen in Mahabodhivamsa.
• Dhana Nanda:
  • The last monarch of the Nanda dynasty and a contemporary of Alexander the Great.

Jainism in Bihar

• Jainism traces its origins back to Vardhaman Mahavira, considered the 24th Tirthankara in Jainism.
• At the age of 30, Mahavira renounced his worldly life in pursuit of spiritual liberation, adopting the ascetic practices of the Nirgranthas.
• The Jaina faith is based on 14 primary texts known as the "Purvas".
• The core principles of Jainism are based on five concepts: Satya (truth), Ahimsa (non-violence), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), Asteya (non-stealing), and Brahmacharya (celibacy).
  • Salvation in Jainism is achieved through rigorous penance and adherence to the three jewels of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct (triratnas).
  • Jainism's Nayavada philosophy suggests that reality is multifaceted and knowledge is inherently relative.
• The lineage of Jain Tirthankaras includes 24 enlightened spiritual teachers, with Mahavira being the 24th in the series:
  

Birthplace of Buddhism: Bihar

• Significance of Bihar: Bihar holds a special place in Buddhism as it is where Gautama Buddha received enlightenment, delivered his first sermon, known as the "Dharma Chakra Pravartana," and passed into "Parinirvana."
• The Four Noble Truths:
  • Life's Essence: Life is characterized by suffering (Sarvam Dukkham).
  • Root of Suffering: Desire leads to rebirth and suffering (Dukha Smundra).
  • Cessation of Suffering: Ending desire ends suffering and rebirth (Dukha Nirodha).
  • Path to Liberation: Liberation or Nirvana is attained by following the Eightfold Path (Astangika Marg).
• Buddhist Literature:
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka: Explores Buddha's metaphysics and religious teachings.
  • Sutta Pitaka: Contains short sermons of Buddha divided into 5 Nikayas.
  • Millindapanho: Dialogues between Greek King Menander and Buddhist saint Nagasena.
  • Vinaya Pitaka: Rules and regulations for monks and nuns.
  • Jatakas: Collection of tales about Buddha's past lives.
• The Eightfold Path:
  • Right Action: Engaging in moral, ethical conduct (Samma-Kammanta).
  • Right Livelihood: Pursuing a livelihood that doesn't harm others (Samma-Ajiva).
  • Right View: Developing a correct understanding of reality (Samma-Ditthi).
  • Right Mindfulness: Cultivating awareness of oneself and the world (Samma-Sati).
  • Right Effort: Exerting oneself to develop wholesome qualities (Samma-Vayama).
  • Right Speech: Speaking truthfully and with kindness (Samma-Vaca).
  • Right Intention: Cultivating thoughts of goodwill and non-harm (Samma-Sankappa).
  • Right Concentration: Developing deep mental focus and clarity (Samma-Samadhi).

Mauryan Dynasty

The Mauryan dynasty, reigning from 321 B.C. to 184 B.C., was a significant period in Indian history. Here are some key rulers from this dynasty:

Chandragupta Maurya

• Dynasty Founding: The Mauryan dynasty was established by Chandragupta Maurya with the assistance of his mentor, Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta).
• Clan Affiliation: Chandragupta Maurya was from the Moriya Kshatriya clan, according to Buddhist tradition.
• Indica: Written by Megasthenes, this work provides a detailed account of Mauryan rule.
• Comprehensive Treatise: Indica is considered the most thorough treatise on economics, politics, foreign policy, administration, military, and warfare, according to Chanakya.
• Governance Structure: The Indica describes the Mauryan Empire as having four governors for different provinces. A council of 30 members, organized into 6 committees of 5 people each, managed the government in Patliputra.
• Alternative Name: In Megasthenes’s Indica, Patliputra is referred to as Palibothra.

Bindusara

• Alternative Names: Chandragupta Maurya was also known as Amitrochates and Seemseri in Jain texts such as the Rajvalli Katha and Mudrasar in the Vayu Purana.
• Deimachus: A Syrian ambassador sent by King Antiochus.
• Dionysius: An envoy sent by Ptolemy II of Egypt.

Ashoka

• Famous Ruler: King Ashoka is the most renowned ruler of the Mauryan Empire.
• Rise to Power: He came to power by murdering 99 of his brothers, sparing only one.
• Bhabru Inscription: Ashoka is identified as the ruler of Magadha in this inscription.
• Kalinga War: Major Edict XIII refers to the Kalinga War, which occurred in 261 B.C.
• Conversion to Buddhism: After the Kalinga War, Ashoka converted to Buddhism with the guidance of the monk Upagupta.
• Third Buddhist Council: Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council in Patliputra in 250 B.C., with Tissa as the president.

Sunga Dynasty

• Chief Military Officer: Pushyamitra Sunga was the chief military officer of the Mauryan Empire.
• Overthrow of Last Emperor: He overthrew the last Mauryan emperor and was a follower of Hinduism.
• Patanjali’s Role: According to the Dhandev Inscription from Ayodhya, Patanjali served as the principal priest at two Ashwamedha Yagnas during Pushyamitra Sunga’s rule.
• Kalidasa’s Play: The main character in Kalidasa’s play was Agnimitra, the son of Pushyamitra Sunga.

Gupta Dynasty

• Dynasty Founder: The Gupta dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta.
• Government Structure: Unlike the Mauryan Empire with centralized power, the Gupta Empire had a decentralized system, with power distributed among provinces, districts, and villages.
• Golden Age of India: The Gupta era is known as India's Golden Age due to significant advancements in various fields.
  • Aryabhatta’s Contribution: Aryabhatta proposed that the earth orbits the sun and rotates on its own axis.
  • Varahamihira’s Work: Varahamihira is renowned for his works, including the Pancha Siddhanta and the Brihat Samhita.
  • Literary Works: Notable literary works from the Gupta period include Sudraka’s Mrichakatika, Vatsyayana’s Nyaya Sutra Bhashya and Kamasutra, Vishakhadatta’s Mudrarakṣhasa, and Kalidasa’s Abhijnanashakuntala, Vikramorvashi, and Kumarasambhava.

Some famous rulers of the Gupta Dynasty are given below:

• Chandragupta I:
  • Son of Ghatotkacha (son of Sri Gupta).
  • First to use the title "Maharajadhiraja" as king.
  • Married the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi, commemorated with the issuance of gold coins.
  • His kingdom included parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal.
• Samudragupta:
  • Honored by an inscription by Harisen in Prayag, written in Sanskrit and discovered by A. Tryer.
  • Known as Kaviraj due to his support for the arts.
  • Allowed Megavarnan, the king of Sri Lanka, to build a monastery at Bodh Gaya.
• Chandragupta II – Vikramaditya:
  • Expanded his empire through diplomatic and matrimonial alliances.
  • Killed his brother and married his widow.
  • Hosted the Chinese traveler Fa-Hien during his reign.
  • Formed the Navratnas (Nine Gems) in his court, which included:
    • Vararuchi
    • Panaka
    • Varahamihira
    • Dhanwantari
    • Ghatakarpara
    • Kalidasa
    • Shanku
    • Amarasimha
    • Vetalbhatta
• Kumaragupta:
  • Also known as Mahendraditya.
  • Founded Nalanda University, which became a major center of learning.
• Skandagupta:
  • The last of the great Gupta kings; the empire began to decline after his reign.
  • Restored the Sudarshana Lake, originally constructed by the Mauryas, according to the Junagarh Inscription.
  • The final Gupta monarch was Vishnugupta.

Pala Dynasty

• Gopala:
  • The first ruler of the dynasty, chosen democratically.
  • Founded the Buddhist Mahavihara of Odantipur, located in present-day Bihar Sharif.
• Dharmapala:
  • Took control of Kannauj and assumed the title Uttarapatha Swamin (“Lord of the North”).
  • Established Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur.
• Buddhist Affiliation:
  • The rulers were adherents of both tantric and Mahayana Buddhism.
  • Built numerous temples, with Konark’s Sun Temple being the most prominent.