Visit Bihar

Deo Sun Temple

2011-04-18T07:19:00.001-07:00

Situated in the Aurangabad district in Bihar, this temple is a architectural masterpiece. The whole structure is devoted to the Hindu god Surya and resembles the Chariot Temple in Orissa.

Kakolat

2011-04-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

What Niagara is to the United States or Canada, Kakolat is to the people of Nawada District. Surrounded on the all sides by a forest, the 49m high fall is one of the most scenic places in Bihar. It is a famous picnic spot during summers and, like most places in India, has a mythological story associated with it too.

Akal Takht Patna

2011-04-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

This Sikh temple is classified as one of the five most sacred places in Sikhism. Devout Sikhs have to visit all of them at least once during their lifetime. This makes Akal Takhat an excellent place to meet Sikhs and know about their religion and philosophy.

Sonepur Mela

2011-04-18T07:11:00.001-07:00

Sonepur is a small and picturesque town in Bihar and is famous for the month long and largest cattle fair in Asia. Only 22 km from Patna, it is located in the Saran district and said to possess a history that goes back to “pre-historic” times according to Hindu mythology.

Rajgir

2011-04-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

Founded by the mythical king Vasuand, Rajgir was the capital of one of the most powerful Indian empires – Magadha. There are both natural and man made wonders in this town for tourists.

Vaishali

2011-04-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

This small village was the first republic in the world. It was also the place of religious renaissance in ancient India. Just like Jerusalem, this place is sacred for three religions – Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It is only 54 km from Patna so it won't be a long journey if you are in Patna.

Nalanda University

2011-04-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Also known as the Harvard of antiquity, this Buddhist centre of learning is located around 88 km or 55 miles of the east of Patna. So it is not very difficult to reach. Established during the reign of Karamagupta, the university continued to attract students from all over the East until the 11th century AD, when it was destroyed by a Turk general Ikhtiyar Muhammed.

Bodh Gaya

2011-04-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

This Buddhist place of worship is a UNESCO World Heritage and located only 96 km or 60 miles from the best connected city and the capital of the state – Patna. Buddhists claim this temple to be the place where Gautam Buddha supposedly gained enlightenment in the five century BC. For centuries the temple lay buried in the earth until in the 19th century an Englishman Sir Alexander Cunningham restored it. Now it is a famous tourist destination.

Places to visit in Patna

2011-04-11T15:22:00.001-07:00

* Agam Kuan, literally the unfathomable well which is said to date back to the Ashokan period.

* Hanuman Mandir The favourite Deity of the Patnaite. It is situated right in front of the Patna Junction, the central railway station of the City. Long winding queues can be seen at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays, the traditional worshipping days of the deity.

* Kumhrar, the site of the ruins of the Ashokan Patliputra.

* Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb, constructed by Punjab ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, consecrates the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Jee

* State Secretariat Building and its Clock Tower, including the Martyrs Memorial commemorating the seven school and college students who were brutally killed by the armed forces under the command of the British Raj in front of the Patna Secretariat during the Quit India movement of 1942.

* Phulwari Shareef is a place of great Religious&Historical importance for Muslims.

* Imarat-E-Shariya or the "Shariyat" of Patna looks after whole of Bihar, Jharkhand,Orrisa, WestBengal and all North-Eastern states.

* High Court Building and a famous Dargah beside it.

* Patna Planetorium on Dak Bungalow Road. One of the largest Planetarium in Asia, the Patna Planetarium attracts large number of domestic as well as foreign tourists. The planetarium has regular film shows on subjects related to astronomy. It also holds exhibitions which attracts lots of visitors.

* Moin-Ul-Haque Stadium boasts of its Cricket Ground which is 2nd largest in India, next only to "The Eden Gardens".It holds 25,000 spectators. The first ODI was played here betweem Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka on 15 November 1993(Hero Cup,1993/94).Another ODI was between Kenya and Zimbabwe on 27 February 1996(Wills World Cup 1996)

* Golghar ( a beehive shaped granary) - One of the oldest British buildings in Patna.

* Patna Museum called the Jadu Ghar: The well-known museum has a fine collection of stone and bronze sculptures and terracotta figures of Hindu and Buddhist artists. Didarganj Yakshi is the most prized collection of this museum.

* Begu Hajjam's mosque, built in 1489 by the Bengal ruler Alauddin Hussani Shah

* Pathar ki Masjid built by Pervez, the elder brother of Shah Jehan and the first Mughal prince who made Bihar his residence

* Qila House (Jalan House) houses an interesting museum famous for its jade collection, Chinese paintings and other far eastern work of art, Collected by Diwan Bahadur Radhakrishan Jalan.

* Sadaqat Ashram on the banks of the river Ganga [The land was donated by Mulana Mazharul Haque to the then congress party] which later became the retreat of Dr. Rajendra Prasad

* Zoological and Botanical garden called Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan

* Bissleboron, birthplace of Rahul Gunderjaharagand.

* Padri Ki Haveli, deemed to be the oldest church in Bihar dating back to 1772

* Bankipore Club on the banks of the river Ganges. The dance hall of this club is said to be one of the original buildings built by the Dutch in the 17th century.

* Congress Maidan A historic ground that symbolises the Indian independence movement in Bihar.It was used to hold meetings by great illumanaries like Rajendra Prasad,Nehru,Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Sri Babu, Jayaprakash Narayan and others.

* Darbhanga House, also called Nav Lakha building. This was built by Maharaja Sir Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga. This beautiful building on the banks of Ganges now houses the post graduate departments of Patna University. It houses the Kali Mandir, which has been a place of worship of the goddess, the Maharaja himself was a great devotee and the students of the Patna University rarely take an exam without offering a prayer.

* Patna College administrative block building was initially part of a Dutch Opium factory established on the banks of the Ganga as a part of the flourishing Opium Trade from the northern China and Nepal region.

* Gandhi Maidan called the Patna Lawns during the British Raj.

* Anugrah Seva Sadan It was established by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan to serve the underprivilaged masses and to serve as a care home for the poor.It bears the pious name of reverend leader Bihar Bibhuti Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha.

* Very old Church Known as Christ Church which also has a school with same name near Gandhi Maidan.

* Kargil Chowraha near gandhi maidan built in the memory of our brave soldier who get shaheed in kargil war "SALUTE TO THEM"

* Saheed smarak, situated near Bihar Vidhan Sabha. is a memory of seven extra ordinary students who attempted to hoist the Indian flag on the top of Bihar Vidhan Sabha in 1942 during English rule. The six were shot dead by the forces under the command of the-then colonial government of India, while the last and the seventh one was able to hoist the flag.

* Nagholkothi Located in Old city of Patna. Built by Nawabs of Patna, it is an example of unique architecture of midlive time with beautiful garden of Mughal style.

Patna Capital of Bihar

2011-04-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Patna or ancient Patliputra is now the capital of Bihar. The famous sacred river Ganges flows right across it from west to east. One of the famous land marks include the significant Mahatma Gandhi Setu (bridge) built on the Ganges which is among the longest bridges in the world at 7.5 Km. Another major land mark include the Patna's most significant monument the Gol-Ghar which is a large granary built in 1786 by John Garstin at the behalf of Lard Warren Hastings. This was to prevent the reappearance of the dreadful famine of the 1770.

The name Patna is thought to be adapted from Patan, the name of the Hindu goddess Patan devi. Another theory considers it to be derived from Patliputra the original name of Patna. Patliputra was started by Ajatsatru as a fort on the junction of 4 rivers, particularly the Ganga and Sone. This was to defend the kingdom of Magadh from the army of the Licchavis that used to cross the river Ganga and harass the citizens on the other side of the river.

It has been revealed that the home of oriental manuscripts in several languages, the Patna University Central Library is allowing their decay. The manuscript admits more than 5000 in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, Sanskrit, Maithili, Magadha, Bhojpuri, Pali and Hindi. These are in urgent demand of care and saving.

Patna by SATELLITE

Mahatma Gandhi Setu

NIT, Patna

Science College

Sabzi Bagh

Gandhi Maidan

Gol Ghar/ St. Xaviers School

New Patliputra Colony

Patliputra Polytechnic/ IGNOU

A.N College

Ashiana Nagar

Khajpura/ Keshav Place

Don Bosco School

St. Michael School

Loyola/ Holy Family/ Notre Dame

Old Secretariat/ Assembly

Patna Junction

New Secretariat area

Patna Airport

Amarpali

2011-04-11T12:30:00.001-07:00

King Bimbisar of the Sisunaga dynasty has been considered to be good looking, well polished, elegant, graceful and a great statesman. It is stated that he had a thing with the great dancer of Vaishali (the tribal unification of the Lichhavis; where Buddha conveyed his last address) called Amarpali (Amrapali). Not much is known about her. She is however stated in Pali and several Buddhist manuscripts portrayed as one that was found under a mango tree with unknown ancestry. She was thought to have first come into view close to a mango tree hence her name (Amra-mango; Pali-leaves). Several tales of Amarpali exists although most seems like remixes, misinterpretations, delusions, misunderstandings and fairy tales of events. Even a Bollywood movie has been made referring to this exact character of Amarpali.

She grew up in the royal house of the Lichhavis in the companionship of other dancers and entertainers. She outshined everyone in relation to beauty and magnificence hence earned herself the status of the main courtesan of Vaishali. Her fame traveled near, far and wide. Some say that it was Ajatsatru after killing of his father and brothers and becoming the monarch of Magadh, had an affair with Amarpali clandestinely without the knowledge of royals of Vaishali. The Lichhavis were a ruthless and merciless lot that never acknowledged the domination of the Magadhan Empire. Their soldiers from time to time used to cross the river Ganges and create nuisances for the people of Magadh.

Although the exact date of Amarpali cannot be traced, it seems to be during the time of either Bimbisar or his son Ajatsatru. Bimbisar the king of Magadha (Ancient Bihar) vowed to defeat the tribals hence tried many tricks to bring them to book. It is considered that during a secret incursion of Vaishali he met her and forcibly brought her back to Rajgir, the capital of Magadh and married her. Some Buddhist and ancient text books mention that she stayed in Vaishali all her life where she meet the Buddha and converted to Buddhism.

Some mention that it was actually Ajatsatru that was mesmerized by her. Ajatsatru was the ruthless son on Bimbisar. However the story goes that Ajatsatru periodically cheated on his wife Khema. Horrified by the increasing ruthless activities of the Licchavi soldiers he disguised himself as a Licchavi soldier and spied on their war methods and modus operandi where he met Amarpali at the courts of Vaishali. Traveling to the Vaishali district in Bihar today, there exists a village called "Amvara" and not astonishingly numerous mango orchards are to be seen. Vaishali can be approcahed by road or air via Patna approximately 56 kms.

Story of this dancer is very interesting. She was so beautiful, talented, and could make the rulers dance to her wish. She had all luxuries. Yet. she was unhappy.When she was attracted by Buddha's teachings and wanted to become his deciple by taking sanyasa, Many others opposed buddha for making her a sanyasin (Theri). Later she ,leaving all her luxuries and past life, lived that life as a better yogini.

What the hell Bihar ministers and MPs doing in parliament?

2011-04-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

Do you know what is the percentage of bihari soldier in indian defence sector? You will say No idea. Don,t worry i would not say get idea!. Bihar province sends 11 per cent of the total indian army, navy, and air force to guard the country from any external threat. whether it is the matter to fight with pakistani army or their allied group Lashkare-e-Toiba or catch the soumalian pirates in india sea. But do you know what we get in return Our honorable home minister says that if we consider south and west of our country we are growing very fast.
The rest of the discussion on YouBihar, the Bihar social working site.

Alexander the great in India

2011-03-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

When Alexander, invincible before all enemies save death, passed away at Babylon in the summer of the year B.C. 323, and his generals assembled in council to divide his empire, they were compelled perforce to decide that the distant Indian provinces should remain in the hands of the officers to whom they had been entrusted by the king. But the decision of the fate of India no longer rested with Greek generals in council at Babylon, for the natives of the country took the decision into their own hands. In the cold season following the death of Alexander the natives rose, killed the officers who represented Macedonian authority, and, while thinking to achieve independence, merely effected a change of masters.

Their leader was a man of humble origin, by name Chandragupta Maurya, who assembled and organized from the predatory tribes of the north-western frontier of India a powerful force with which he expelled the foreigners. Having conquered the Punjab and neighbouring countries, Chandragupta turned his arms against Dhana Nanda, King of Magadha, whom he dethroned and slew. The usurper seated himself upon the vacant throne of Pataliputra, and ruled the realm with an iron hand.

Magadha was at that time the premier kingdom of India, and the irresistible combination of its forces with those previously recruited in the upper provinces enabled Chandragupta to extend his rule over the greater part of India from sea to sea. Seleucus, sumamed Nikator, or the Conqueror, by reason of his many victories, had established himself as Satrap of Babylon after the second division of Alexander's empire made at Paradeisos in B.C. 321. Six years later he was driven out by his rival Antigonus, and compelled to flee to Egypt. After three years' exile he recovered Babylon, and devoted himself to the consolidation and extension of his power.

He attacked and subjugated the Bactrians, and directed his victorious army against India in the hope of regaining the provinces which had been for a brief space held by his late master. But the vast hosts of teeming India led by Chandragupta were more than a match for the power of the Macedonian, who was compelled to renounce his ambition of surpassing Alexander by affecting the conquest of India, and to withdraw from the country. Terms of peace were arranged which comprised a matrimonial alliance between the two royal houses, and the cession to Chandragupta of all the Indian provinces of Alexander's empire, including the regions now known as Afghanistan, as far as the Parapa nisus or Hindu Kush mountain. On his part, Chandragupta gave five hundred elephants to Seleucus.

In the year b. c. 306 Seleucus assumed the regal title, as also did the other generals of Alexander in their respective provinces. Henceforth Seleucus is known to history as King of Syria.

About this time, or a little later, the Syrian monarch dispatched Megasthenes as his ambassador to the court of Chandragupta, at PS,taliputra on the Ganges, the modem Patna and Bankipore. Megasthenes resided there for a considerable time, and, fortunately for posterity, took the trouble to record what he saw, A large part of his book has survived in fragments, which are almost the sole authority for what is known of India in the days of Chandragupta. The ambassador found the government of the Indian king strong and well organized, established in a magnificent fortified city, worthy to be the capital of a great kingdom. The royal camp at the capital was estimated to contain 400,000 souls, and an efficient standing army numbering 60,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 elephants, and a multitude of chariots, was maintained at the king's expense. On active service the army is said to have attained the huge total of 600,000 men.

With this overwhelming and well-equipped force Chandragupta crushed all rivals, and became the first Emperor of India. After twenty-four years of strong government he died, and transmitted the empire which he had won to his son Bindusara, who reigned for twenty-five years. The only recorded event of his reign is the dispatch to his court of an ambassador named Deimaehos by the King of Syria. In the year b. c. Seleucus Nikator, who was in the seventy-eighth year of his age, was murdered, and was succeeded on the Syrian

The Invasion of India hy Alexander the Great (Constable, 1896) and ancient India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian (Trubner, 1877. The passage in Justin is the most important. Justin abridged the work of Trogus Pompeius, who lived in the time of Augustus. The ultimate authority of all these writers is chiefly Megasthenes, whom Arrian describes as a man 'of approved character.' Strabo, who was disgusted by the travellers' tales with which the ambassador embellished his work, formed a less favourable opinion of Megasthenes, whom he unjustly stigmatized as a liar. For all matters which came under his personal observation Megasthenes seems perfectly trustworthy.

Tribute to Bihar

2011-03-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

This is one of the very best videos highlighting Bihar. It highlights some of the very best although most are colonial buildings of Bihar, nonetheless it captures the essence of Bihar. It then shows some amazing pictures of Bodh Gaya and the brilliance of Madhubani paintings.

Indeed who can deny the glorious past of ancient Magadha, Bihar. However, we seem to have forgot ourselves. As much as we would like to keep reminding the world how glorious we was, we must ask ourself if we are still the same or we need to do something.

Shaheed Smarak Patna - the Martyr's Memorial Patna

2011-02-25T08:24:00.000-08:00

This is Martyr's Memorial located in Patna. It is a life-size statue of 7 brave young men from Bihar who sacrificed their lives in the Quit India movement(August 1942), while hoisting the national flag on the Secretariat building. A;; these boys were studying in 9th and 10th std. and their age was 15-16 years old.

Their names are:
1 Umakant Prasad Sinha - Ram Mohan Roy Seminary,class IX
2 Ramanand Singh - Ram Mohan Roy Seminary, class IX
3 Satish Prasad Jha - Patna Collegiate School, class X
4 Jagatpati Kumar - Bihar National College, 2nd year
5 Devipada Choudhry - Miller High English School, class IX
6 Rajendra Singh - Patna High English School, matric class
7 Ramgovind Singh - Punpun High English School, matric class IX

Buddhist Circuit

2011-02-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

In Bihar is situated Bodh Gaya, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. There's also Rajgir where Lord Buddha spent many years for meditating. And there's also Nalanda, where existed one of the most ancient universities of the world which used to be the dream destination for distinguished people, religious leaders and astronomers from across the globe.

Indeed, the state offers to tourists a varied wealth of Indian civilisation,history and culture coupled with exquisite scenic beauties and wildlife. Within its precinct is also located Vaishali, the first republic in the world.

Bihar has been recognised as a cradle of movementsbe it in the field of art, culture,religion, literature or human rights.Apostles of peace Lord Buddha,Lord Mahavir,Guru Gobind Singh and Mahatma Gandhi have all significant connections to this land.

It is the land on which the earliest seeds of democracy took roots. In the preachings of Lord Buddha, man found answers to the woes and sufferings of the humanity at the hands of time, tyranny and violence. People embraced Buddhism and the holiest sermon, Buddham Sharanam Gachchhami,reached beyond the boundaries of our country.

Bodh Gaya is revered by Buddhists as the place where Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment to become Lord Buddha. Located 91 km south of Pataliputra, it was part of the ancient kingdom of Magadh. There is archaeological evidence of occupation in the area as far backas 1100 BC.

During the sixth century BC, Prince Siddhartha had been wandering, seeking the meaning of life for six years before he came to the area.Sitting down under a peepal tree,he vowed to remain there in meditation until heattained enlightenment.

Emperor Ashoka built a shrine here in the third century BC to commemorate the event. The present Mahabodhi Temple is believed to have been built between the fifth and seventh centuries BC. Repairs and renovations were later done as and when needed. Built upon a 15-metre or 49-ft square base, pyramid rises 52 metres or 170ft and is built entirely of bricks.Tower shown each of the structure's four cornersriseto the same height.

Inside the temple, there is a gigantic black stone statue of Buddha which is believed to be around 1700 years old. He is shown seated with his right hand upon the earth,the posture he held while attaining enlightenment. Till date,the Mahabodhi Temple remains an important pilgrimage destination and has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The present Bodhi tree stands behind the Mahabodhi Temple and is at least the fourth descendant of the original one under which prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment.

Scores of stupas of varying sizes were built at Bodh Gaya over the past 2500 years,most of which are noted for their elegant construction and ornamental relief carvings. There are other Sacred Spots nearby such as the Vajrasana or Diamond Throne, a red sandstone seat under the Bodhi tree which marks the spot where Lord Buddha sat; the Animesh Lochana,where he sat during the first week after his enlightenment to gaze at the sacred tree; and the Jewel Walk which is decorated with eighteen carved lotuses, where Buddha paced during the second weekafter his enlightenment.

Source

Patliputra

2010-12-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

In pursuance of this policy, soon after his defeat, in or about B. c. 305, Seleukos dispatched Megasthenes, an officer of Sibyrtios, the satrap of Arachosia, as his ambassador to the court of Chandragupta at Pataliputra on the Son, near the confluence of that river with the Ganges, which in those days was situated below the city. The modern city of Patna, the civil station of Bankipore, and adjoining villages have been proved by partial excavations to occupy the site of the ancient capital, the remains of which now lie buried at a depth of from ten to twenty feet below the existing surface. Megasthenes resided there for a considerable time, and fortunately for posterity, took the trouble to record carefully what he saw and heard. The ambassador found the government of the Indian king strong and well organized, established in a magnificent fortified city, worthy to be the capital of a great kingdom.

The royal camp at the capital was estimated to contain 400,000 souls, and an efficient standing army numbering 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9,000 elephants, and a multitude of chariots, was maintained at the king's expense. On active service the army is said to have mustered the huge total of 600,000 men of all arms, a number not incredible in the light of our knowledge of the unwieldy size of the hosts employed by Indian princes in later ages. With this overwhelming and well equipped force Chandragupta, as Plutarch tells us, 'overran and subdued the whole of India,' that is to say, at least all the country to the north of the Narmada. His empire, therefore, extended from that river to the Himalaya and Hindu Kush.

Bindusara

2010-12-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

After twenty-four years of stern and vigorous rule. Chandragupta died or abdicated, and transmitted the empire which he had won to his son Bindusara Amitraghata, who reigned for twenty-five or, according to other authorities, twenty-eight years . The only recorded public event of his reign, which may be assumed to have begun in either B.C. 298 or 301, according to the chronology adopted, is the dispatch to his court by the King of Syria of an ambassador named Dei'machos. The information is of interest as proving that the official intercourse with the Hellenic world begun by Chandragupta was continued by his successor. In the year B. c. 280 Seleukos Nikator, then in the seventy-eighth year of his age, was murdered, and was succeeded on the Syrian throne by his son Antiochos Soter.

Greek writers have preserved curious anecdotes of private friendly correspondence between Seleukos and Chandragupta and between Antiochos and Bindusara, of value only as indications that the Indian monarchs valuable information, and a few particulars are obtainable from other sources. Solinus (McCrindle, Megasfhenes, p. 156) gives the infantry force as 60,000 only, and the elephants as 8,000.

About seven years after the death of Seleukos, Asoka-vardhana, commonly called Asoka, a son of Bindusara, and the third sovereign of the Maurya dynasty, ascended the throne of Pataliputra (B. c. 273), and undertook the government of the Indian empire, which he held for about forty years. According to the silly fictions which disfigure the Ceylonese chronicles and disguise their solid merits, Asoka waded to the throne through a sea of blood, securing his position by the massacre of ninety-nine brothers, one brother only, the youngest, being saved alive. These fictions, an extract from which will be found in a later chapter, do not deserve serious criticism, and are sufficiently refuted by the testimony of the inscriptions which proves that the brothers and sisters of the king were still living in the middle of the reign, and that they and all the members of the royal family were the objects of the sovereign's anxious solicitude.

History of Ashoka of Magadha Part 1

2010-12-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

WHEN Alexander, invincible before all enemies save death, passed away at Babylon in June. B. c. 323, and his generals assembled in council to divide the empire which no arm but his could control, they were compelled perforce to decide that the distant Indian provinces should remain in the hands of the officers and princes to whom they had been entrusted by the king. Two years later, when an amended partition was effected at Triparadeisos in Syria, Sibyrtios was confirmed as governor of Arachosia (Kandahar) and Gedrosia (Makran), the provinces of Aria (Herat) and Drangiana (Sistan) being assigned to Sta.sander the Cyprian, while Bactriana and Sogdiana to the north of the Hindu Kush were bestowed on Stasanor of Soli, another Cyprian. Oxyartes, father of Alexander's consort, Roxana, obtained the satrapy of the Paropanisadai, or Kabul territory, the neighbouring Indian districts to the west of the Indus being placed in charge of Peithon, son of Agenor, whom Alexander had appointed ruler of Sind below the confluence of the rivers. Probably Peithon was not in a position to hold Sind after his master's death. Antipater, who arranged the partition, admitting that he possessed no force adequate to remove the Rajas to the east of the Indus, was obliged to recognize Omphis or Ambhi, king of Taxila, and Pdros, Alexander's honoured opponent, as lords of the Panjab, subject to a merely nominal dependence on the Macedonian power 1 . Philippos, whom Alexander had made satrap of that province, was murdered by his mercenary troops early in B. c. 324, and Alexander, who heard the news in Karmania, was unable to do more than appoint an officer named Eudemos to act as the colleague of King Ambhi. Eudemos managed to hold his ground for some time, but in or about B. c. 317 treacherously slew his Indian colleague, seized a hundred and twenty elephants, and with them and a considerable body of troops, inarched off to help Eumenes in his struggle with Antipater 2 . The departure of Eudemos marks the final collapse of the Macedonian attempt to establish a Greek empire in India.

But several years before that event a new Indian power had arisen which could not brook the presence of foreign garrisons, and probably had destroyed most of them prior to the withdrawal of Eudemos. The death of Alexander in June, B. c. 323, must have been known in India early in the autumn, and it is reasonable to suppose that risings of the natives occurred as soon as the season for campaigning opened in October, if not earlier. The leader of the movement for the liberation of his country which then began was a young man named Chandragupta Maurya, who seems to have been a scion of the Nanda dynasty of Magadha, or Bihar, then the premier state in the interior. With the help of an astute Brahman counsellor named Chanakya, who became his minister, Chandragupta dethroned and slew the Nanda king, exterminating his family. He then ascended the vacant throne at Pataliputra the capital, the modern Patna, and for twenty-four years ruled the realm with an iron hand. If Justin may be believed, the usurper turned into slavery the semblance of liberty which he had won for the Indians by his expulsion of the Macedonians, and oppressed the people with a cruel tyranny. Employing the fierce and more than half-foreign clans of the north-western frontier to execute his ambitious plans, he quickly extended his sway over the whole of Northern India, probably as far as the Narmada. Whether he first made himself master of Magadha and thence advanced northwards against the Macedonian garrisons, or first headed the risings in the Panjab, and then with the forces collected there swooped down upon the Gangetic Kingdom, does not clearly appear There is, however, no doubt about the result of his action. Chandragupta became the first strictly historical emperor of India and ruled the land from sea to sea. Seleukos, surnamed Nikator, or the Conqueror, by reason of his many victories, had established himself as Satrap of Babylon after the partition of Triparadeisos in B. c. 331, but six years later was driven out by his rival Antigonos and compelled to flee to Egypt.

After three years' exile he recovered Babylon in B. c. 312, and devoted himself to the consolidation and extension of his power. He attacked and subjugated the Bactrians, and in B. c. 306 assumed the royal title. He is known to historians as King of Syria, although that province formed only a small part of his wide dominions, which included all western Asia.

About the same time (B. c. 305) he crossed the Indus, and directed his victorious arms against India in the hope of regaining the provinces which had been held by his late master for a brief space, and of surpassing his achievement by subduing the central kingdoms. But the vast hosts of teeming India led by Chandragupta were more than a match for the power of the Macedonian, who was compelled to withdraw from the country and renounce his ambition to eclipse the glory of Alexander. No record of the conflict has survived, and we are ignorant of the place of battle and everything save the result. Terms of peace, including a matrimonial alliance between the two royal houses, were arranged, and the Indian monarch obtained from his opponent the cession of four satrapies, Aria, Arachosia, Gedrosia, and the Paropanisadai, giving in exchange the comparatively small recompense of five hundred elephants. This memorable treaty extended Chandragupta's frontier to the Hindu Kush mountains, and brought under his sway nearly the whole of the present Kingdom of Afghanistan, besides Baluchistan and Makran.

A theory has evolved that has evolved from his inner consciousness a theory that Chandragupta recognized the suzerainty of Seleukos, but the plain facts are that the Syrian monarch failed and was obliged to surrender four valuable provinces for very inadequate consideration. Five hundred elephants at a high valuation would not be worth more than about two millions of rupees, say 200,000 sterling. Seleukos never attempted to assert any superiority over his successful Indian rival, but, on the contrary, having failed in attack, made friends with the power which had proved to be too strong for him, and treated Chandragupta as an equal.

History of Patna

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The name Patna is thought to be adapted from Patan, the name of the Hindu goddess Patan devi. Another theory considers it to be derived from Patliputra the original name of Patna. Patliputra was started by Ajatsatru as a fort on the junction of 4 rivers, particularly the Ganga and Sone. This was to defend the kingdom of Magadh from the army of the Licchavis that used to cross the river Ganga and harass the citizens on the other side of the river.

Patna has been called by several names depending upon the ruler of the city, Pataligram, Pataliputra, Kusumpur, Pushpapura, Azimabad, and the present day Patna. Another point of noteworthiness is that it has “Putra” attached to Patli. A story goes that Patli was a princess who have birth to a child and the parents decided to live there at the very spot the child was born hence it came to be known as Patliputra. Nonetheless, no city in India has this unique name of having a suffix of Putra. Putra in Sanskrit is Son. Read the rest of the article on history of Patna.

Welcome

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Welcome to visit Bihar blog. Our aims are to provide the best information for visiting Bihar. Bihar is a land of contradictions. You often hear about Bihar as a state in turmoil but as every coin has another side so does Bihar. We aim to show you the places to visit in Bihar along with its history.