Evidence of early settlements from prehistoric times by the indigenous peoples of northern India are strewn throughout Bihar/Magadha. Cave paintings from the early stone age exist, as do late stone age sites, copper tools and the heavy influence of the Iron age as well. However this area of India is one of the few that does not contain any discovered remains of ancient grave sites. The Harrapa peoples or the Indus River Civilization also did not extend to within Bihar's borders. Normal ancient Indian culture and civilization starts during the Aryan times, and some of the markers of Aryan advancements such as Sanskrit, the spoken language, do appear here in pre-600b.c. Bihar with the epic tales composed within. Under the Aryan influence the ruling system was made up of the caste system, varying degrees of power in the Brahmin priesthood and the raja system or kingship. Some of the rajas of this region pre-Mauyran rule are listed as merely regional chieftains governing over an agricultural area. Women were at times upheld as important charactors too, as we can see with Amrapali, a courtesean to a regional raja who weilded great power. Aside from these minor figures, little stands out until the appearance of a great empire..

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan dynasty or empire through conquest in approximately 320 b.c. Kautilya, a prominent Brahmin priest, acted as his chief advisor and Bihar was his birthplace. Chandragupta employed Kautilya in many diplomatic areas, sending him far to aid in the Mauryan dynasty conquests and to form treaties with the invading Greeks. Through this strong leader and his aid, Mauryan rule spread grew. Chandragupta built his palace, a grand affair according to contemporary accounts, in Patilaputra and exerted his rule from there. Chandragupta's son, Bindhusara, spread that rule during his reign to include the southern Deccan and modern day Bangladesh in the north.

Then arrived Asoka bringing the greatest ruler to date in Indian history. Asoka went about conquering and spreading the already vast reign of Mauryan rule to it's furthest point yet, Kalinga in the north. After all this conquering and bloodshed, the battle of Kalinga brought victory to Asoka but with it's brutality changed Asoka forevor. According to some sources, he converted to Buddhism directly on the battlefield. Whether he did or not, directly after his conquest his rule, beliefs and indeed the whole of Asia changed irrevocably. Brahmin script was in use at this time and provided us with a great deal of historical reference as Asoka used it to create detailed transcripts of his reign and constructed stone Edicts proclaiming his new laws and acted as tenants for the governance of the people. He also built great monuments dedicated to Lord Buddha, and the religion spread vastly during this time. Believing in peace and becoming a vegetarian for the remainder of his life, he attempted to create a government from these Buddhist foundations. To some extent he succeeded, but eventually found that the needs of a solid governing body were at odds with these non-violent beliefs. However, it is from this time that Hinduism adopts the practice of vegetarianism, which remains to this day as the majority in India. Within a hundred years of Asoka the Great's death, the Mauryan empire also sees it's demise.

The astounding array of religions born here, religious events that occured here and religious people and leaders that lived and died here cause one to coin this place the birthplace of India's spirituality. These religions continue to be the primary or important religions of India even in modern times and also spread to influence a great many other countries. Lets explore these various religions and their historical effects on Bihar and India;

Several important personages, Gods and events concerning Hinduism happened or were born here in Bihar. Maharishi Valmiki; the author of the great Hindu epic The Ramayana lived in Bihar. Princess Seeta, consort of Lord Rama was a daughter of King Janak and born in Punaura city, Bihar. She and Lord Rama were also married within zjsnskput, her father's ruling capital.

The most important events relavant to Buddhist foundations and history occured here in Bihar. Prince Gautam visited the Champaran district after a meaningful visit with Amrapali and it is here that he chose to make his speach to the Licchavis (his disciples) informing them of his impending nirvana. After their protestations, he created a wide stream, asked them to depart and gave them his alms-bowl as a parting gift. The Licchavis did reluctantly leave and built a great stupa there to commemorate the event. Soon after, in Bodh Gaya, Prince Gautam indeed reached nirvana and acheived enlightenment, thus becoming known as Lord Buddha. There in Champaran district of Bihar, Buddhism was born.

Though there are earlier practitioners or religious leaders in Jainism, it is Lord Vardhamana Mahavira that is credited with being the founder of Jainism. Born near Pataliputra he was the son of the Nata clan chief. Shunning the warrior life of his father, Lord Mahavira became an aesthetic, spending the next 12 years in silence and meditation. Believing in the need to respect living creatures and practicing self-starvation, he meditated for years until he attained enlightenment. Known as Keval-jnana, this is the realization of perfect perception, knowledge, power and bliss. He then became a Siddha, or liberated soul, and preached Jainism until his death 30 years later in Pawapuri, Bihar. Many Jain temples exist in Bihar.

One of the five holiest places of worship or Takhats for the Sikhs is in eastern Patna (reverently known as Patna Sahib), after the last and tenth Guru of the Sikhs was born and attained sainthood there. A majestic temple, named Gurudwara, was built to commemorate this event. Defined as a uniting religion that teaches tolerance and formed in harmony between the Muslims and Hindus of the region, despite the great conflicts surrounding them then and now. This is the most recent religion created in India, with it's birth attributed to 1510 a.d. It is a monotheistic religion and though it shares some Hindu foundations does not follow the caste system.

Of course many other raja's and kings ruled over Bihar and exhorted influence including rulers during the Gupta period, though few remain in history's prominence. One that does is during the Mughal period, an Afghan born ruler named Sher Khan Sur or Sher Shah. This Jagardur (under-king) of the great Mughal King Babur sucessfully battled Babur's son Humayun and became ruler of a greater territory that extended to the Punjab region. Noted as a great administrator, he revived many ruling traditions of Asoka and Chandragupta II (a great Gupta era ruler), instituted land reforms and also built a grand mausoleum.

The "worlds first seat of higher learning" or university was established in Nalanda, Bihar, during the Gupta era. It continued as India's finest early university until the Mughal period, when it was burned.

We also have a great historical account of ancient Pataliputra by a foreignor from around 300 B.C. in the form of Megasthenes, an emissary of one of Alexander's Generals. The account describes in vivid terms the grandeur of life and the palace areas.

The ancient people of Bihar, famous and obscure, are as varied as India itself. From the lowest members of the caste system to Asoka the Great and other great rulers, from Brahmin priests to Lord Buddha. It is not the land that is remarkable, it is the people of Bihar's history that formed it and left their mark for generations to marvel at. At the present we need your help in deciding what lowest-level district hoods to create. Because Bihar is a modern state of India and even in ancient times it held many cities within, choosing is not as easy as it seems. Please post your thoughts in The Orient's Neighborhood Hall. Come play your part in ancient Bihar (Magadha) and help us to see these great ancient personages, and to see the events that occured that shaped a nation. Your options are as varied as the historical charactos of India in what you choose to bring to this region, and we hope your participation in bringing this fascinating history to life is just as imaginative!

Ancient India at WSU
Bihar tourism and info
Jain Heritage Center - Bihar images
Kamat's Potpourri-Images and info on ancient India
History of India -at webindia123.com
Image India's Heritage
Ancient India Timeline at AskAsia.org
Maps from University of Texas (some maps used as reference in creating our own)
House of Lime (Paisley font used in some image creations)

Thank you to our volunteers for providing information:

Ekani Vardhana
Members of Bharat Mata