Vihar of Magadha.. How did Bihar become? The story of Pataliputra of Raja Patraka till the British became Patna
Journey from ‘Vihar’ to ‘Bihar’
The journey from Magadha to ‘Vihar’ and then to ‘Bihar’ is no less interesting. There is a lot of discussion about Magadha in the history of India, but where did ‘Vihara’ come from? Then how did it become ‘Bihar’? Magadha and Pataliputra became the center of India’s power during the reign of the Maurya dynasty. The empire was spread from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal. It was controlled from Pataliputra. The word ‘Vihara’ is mentioned during the reign of Ashoka (268-232 BC). In such a situation, it becomes necessary to know what is ‘Vihar’? The meaning of the word ‘Vihara’ is ‘Monastery’. Since Ashoka had embraced Buddhism, those who propagated it were called Buddhist monks. The place of his stay and prayer came to be known as ‘Vihara’. During the reign of Ashoka, ‘Viharas’ were built in many parts of Magadha. Gradually the Magadha Empire declined and the Turks invaded. He used to have difficulty in pronouncing ‘Vihar’ so he started saying ‘Bihar’. The kingdom once known as Magadha became modern ‘Bihar’ from ‘Vihara’.
History of Magadha changed from Khilji
By the way, the credit for the establishment of Ottoman rule in modern Bihar is given to Ikhtiyardin Mohammad Ibn Bakhtiyar Khilji. He was an assistant to Malik Hasmuddin, the commander of Banaras and Awadh region. At the end of the 12th century, attacked the eastern side of the river Karmanasa (modern Bihar). Then Laxman Sen of Sen dynasty and Indradhanu Pal of Pal dynasty were the rulers here. Ikhtiyardin Mohammad Ibn Bakhtiyar Khilji made Maner adjacent to Patna his base. Between 1198-1204 AD Magadha and surrounding rulers surrendered in the war. It was from here that the attacks on the words ‘Magadha’, ‘Vihara’ and ‘Pataliputra’ began.
How did ‘Pataliputra’ become ‘Patna’?
There is a ‘Golden Age’ of any country, region, culture and art. Means at that time he is at the height of his importance. Gupta period is considered as the golden age in the history of India, which lasted between 3rd to 6th century BC. Even then ‘Bihar’ had not originated. It was known as ‘Magadha’ and ‘Pataliputra’. Then the capital of Magadha Empire used to be Rajagriha (Rajgir of modern Nalanda district). Later, Ajatashatru (492-460 BC), the ruler of the Haryanka dynasty, established his capital from Rajagriha to Pataliputra. When the British entered in the 16th century, the name of today’s modern ‘Patna’ was changed from ‘Pataliputra’ to ‘Pattan’.
Know modern Bihar and Patna
Now the question arises that where did modern Bihar and Patna come from? The British entered India in the 16th century. In the 17th century, business now began to take the form of governance. Meanwhile, on October 22, 1764, there was a war between the East India Company and the Mughal-Nawabs at Buxar near the Karmnasha river. East India Company won. Bengal (including modern Bangladesh) and Bihar (Jharkhand and Orissa) came completely under the control of the British. By combining the two, the East India Company established the Bengal Presidency. Later on 22 March 1912, Bihar was separated from Bengal. A new state named Bihar was formed. Its capital became Patna. In the days ahead, in 1935 separate from Bihar, Orissa (Odisha) and in 2000 new states named Jharkhand were formed. Modern Bihar turns 111 years old. Every year on March 22, the state government organizes a festival as Bihar Day. During this, culture, art and glorious history are displayed.
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