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Ancient History of Bihar

The history of the holy land of Bihar is very ancient and also one of the most varied
in India. It is here that the great religions of Buddhism and Jainism were born. It also
witnessed the emergence of the first republic. Ancient Bihar remained centre of
power, learning and culture in India for thousands of years under the able patronage
of the Magadha empire. The word ‘Bihar’ has originated from the word ‘viharas’
which means resting houses of Buddhist monks. It is, however, the Muslim invaders
of 12th century who started calling this state as ‘Bihar’.

SOURCES
• The ancient history of Bihar has been reconstructed with the help of
archaeological evidence, literary sources and account of foreign travellers.
• Among archaeological evidence, prehistoric artefacts have been unearthed
from various sites in Bihar.
• Old stone age (Paleolithic, 1,00,000 BCE) evidence has been discovered from
sites in Munger and Nalanda.
• Apart from Munger, Middle stone age (Mesolithic, 1,00,000-40,000 BCE)
artefacts have been discovered from Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Singhbhum and
Santhal Pargana (all in Jharkhand now).
• New stone age artefacts (Neolithic, 2500-1500 BCE) have been discovered
form Chirand (Saran) and Chechar (Vaishali).
• The Neolithic period was succeeded by the Chalcolithic phase. A number of
Chalcolithic sites have been discovered in various parts of the country, and
the middle Ganga plains of Bihar is no exception to it.
• Important sites include Chirand (Saran), Munger (Patna), Oriup and Champa
(Bhagalpur), Chechar-Kutubpur (Vaishali), Sonpur and Taradih (Gaya).
• The archaeological remains of Mauryan Period (321-185 BCE) including ruins
of the Eighty pillared hail are located at Kumhrar (Patna). All the pillars were
made of black-spotted buff sandstone monoliths with a lustrous shine.
• Mauryan period pillar inscriptions have been discovered from Lauriya
Nandangarh and Rarnpurva (both in West Champaran) and Lauriya Areraj
(East Champaran).
• Many seals and coins of the Gupta period have been found at Vaishali. Various
literary sources also give information about the ancient history of Bihar.
• According to Shatapatha Brahmana (800 BCE), here was well established
Aryan civilisation besides the Ganga.
• Atharvaveda and Panchvish Brahmana referred to wandering ascetic in
ancient Bihar as Vartyas. Rigveda talks about untouchable people in a
region, named Kikat, in Bihar.
• Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata also give a good account of Bihar.
• Buddhist literature like Abhidhamma Pitaka, Vinaypitaka and Suttapitaka
mention about Bihar. Mahajanapadas have been mentioned in Angutar
Nikaya.
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• Out of 16 Mahajanapadas, Magadha has been mentioned as the strongest.

• Digha Nikaya, Deepvansh and Mahavansh also give a good account of the
history of the region. Jaina literature like Bhadrabahu’s Kaipsutra
mentions 4th century Bihar. Parishishta Varnana and Vasudevcharita talk
about the early life history of Chandragupta Maurya.
• There are travel accounts of foreign traveller as well, which provide a good
account of Bihar’s ancient history. Megasthanes (350-290 BCE) visited India
during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. Megasthaneses, Indica has
described Mauryan administration in detail. Fa-Hien AD (337-422) visited
India during AD 5th century and has described Magadha. Hiuen Tsang who
came in AD 637 during Harsha’s reign AD (606-647) refers to the great
monastery at Nalanda, where he spent most of his time. Chinese traveller I-
tsing describes in his book about Nalanda and surrounding.
COMING OF ARYANS IN BIHAR
• In the later Vedic period (1000-600 BCE), Aryan started moving towards
Eastern India. Ancient Brahmana texts mention the name of kings of Bihar.
• Satapatha Brahmana mentions about their arrival and spread. Varah Puran
mentions Kikat as an inauspicious place while Gaya’ Punpun, Rajgir have
been referred to as auspicious places.
THE MAHAJANAPADAS
• According to Buddhist and Jaina literature, in the later Vedic Age, a number of
small kingdoms or city-states dominated Magadha.
• By 500 BCE, sixteen monarchies and ‘republics’ known as the Mahajanapadas-
Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji (Vrijj), Malla, Chedi, Vatsa (or Vamsa),
Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, Kamboja-
stretched across the Indo-Gangetic plains from modern-day Afghanistan to
Bengal and Maharashtra.
• Out of 16 Mahajanapadas three namely Magadha, Anga and Vajji were in
Bihar. Many of the sixteen kingdoms had coalesced to four major ones by
500/400 BC that is by the time of Siddhartha Gautama. These four were
Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha.
ANGA KINGDOM
• It finds mention for the first time in Atharvaveda. This kingdom comprised
Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Munger of the present time. It was situated in the
North-East of Magadha.
• Champa was the capital of this kingdom which corresponds to Bhagalpur of
present-day Bihar. The earlier name of Champa was Malini, which was
established by Mahagovind.
• Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang has referred it as Chenanpo.
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VAJJI/VRIJI KINGDOM
• The Vajji comprised of eight clans, and this kingdom became an important
centre of cultural and political activities. It was essentially located in
Northern India.
• Out of eight clans, the Licchhavis, the Videhas, the Jnatrikas and the Vajjis were
the most important. Capital of Vajji was located at Vaishali. Licchhavis was
an independent clan, and probably they were distinct from Aryans. The
Jnatrikas of Kundagram in Vaishali were also members of this union. Mahavir
Jain was Jnatrika. His father was the head of Jnatrika clan, and his mother
was a Licchhavi princess.
VIDEHA KINGDOM
• Videha is mentioned in both Ramayana and Mahabharata as comprising parts
of Bihar and extending into small parts of Nepal. It was mentioned for the
first time in Yajurveda.
• This kingdom was started by Ikshvaku’s son Nimi Videh.
• Mithijanak Videh, the next king, had established Mithila. After this, all kings of
this kingdom were called as Janak. Hindu Goddess Sita was the princess of
Videha, and she was the daughter of Raja Janak of Videha.
• The capital of Videha kingdom, Janakpur is part of Nepal now. According to
Brihadranyak Upanishad, Raja Janak had organised a competition in Vaidehi,
which was won by Yagyavalkya. The last king of this kingdom was king
Karal. After this, it started declining.
LICCHHAVI (VAISHALI)
• Licchhavi was the most important and powerful clan of the Vajji confederacy.
• It was situated on the Northern banks of the Ganga, spread over present-day
Bihar and some regions of Nepal, with its capital at Vaishali. The city Vaishali
was named after the king Vishal during the Mahabharata era.
• It was an important centre of Buddhism and the headquarters of the Vajji
republic. Lord Mahavira was born at Kundagram in Vaishali.
• Panini used the term ‘Vrij’ for Vajji but did not mention about Licchhavis.
Various Jaina literature also describes Ljcchhavis.
• Vaishali is considered to be the world’s first republic and had an elected
assembly of representatives. Licchhavis, along with Magadh, devised a
system of administration that sowed the seed of modern art of statecraft.
• Kautilya, in his Arthashastra, mentions about the tribal confederation of
Licchhavis. The Buddhist text, Mahaparinibbana Suttanta, refers to
Licchhavis as Kshatriyas, while Manusmriti has placed them in the category
of Vratya Kshatriyas.
• Mother of Lord Mahavira, Trishala was the sister of King Chetaka of Licchhavi.
The Gupta emperor Chandragupta I married a Licchhavi princess
Kumaradevi. Amrapali was a famous dancer and royal courtesan of Vaishali.
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• The Licchhavis remained influential in Northern India and Nepal till 4th
century BCE. As time passed, the kingdom of Licchhavis was conquered by
Ajatashatru, King of Magadha.
MAGADHA KINGDOM
• It finds mention for the first time in Atharvaveda. It was a strong republic in
Buddha period, which later on became a strong kingdom.
• Its area extended from Ganga in the North to Vindhyas in the South and
Champa in the East to river sone in the West. Earlier capital was
Girivraja or Rajgir, which was surrounded from all sides by five hills.
Later on, the capital shifted to Patliputra. Magadhan empire included
Koshal, Vatsa and Avanti. It became the superpower of India, and thus its
history became the history of India.
• Two of India’s greatest empires, the Maurya Empire and Gupta empire,
originated in Magadha. The two empires led to advancements in ancient
India’s science, mathematics, astronomy religion and philosophy.
BUDDHIST IN BIHAR
• Bihar is considered as the most sacred land in the context of Buddhism. It is
here that the divine light of enlightenment was showered on Siddhartha
Gautam. He preached
Many of his sermons in different places of Bihar.
• Gautam Buddha was born in 563 BCE in Lumbini (now in Nepal) in Sakya
Kshatriya clan.
• The name of his father was Sudhdhodhana, and the name of his mother was
Mahamaya. Yashodhara was his wife.
• He left his home at the age of 29 in search of the truth. This is known as
“Mahabhishkramana”.
• At the age of 35, he reached Uruvela on the bank of river Niranjana and
meditated there. He attained enlightenment while meditating under a
peepal tree (Bodhi tree) in Bodh Gaya and became the Buddha or the
Tathagata.
• After attaining enlightenment, Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath.
This is known as “Dharma Chakra Pravartana”.
• He delivered his last sermon and also announced ‘Parinirvana’ in Vaishali.
• Buddha’s ‘Mahaparinirvana’ took place in Kushinagar, the capital of Mallas.
• Sariputra, the famous Buddhist monk, was born at Nalanda. Three of the
four Buddhist councils Were conducted in different places in Bihar.
• First Buddhist council was conducted in Rajgir (Rajgriha) under the patronage
of Ajatashatru with the monk Mahakasyapa presiding. The council
deliberated as to how to preserve Buddha’s teaching (sutta) and rules for
disciples (Vinaya).
• The second Buddhist council (383 BCE) was held in Vaishali under the
patronage of king Kalasoka and the presidency of Sabakami. The idea of this
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council was to settle a dispute on Vinaya Pitaka, the code of discipline. The
dispute was on 10 points and could not be settled. Here Buddhism sects
appeared for the first time.
• The third Buddhist council (250 BCE) was held in Patliputra (Pataliputra)
under the patronage of Ashoka and under the presidency of Moggalipurta
Tissa. The teaching of Buddha, which were under two baskets, were now
classified in 3 baskets as Abhidhamma Pitaka was established in this
council. It also tried to settle the dispute of Vinaya Pitaka.
• The fourth council was held in Kundalvana, Kashmir under Kushan king
Kanishka.
JAINISM IN BIHAR
• Jainism is another great world religion that traces its origin to the holy land of
Bihar. Jams trace their history through 24 Tirthankaras, Rishabhanatha was
the first Tirthankara, Parshvanatha was the 23rd Tirthankara, while
Mahavira was the 24th and last one.
• Mahavira was born in 540 BCE in Kundagrama in Vaishali. He belonged to
Jnantrika Kshatriya clan. His father was Siddhartha, and mother was
Trishala. Trishala was Licchhavi princes. Vardhamana Mahavira left home at
the age of 30 years and attained ‘Kaivalya’ at the age of 42.
• Through Kaivalya, he conquered misery and happiness and came to be known
as Jina or Mahavira. According to Jainism, the most important human
endeavour is the attainment of Moksha or Nirvana.
• The three gems or Ratna to attain Moksha are - right faith, right conduct and
the right knowledge.
• Mahavira attained Nirvana in 468 BCE in Pavapuri near Rajgriha (Rajgir).
• In Jainism, two councils have been conducted. The first council was held at
Pataliputra by Sthulabhadra at the beginning of the 3rd century BCE. Here
Jainism was divided into two sects - Swetambaras and Digambaras.
• The second council was held at Vallabhi in the AD 5th century under the
leadership of Devaradhi Kshmasramana and resulted in the final compilation
of 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.

PRE-MAURYAN DYNASTIES UNDER

MAGADHA EMPIRE
BRIHAD RATH DYNASTY
• Brihadrath was the earliest known king of Magadha, and his name has been
mentioned in Rigveda. He was the founder of Brihadrath dynasty, the
earliest ruling dynasty of Magadha. According to Mahabharata and Puranas,
Brihadrath was the eldest son of Vasu, the Kuru kind of Chedi.
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• According to Ramayana, Vasu founded Vasumati or Girivraja. The most

famous king of this dynasty was Jarasandha, son of Brihadrath. In the
Mahabharata war, Jarasandha was killed by Bhima. He was succeeded by
Sahadev.
• Ripunjaya was the last ruler of this dynasty Girivraja (Rajgir) was the
capital of Jarasandh. According to Puranas, Prodyota dynasty succeeded the
Brihadrath dynasty in Magadha.
HARYANKA DYNASTY
• Bimbisara (544 BCE-492 BCE) founded the Haryanka dynasty and established
his capital at Rajgir (Girivraja). He was a contemporary of Buddha. He
expanded the boundaries of his kingdom through matrimonial alliances and
conquest. Anga was conquered by him.
• His policy of marriage alliance for strengthening his empire was very
successful. His first wife Kosala Devi was a Kaushal princess, sister of
Prasenjit. The land of Kosala fell to Magadha in this way. Bimbisar got hold
of Kashi as a dowry gift. His second wife Chellana was a Licchhavi princess,
and third wife Kshema was a princess of Madra clan of Punjab.
• Magadha’s most serious rival was Avanti with its capital at Ujjain. Its king
Chanda Pradyot Mahasena fought against Bimbisara. But ultimately, the two
became friends, and Bimbisara sent royal physician Jivaka to Ujjain, to treat
Chanda Pradyota. Bimbisara was also the first ruler in history to form
permanent forces/army.
• Ajatashatru (492-460 BCE) imprisoned and killed his father, Bimbisara to
become the next ruler. He defeated the Kosala king and enlarged his kingdom
by conquering Kashi and Vaishali. It was during his reign that Mahatma
Buddha (487 BCE) attained “Mahaparinirvana” and Lord Mahavira (468
BCE) died in Pavapuri.
• First Buddhist council was also conducted under the patronage of Ajatashatru
in Rajgir in 483 BCE. He ruled for around 32 years and killed by his own son
Udayin.
• Udayin (459-444 BCE) succeeded Ajatashatru. He founded the city of
Patliputra in 455 BCE at the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Sone and
made it his capital. His successors were weak rulers, so Magadha was
captured by Shishunaga.
• Naga-Dasak was the last ruler of the Haryanka Dynasty.

SHISHUNAGA DYNASTY (412-344 BCE)

• This dynasty was founded by Shishunaga. During this time, Magadha had two
capitals one at Rajgir and another at Vaishali. The greatest achievement of
Shishunaga was the final destruction of the resistance of Avanti. This brought
to an end the hundred-year-old rivalry between Magadha and Avanti.
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• Shishunaga died in 394 BCE and was succeeded by his son Kalasoka. Kalasoka
shifted his capital to Patliputra. From now onwards, Patliputra remained the
capital of the Magadha empire. The second Buddhist council (383 BCE) was
organised under his patronage in Vaishali.
• Nandivardhana was the last king of Shishunaga Dynasty.

NANDA DYNASTY (344-321 BCE)

• Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda dynasty after killing the last
Shishunaga ruler Nandivardhana.
• Mahapadmananda has been described in the Puranas as Mahapadma or
Mahapadmapati (sovereign of an infinite host or of the immense wealth).
• He was also referred to as Ugrasena in Mahahodhivamsa. The
Mahabodhivamsa also list down nine Nanda kings, namely
Mahapadmananda (Ugrasen), Panduka, Pandugati, Bhutapala, Rashtrapala,
Govishanaka, Dashasiddhaka, Kaivarta and Dhana Nanda.
• Dhana Nanda was the last ruler of Nanda dynasty and was contemporary
of Alexander. When Alexander invaded India (327-326 BCE), Dhana Nanda
was the ruler of Magadha.
MAURYAN EMPIRE (321-184 BCE)
The Mauryan empire was geographically extensive, powerful, and a political-military
empire in ancient India. The empire had its capital at Patliputra. It was ruled by great
rulers like Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Ashoka among others.
CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (321-298 BCE)
• The Maurya dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the help of
his mentor Chanakya or Kautilya, by dethroning last Nanda ruler,
Dhanananda in 321 BCE.
• According to Matsyapuran and Mudra Rakshasa, Chandragupta Maurya was
born of Mura, a Sudra woman in the court of Nandas. In Mudra Rakshasa, he
has been referred to as ‘Vrishala”. However, as per Buddhist tradition, he
belonged to the Moriya Kshatriya clan.
• He fought Seleucus Nikator (Alexander’s general) in 305 BCE. Seleucus sent
Megasthanese as ambassador to the Mauryan court.
• Megasthanese was the first and most famous foreign traveller to visit Bihar.
Megasthanescss, Indica has described Mauryan administration. The empire
was divided into four provinces, each under a governor. According to
Megasthanese, Mauryan administration in Patliputra was under a council of
30 members divided into six committees of 5 members each.
• Patliputra has been referred to as ‘Palibothra’. Chandragupta Maurya’s
minister and political advisor, Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or
Vishnugupta, wrote Arthashastra.
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• Arthashastra has 15 adhikarans or sections. It is considered as one of the

greatest treatises on economics, politics, foreign affairs, administration,
military, arts, war and religion ever produced in the history of the world.
BINDUSARA (298-273 BCE)
• Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara, who expanded
the kingdom over most of present-day India, barring the extreme South and
East. At its greatest extent, the empire stretched to the North along the
natural boundaries of the Himalayas, and to the east stretching into Assam.
To the west, it reached beyond Pakistan, annexing Baluchistan and much of
what is now Afghanistan.
• He has been called by the name of Amitrochates (Amitraghata) or
Allitrochades by Greek writers, Mudrasar in Vayu Purana and Singhsen or
Bindupala in various Jain literature. Jaina text Rajvalli-Katha called him
Seemseri.
• He has friendly relations with the Syrian king Antiochus I and he
received a Greek ambassador Daimachos from him.
• He asked Antiochus I of Syria to send some sweet wine, dried figs and a
sophist. Antiochus I sent wine and figs but politely replied that sophists are
not for sale.
• Bindusara patronized Ajivikas.
• He died in 272 BCE.

ASHOKA (273-232 BCE)

• The great Ashoka succeeded the throne from his father Bindusara in 273 BCE.
After an interregnum of four years, he was sworn in 269 BCE.
• According to Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, he had killed 99 of his brothers,
sparing only one, named Vitashoka or Tissa, to become Mauryan king.
• He fought the Kalinga war in 260 BCE. It is mentioned in major edict XIII. After
the Kalinga war, Ashoka embraced Buddhism under the influence of
Buddhist monk Upagupta and began to be known as “Dhammasoka”.
• Ashoka is mentioned as “Devampiya” in his inscriptions except in a few
inscriptions. He is mentioned as the king of Magadha in Bhabru inscription.
• Ashoka convened third Buddhist council in 250 BCE at Patliputra with
Moggaliputta Tissa as the President. With these Buddhist ideals spread in Sri
Lanka, South-East Asia, West Asia and Mediterranean Europe. After Ashoka’s
death, the Mauryan empire began to decline. Brihadratha Maurya was the
last Mauryan ruler.
• Archaeologically, the period of Mauryan rule in South Asia falls into the era of
Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). The Arthashastra, the edicts of
Ashoka and Ashokavardhana arc primary sources of written records of the
Mauryan times. Ashoka had built 84,000 stupas. He had built many stone
pillars, inscriptions and small stone pillars.
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Ashoka’s Different Names and Titles

Name Title
Ashoka Mentioned in Maski, Gurjara, Netur,
Udegolam.
Devampiya State title
Priyadarshi Official name
Magadha King Bhabru inscription
Ashoka Maurya Junagarh inscription
Ashokavardhana Purana

POST-MAURYAN DYNASTIES
SUNGA DYNASTY (184-72 BCE)
• The Sunga dynasty was founded by Pushyamitra Sunga in 184 BCE by killing
the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha. Pushyamitra Sunga was Commander-
in-Chief of the Mauryan armed forces. At the time of Mauryan kingdom, he
had protected the kingdom from Yavans attack.
• Two Ashwamedha Yagya were held in his reign which is supported by Ayodhya
inscription of Dhandev. Patanjali, the great Sanskrit scholar, was the main
priest of this Yajna. The Buddhist records such as the Ashokavardhana write
that the assassination of Brihadratha and the rise of the Sunga empire led to
a wave of persecution of Buddhists and a resurgence of Hinduism.
• After the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra ascended the throne. He
was the hero of Kalidasa’s drama ‘Malavikagnimitram’. According to
Puranas Devbhuti was 10th and last ruler of Sunga dynasty.
KANVA DYNASTY (72-27 BCE)
• This dynasty replaced the Sunga dynasty in Magadha. The last ruler of the
Sunga dynasty Devabhuti was overthrown by Vasudeva in 72 BCE.
Susharman was the last ruler of this dynasty Kanva rule came to an end
as a result of the rising power of rulers of satavahana dynasty.
KUSHAN DYNASTY
• Remains of the Kushan era have been discovered from Magadhan region. They
started their campaign into this region in around AD 1st century.
• There are pieces of evidence of Kushan ruler Kanishka AD (78-125) attacking
Patlipurra and took along with him the famous Buddhist monk Asvaghosa.
After the decline of the Kushan empire, this region was ruled by Licchhavis.
THE GUPTA EMPIRE
The emergence of Gupta dynasty signifies the establishment of the second empire
in ancient Indian history Gupta succeeded in bringing major parts of India under a
unified administration to a great extent. The difference between the Gupta empire’s
and Mauryan empire’s administration was that in the Mauryan administration,
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power was centralised, but in the Gupta administration, power was more
decentralised. The empire was divided into provinces, and the provinces were
further divided into districts. Villages were the smallest Units. Inscriptions tell us
that Sri Gupta was the first king. He established the empire in AD 275. Ghatotkacha
(AI) 280-319) succeeded his father. These two kings together ruled around the
region of Magadha. They were subordinate to the later Kushans.
CHANDRAGUPTA-I
• Chandragupta-I was the son of Ghatotkacha. He was the first independent
ruler of the Gupta empire. He was the first king with the title of
Maharajadhiraja and started the Gupta era in AD 3 19-320. His empire
included Bihar, U.P. and Bengal.
• In a breakthrough deal, Chandragupta I was married to a Licchhavi princess
Kumardevi. He issued gold coins to commemorate this event.
SAMUDRAGUPTA (AD 335-380)
• He succeeded Chandragupta I in AD 335, and ruled for about 45 years, until his
death in AD 380. Prayag inscription talks about him, which was written by
Hansen and discovered by captain A Tryer. It was written in the Sanskrit
language.
• Samudragupta was given the title of ‘Napoleon of India’ for his conquest by
Vincent Smith.
• During his period, Srilankan ruler Meghavarnan was given permission to build
a monastery at Bodh Gaya for Srilankan Buddhist pilgrims.
• He was also a great patron of art and adopted the title of ’Kaviraja’. On some
gold coins, he is shown playing the Veena, which shows Samudragupta was
also interested in music. He appointed a famous Buddhist monk Vasubandhu
as his minister.
• He attacked the kingdoms of Padmavati Malwa, the Yaudhey as, the
Arjunayanas, the Maduras and the Abhiras, and merged them in his kingdom.
By his death in 380, he had incorporated over twenty kingdoms into his
realm, his rule extended from the Himalayas to the river Narmada and from
the Brahmaputra to the Yamuna. He had defeated Shaka and Kushanas in the
western part.
CHANDRAGUPTA II ‘VIKRAMADITYA’ (AD 380-415)
• Chandragupta II ruled the empire between AD 380 and AD 415. He had
defeated and killed his brother, Ramagupta to get the kingdom. He also
married his widow Dhruvadevi, and He had established friendly relation and
matrimonial alliances for extending his empire. He married Kubernaga
princess and daughter from her, Prabhavati Gupta was married to Vakataka
king Rudrasena II.
• He is known for promoting literature. Patliputra and Ujjaini emerged as
learning centres.
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• Nine ratnas in his kingdom were poet Kalidasa, Vetalbhatta, Varahmihira,

Physician Dhanvantari, Varruchi, Shanku, Amarsimha, Kshapanaka and
Ghatakarpara.
• Fa-Hien, the Chinese traveller visited India during the reign of Chandragupta
II to study Buddhism and stayed at Patliputra.
KUMARGUPTA I (AD 415-455)
• Chandragupta II was succeeded by Kumargupta I. Also known as
‘Mahendraditya’, he ruled till AD 455. He was born from Dhruvadevi.
• His greatest achievement has been the establishment of Nalanda University.
Nalanda University was a centre of learning from AD 427 to 1197.
• Famous traveller, Hiuen Tsang studied at this university. The university was
later destroyed by an army of Mamluk Dynasty under Bakhtiyar Khilji in AD
1197.

SKANDAGUPTA (AD 455-467)

• He is generally considered the last of the great rulers. He defeated the
Pushyamitra threat but then was faced with invading Huna, from the north-
west. He repulsed an Huna attack in AD 455 and died in AD 467.
• An inscription at Junagarh tells that his Governor got restoration work done
on a dam in Sudharshana lake originally constructed by Mauryas.
• After Skandagupta, Gupta empire began to disintegrate under various rulers
like Puragupta, Buddhagupta, Narasimhagupra, Bhanugupta etc.
Vishnugupta was the last ruler of this dynasty.
The Gupta period is referred to as the classical age of India by most historians. The
time of the Gupta empire was an ‘Indian Golden Age’ in Indian science, technology,
engineering, art, dialectic literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy religion and
philosophy.

Rapid strides were made in astronomy during this period. Aryabhata and
Varahmihira were two great astronomers and mathematicians. Aryabhatt
stated that the Earth moved around the Sun and rotated on its own axis. Aryabhatt,
who is believed to be the first to come tip with the concept of zero and studied solar
and lunar eclipses. Aryabhata's most famous work was Aryabhattiya. It was
composed in Kusumapura, near Patlipura. Varabmihira’s most important
contributions are the encyclopedic Brihat Samhita and Pancha-Siddhantika.

This period is also rich in Sanskrit literature. Kalidasa’s work includes dramas like
Abhijnanashakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Kumarasambhava. Micchakatika by
Sudraka, Panchatantra by Vishnu Sharma, Kama Sutra (the principles of pleasure) by
Vatsyayana, 13 plays by Bhasa were also written in this period. In medicine, the Guptas
were notable for their establishment and patronage of free hospitals although progress
in physiology and biology was hindered by religious injunctions against contact with
dead bodies, which discouraged dissection.
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Indian physicians excelled in the pharmacopoeia, cesarean section, bone setting and skin
grafting. Indeed, Hindu medical advances were soon adopted in the Arab and Western
world. Ayurveda was the main medical system.
BIHAR DURING THE PALA EMPIRE
It was a Buddhist dynasty that ruled in the North-Eastern region of the Indian
subcontinent. The name Pala meant protector and was used as an ending to the names of
all Pala monarchs. The Palas were followers of the Mahayana and Tantric schools of
Buddhism.
• Gopala (AD 750-770) was the first ruler from the dynasty. He came to power in AD
750 by a democratic election. This event is recognised as one of the first
democratic elections in South Asia since the time of Mahajanapadas. He reigned
from AD 750 to 770 and consolidated his position by extending his control over
all of Bengal as well as parts of Bihar. Odantpuri (now Bihar Sharif), a Buddhist
Mahavihara was established by Gopala.

• The empire reached its peak under Dharmapala and Devapala. Dharmapala (AD
770-810) extended the empire into the Northern parts of the Indian sub-
continent. This triggered a power struggle for the control of the Indian sub-
continent. He gained the title of Uttarapathswamini and organised a grand Darbar
in Kannauj.

• Dharmapala was a Buddhist. He established Vikramshila University at Antichak

village of modern Bhagalpur district. He also gave 200 villages for the upkeep
of Nalanda University.
• Devapala (AD 810-850), the successor of Dharmapala, expanded the empire to cover
much of South Asia and beyond. He made Munger as his capital.
• According to Pala copper plate inscription, Devpala exterminated the Utkalas,
conquered the Praggyotisha (Assam), shattered the pride of the Hunas, and
humbled the Lords of Pratiharas, Gurjara and the Dravida. The Palas created many
temples and works of art as well as supported the universities of Nalanda and
Vikramshila. Both Nalanda and Vilkramshila universities reached their peak under
the Palas. These universities received an influx of students from many parts of the
world.

Bihar and Bengal were invaded by the South Indian Emperor Rajendra Chola I of the
Chola dynasty in the 11th century during the reign of Mahipal I. The Pala Empire
eventually disintegrated in the 12th century under the attack of the Sena dynasty. Pala
empire was the last empire of middle kingdoms whose capital was Patliputra.

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