Ancient Bihar: Magadha, Pataliputra and Nalanda

This topic gathers the Bihar material from the whole chapter into one place, because a Bihar state paper concentrates its ancient-history questions here. Expect 3 to 4 questions drawn from this ground alone, which makes it the single most valuable topic in the chapter.

The Dynasties of Magadha

Bimbisara began Magadha's expansion through marriage alliances and was a contemporary of both the Buddha and Mahavira. His son Ajatashatru built the fort at Pataligrama, which grew into Pataliputra. Udayin is credited with formally shifting the capital there.

Mahapadma Nanda is described as the first great empire builder of Magadha and is called Ekarat and Sarvakshatrantaka, the destroyer of all kshatriyas.

The Places and What Happened There

A Bihar paper very often matches a place to an event, and this table answers it. The commonest mismatch offered is Vaishali with the First Council.

✗ The First Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali  |  ✓ The First was at Rajgir; the Second was at Vaishali

Nalanda: What Made It Remarkable

• It was a residential university, where teachers and students lived on the campus.
• Students came from China, Korea, Tibet, Central Asia and South-East Asia.
• Admission was by oral examination at the gate, and most applicants were turned away.
• The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang studied and taught there in the seventh century and left an account of it.
• It was destroyed in the late twelfth century by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
• Its library was so large that it is said to have burned for a long time.

Hiuen Tsang's account is the main source for what Nalanda was like. Fa-Hien in the Gupta period, Hiuen Tsang in Harsha's, is the pairing to hold.

Why Bihar Held the Centre

The reason is geographical and it repeats through every dynasty. The Ganga plain gave the largest agricultural surplus in northern India; iron ore lay close by; the forests supplied elephants; and the rivers gave both trade routes and defence.

Any state that controlled this ground could feed and arm a larger force than its neighbours, which is why Magadha rose and why every subsequent empire kept its capital here. A question asking why Magadha and not Kosala is answered by land, iron, elephants and rivers — the same four reasons, every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bihar places are linked with the Buddhist councils?

The first council was held at Rajgir under Ajatashatru, the second at Vaishali under Kalashoka and the third at Pataliputra under Ashoka. Three of the first four councils therefore took place in Bihar, the fourth being held in Kashmir under Kanishka.

What made Nalanda unusual as a university?

It was residential, with teachers and students living on the campus, and admission was granted only after an oral examination at the gate. Students came from China, Korea, Tibet and Central Asia, and Hiuen Tsang left a detailed account of studying there.

Who destroyed Nalanda?

Bakhtiyar Khilji, in the late twelfth century. Its library is said to have burned for a long period because of its size. The destruction ended a tradition of learning that had run in Bihar for roughly seven centuries.

What is the difference between Fa-Hien and Hiuen Tsang?

Fa-Hien was the Chinese pilgrim who visited during the reign of Chandragupta II in the Gupta period. Hiuen Tsang came later, during Harsha's reign, and studied at Nalanda. The two names are regularly interchanged in options, so link each to its ruler.