Cultural Life in Ancient Bihar

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About the Book

Present book is an attempt to bring out the cultural development of Bihar between the 1st to 6th century A.D. The archaeological finds bear witness to the cultural history of Bihar from the pre-historic times. But the author confines his study up to the period mentioned above.
The study is based on literary and archaeological sources. The period under review witnessed the rise and growth of the Magadha Empire which by and large continued up to the close of the 6th century A. D. The political stability helped the growth of economic prosperity on account of extensive agriculture, thriving inland and foreign trade and large scale use of metallic coins in the 1st century of the Christian era. This trend continued at least up to the Gupta times. The economic prosperity also helped the growth of varied and rich cultural life in Bihar.
The author in this work has amply succeeded in presenting a complete picture of the Cultural history of Bihar during the period of review.

About the Author

Dr. Navin Kumar Arya (born on 05-12-1958) Village Naishrai (Narsaliganj) Bihar Sharif, Nalanda has been a brilliant product of the Patna University. He did his B.A.(Hons.) from Patna College and M.A. in Ancient Indian History & Archaeology from Patna University in 1984 and was placed in first class. He obtained his L.L.B. degree from Patna Law College. He also obtained Ph.D. degree from the same University. After joining Patna University service he has shown his worth in the field of Archaeology. He has excavated a large number of Archaeological sites and successfully imparting teaching to the students of Archaeology. He has to his credit a number of research articles published in the Research Journals of repute.

Foreword

Culture includes on the whole knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs and other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of the society. Culture is the soul of human society. If we judge the work of Dr. Navin Kumar 'Arya' on the above definition his book stands very aptly on a firm ground. Ancient Bihar was the epicentre of Cultural, Political and economic activities for more than a millinium.
At Vaisali a mud stupa was exposed on the corporeal ashes of the Buddha after his Mahaprinirvana this stupa is a unique find. Excavation at Champa (Nathnagar), Bhagalpur, yeilded a very finer goldsmith jewellery moulds with incised decorations deserve special mention because in early Buddhist and Jain literature the goldsmiths of Champa are greatly applanded. But the most sensational discovery from Champa was the ivory female dancing figure with articulate limbs. Such a figure was found at Pompei in Italy. This may be placed during the Mauryan period.

The Gupta also established a milestone in the field of Culture, art and literature. It saw manifold progress in different direction. The great University of Nalanda was established during the Gupta period. Aryabhatta, the great Mathematician and inventor of decimal system was born at Patliputra. His contribution in the feild of astronomy is also well known. It did not lack behind in the field of art too. Many new schools of art grew during this period. Sanskrit literature achieved a great height. Religious tolerance was practiced throughout the kingdom. Benevolent administration prevailed. The Gupta age is generally known as the age of efflorescence in the history of Indian Culture. Political anarchy ended with election of Gopala as a king of Bengal towards the end of 8th century A.D. Gopal conquered Magadha and established Odantapuri Vihara at Bihar Sharif, on whose model the monastery of Saen-yee was established in Tibet. His son Dharmapala established Vikramshila Mahavira, near Antichak in the Bhagalpur University. The entire Mahavira continued more than 200 cell with well built boundary walls and four gates. In the centre was a large brick built chaitya, with terracotta panels struck into the walls of the two Pradakshinepathas. These panels depict the religious and social scenes.

Preface

The present study is an attempt to focus attention on the cultural contributions of Bihar between 1 to 6th century A.D. The impact of foreign invasions and consequent emergence of the Guptas produced a far reaching impact not only on India but Bihar also. A distinct way of life emerged during this period. Significant change is noticed in the social set up, social traditions and values, arts, crafts, religion and other aspects. Many of these features become quite apparent on the basis of contemporary literary and archaeological sources. Our aim has been to pinpoint these changes, account for them and analyse their impact.
I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of obligation and gratitude to my Supervisor, Prof. Kameshwar Prasad, Department of History, Patna University, whose co-operation and encouragement enabled me to complete this work. I sincerely thank Dr. B. P. Roy, Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, Patna University, for the keen interest which he took in my work and provided me all facilities to work. I cannot forget Dr. Bhagwant Sahai, Former Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, P.U., who helped me in every possible manner in the completion of this work. I do not find adequate words to express my deep sense of gratitude to Prof. M.C.P. Shrivastava and Dr. Dilip Kumar of my Department for their invaluable help to me throughout my research. I am also thankful to Dr. O.P. Jaiswal and Dr. Basudev Narain, University Professors and Dr. Arun Kumar Singh, Former Head the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, P.U. for their valuable suggestions and encouragement. My thanks are also due to Dr. Y. D. Prasad and Dr. Surendra Gopal, University Professors in the Department of History, Patna University and Late Dr. V.K. Thakur, Dr. Amarnath Singh, Dr. Ranjan Sinha and Pramodanand Das, Readers in of the Department of History and Dr. Saileshwar Sati Head of the Department of English, Science College, Patna for their encouragement and suggestions. I also duly acknowledge the help and encouragement which I received from a good number of my friends, relations and well-wishers, particularly, from Sri Ajay Shrivastava and Sri Anil Kumar Sinha, Advocates in the Patna High Court.

Introduction

The area which is now known as Bihar did not bear that name till the close of the twelfth century A.D. Bihar, identical with the modern town of Biharsharif, is mentioned by Minhaj, the author of the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri. He refers to the destruction of its walls by the Turkish invader Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji. Later on, the province came to be known as Bihar in medieval times. It comprised of the ancient kingdoms of Anga, Magadha, Mithila and Vrijji. Most of the area covering modern Bihar had become inhabited by the seventh-eighth centuries B.C.
There has been no serious attempt so far to delineate the socio-cultural history of Bihar during the period of our study (1ª Century A.D. to 6th Century A.D.). Earlier historians laid more emphasis on political history which led to the neglect of cultural aspect of the history of Bihar.
The History of Bihar by R. K. Chaudhary, Delhi, 1958, was a pioneering attempt to sketch the history of Bihar. The text mainly stresses political history and rarely highlights the socio-cultural developments of the period under review. The Bihar Through the Ages by R. R. Diwakar (ed.) Calcutta, 1959, is not much useful for the present work, because, it is sketchy and based on undependable sources, apart from having numerous printing mistakes. The Socio-Religious, Economic and Literary Condition of Bihar by B.S. Verma, Delhi, 1962, attempts to reconstruct the Socio-Religious and Economic Condition of Bihar from A.D. 319-A.D. 1000. However while giving a mass of information Dr. Verma seldom interprets the fact. He has not paid much attention to the Puranic and Smrti materials which are useful for the history of Bihar. The Political and Socio-Religious Condition of Bihar by H. K. Prasad was published by Chowkhamba Publications, Varanasi, 1970. The book is not much helpful for us simply because Prasad puts much stress on political events and limits the survey till A.D. 319. However, the chapters on religious condition contain some useful information. The Comprehensive History of Bihar by B.P. Sinha (ed.) (Vol. I, pts. I and II), was published by the K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna in 1970-74. It was a collective attempt by some eminent historians of Bihar.