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Bihar Ancient History and Heritage

Bihar General Studies

Useful for: BPSC TRE, Bihar STET, Bihar Assistant Professor, BPSC Head Teacher / Headmaster

Overview

Bihar (ancient Magadha) was the centre of great empires and learning, and the land of the Buddha’s enlightenment and Mahavira’s birth.

Key points

Magadha’s capitals were Rajagriha (Rajgir) and later Pataliputra (Patna).
Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO site (2002).
Nalanda Mahavihara is a UNESCO site (2016).
Vikramashila university was founded by the Pala king Dharmapala.
Vaishali (Licchavis) was an early republic and the birthplace of Mahavira; Pawapuri is the place of Mahavira’s nirvana.
Sher Shah Suri’s tomb is at Sasaram.

Explanation

The first Buddhist council was held at Rajagriha.
Ashoka ruled from Pataliputra.
Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire in Magadha.
Barabar caves are among the oldest rock-cut caves.
Nalanda was revived as a university by an Act in 2010.

Step by step

Identify the concept, law or fact asked.
Recall the definition, formula, example or year.
Apply it and eliminate mismatched options.

Examples

UNESCO site at Bodh Gaya → Mahabodhi Temple (2002).
Founder of Vikramashila → Dharmapala.
Birthplace of Mahavira → Vaishali (Kundagram).

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Mixing Nalanda and Vikramashila founders.
Trap: Placing Mahavira’s nirvana at Vaishali.
Trap: Wrong UNESCO years.

Quick revision

Rajagriha, Pataliputra.
Mahabodhi 2002; Nalanda 2016.
Vaishali, Pawapuri; Sasaram.

Practice MCQs

An early capital of Magadha was —
1. Gaya
2. Sasaram
3. Rajagriha (Rajgir)
4. Vaishali
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Answer: (c) Rajagriha (Rajgir). Later Pataliputra.
The Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO site in —
1. 2002
2. 2016
3. 1986
4. 1993
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Answer: (a) 2002. 2002.
Nalanda Mahavihara became a UNESCO site in —
1. 2010
2. 2016
3. 2019
4. 2002
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Answer: (b) 2016. 2016.
Vikramashila university was founded by —
1. Kumaragupta
2. Dharmapala
3. Ashoka
4. Harsha
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Answer: (b) Dharmapala. Pala king.
Vaishali is known as the birthplace of —
1. Buddha
2. Mahavira
3. Ashoka
4. Chanakya
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Answer: (b) Mahavira. Mahavira.
Mahavira attained nirvana at —
1. Rajgir
2. Kushinagar
3. Bodh Gaya
4. Pawapuri
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Answer: (d) Pawapuri. Pawapuri.
Sher Shah Suri’s tomb is at —
1. Agra
2. Sasaram
3. Patna
4. Gaya
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Answer: (b) Sasaram. Sasaram.
Vaishali is associated with the —
1. Palas
2. Licchavis
3. Mauryas
4. Guptas
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Answer: (b) Licchavis. Early republic.
Pataliputra corresponds to modern —
1. Patna
2. Gaya
3. Bhagalpur
4. Muzaffarpur
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Answer: (a) Patna. Patna.
Buddha attained enlightenment at —
1. Sarnath
2. Bodh Gaya
3. Kushinagar
4. Lumbini
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Answer: (b) Bodh Gaya. Bodh Gaya.