Bihar at a Glance
Bihar has been the centre of education, culture and power since the ancient days of India.
Bihar gave birth to two major religions of the east- Buddhism and Jainism. It is the proud birthplace of Mahatma Buddha and Lord Mahavira and houses the most holy places related to them. It is also the birthplace of the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, which make the Gurudwara in Patna, Known reverentially as the Patna Sahib, one of the five holiest places of worship for Sikhs.
It is fairly certain that, at some point, he went to Kusumapura for advanced studies and that he lived there for some time. Both Hindu and Buddhist tradition, as well as Bhaskara (CE 629), identify Kusumapura as Patalipurtra, modern Patna.Aryabhatta is also reputed to have set up an observatory at the Sun temple in Tarengana, Bihar.
Aryabhatta Knowledge University has been established to incorporate it as an affiliating, examination administrating, programme of Technical,Socioeconomic,Academic,Cultural content implementing, training and research strengthening university at Patna to facilitate and promote studies, research and extension work in the conventional and new frontiers of professional education,(which implies preparing students for a job that needs special training or skill). All the Colleges and Institutions, existing or to be established in future either by the Government or by a Trust/Society in self-financing mode, imparting professional education and situated within professional education and situated within the State of Bihar, shall be eligible for affiliation with Aryabhatta Knowledge University.
Introduction of Bihar, Bihar the ancient land of Buddha, has witnessed golden period of Indian history. It is the same land where the seeds of the first republic were sown and which cultivated the first crop of democracy. Such fertile is the soil that has given birth to innumerous intellectuals which spread the light of knowledge and wisdom not only in the country but in the whole world. The state has its capital at Patna, which is situated on the bank of the holy river Ganga. The state as it is today has been shaped from its partition from the province of Bengal and most recently after the separation of the tribal southern region now called Jharkhand.
Introduction to Patna
The history and tradition of Patna go back to the earliest dawn of civilization. The original name of Patna was Pataliputra or Patalipattan and its history makes a start from the century 600 B.C.
The name Patna has undergone many changes at its earliest stages like Pataligram, Kusumpur,Patliputra, Azimabad etc., ultimately terminating to the present one. Chandragupta Maurya made it his capital in the 4th century A.D. Thereafter the city lost its importance until Sherkhan Suri rose into power in the early 16th century A.D. Another version that comes to focus is that there existed a village named Pattan or Patthan, which later turned into Patna.It has been said that Pataliputra was founded by Ajatashatru.
Patna, therefore, has become inextricably bound up with the ancient Pataliputra. The ancient village was named ‘Patali’ and the word ‘Pattan’ was added to it. Greek history mentions ‘Palibothra’ which perhaps is Pataliputra itself.