Bihar gets its name from ancient word ‘Vihara’
i.e. monastery which ipso facto was the land of Buddhist, Jain, and
Hindu monasteries. The land of Bihar has been the play ground of history
making. Empires came and went leaving everlasting mark in the history of
the state. Bihar boasts of the oldest university of the world at Nalanda
which is though in ruin, still shows the grandeur of learning hub.
Comprising of four cultures of Bhojpur, Mithila, Magadha and
Chotanagpur, this landlocked state is surrounded by Nepal, Bengal,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Rivers Kosi and Gandak flow
from the north and Sone from the south joins the Ganga. Fertile land in
the state produces rice, sugarcane, oilseeds, gram, maize, jute, barley
and wheat in large quantity.
Lord Buddha spent a significant part of his life in Bihar. Those places
where Buddha spent some part of his life have now become tourist
attraction all across the world. The entire chain of these places is now
called ‘Buddhist Circuit’ which is a major tourist attraction.
Tourists from all across the world flock in to see these places and
realize Lord Buddha and his times.
Buddhist Circuit begins at the capital city Patna, where a noteworthy
museum contains a collection of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures as well as
a terracotta urn said to contain the ashes of Lord Buddha. Rajgir is
associated with various incidents related to life of Buddha; Gridhrakuta
hill being perhaps the most important, as this is where the Buddha
delivered most of his sermons. Bodhgaya is the spot where Lord Buddha
attained enlightenment, with the Mahabodhi Temple marking the precise
location.
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