Pataliputra 

Patliputra (Devanagari: पाटलिपुत्र ) Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort (Pataligrama) near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Indian Kingdom of Magadha.1 Its key central location in north central India led rulers of successive dynasties to base their administrative capital here, from the Nandas, Mauryans, Sungas and the Guptas down to the Palas2. In the Lord Buddha's day it was a village known as Pataligarma. He visited it shortly before his death and prophesied it would be great but would face destruction either by fire, water, or civil war.Two important councils were held here, the first at the death of the Buddha and the second in the reign of Asoka . During the reign of Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC, it was the world's largest city, with a population of 150,000-300,000. Patliputra reached the pinnacle of prosperity when it was the capital of the great Mauryan kings, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka the Great. The city prospered under the Mauryas and a Greek ambassador Megasthenes resided there and left a detailed account of its splendour. The city also became a flourishing Buddhist centre boasting a number of important monasteries. Known to the Greeks as Palibothra, it remained the capital throughout most of the Gupta dynasty (4–6th centuries bce). The city was largely in ruins when visited by Hsüan-tsang, and suffered further damage at the hands of Muslim raiders in the 12th century3.Though parts of the city have been excavated, much of it still lies buried beneath modern Patna.

Mauryan Empire with capital in Patliputra.

There is an on-going campaign of the people of Bihar to rename Patna with its original name, Patliputra.

Contents

Gallery

Patliputra as a capital of Nanda Empire.
The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda (circa 323 BCE).

Patliputra as a capital of Maurya Empire.
The Maurya Empire at its largest extent under Ashoka the Great.

Patliputra as a capital of Sunga Empire.
Approximate greatest extent of the Sunga Empire (circa 185 BCE).

Patliputra as a capital of Gupta Empire.
Approximate greatest extent of the Gupta Empire.

Patliputra as a capital of Pala Empire under Dharmapala.

Patliputra as a capital of Pala Empire.
Approximate greatest extent of the Pala Empire under Devapala.

Excavated Sites of Patliputra

See also

References

  1. ^ *Kulke, Hermann & Dietmar Rothermund (2004), A History of India, 4th edition. Routledge, Pp. xii, 448, ISBN 0415329205, <http://www.amazon.com/History-India-Hermann-Kulke/dp/0415329205/>.
  2. ^ Thapar, Romila (1990), A History of India, Volume 1, New Delhi and London: Penguin Books. Pp. 384, ISBN 0140138358, <http://www.amazon.com/History-India-Penguin/dp/0140138358/>.
  3. ^ Scott, David (May, 1995). "Buddhism and Islam: Past to Present Encounters and Interfaith Lessons". Numen 42 (2). 

Further reading