The
ancient environment of the region, where later emerged the great City of
Patliputra; was between two rivers; (i) River Ganges along the north and (ii)
the River Sone flowed along the south. Now River Punpun flows through the
southern edge of the ‘Old bed of the River Sone’. As a result, the area south
of Patliputra had been termed as river terrain or marshy land or ‘Jalla’ during
subsequent historical times, because the area remain water-logged during rainy
season and slowly recedes through Punpun in the east.
The ‘Magadh
Heartland’ is surrounded by (i) Mokama Tal (which has its extent from
Fatuha to Lakhisarai region) in the ‘north and east’; (ii) Hilly and Jungle Terrain in
the south; and (iii) River Sone in the west; which formed its outer security
cover during ancient times. In the Magadh Heartland, twin centres; (i) Rajagriha
(ancient Magadh Capital and abode of Sakya Muni) (ii) followed by Bodh Gaya
(centre of Enlightment of Gautam Buddha) emerged as the nucleus and rallying
point of the Buddhist World.
There
were two entry-points of Magadh Heartland, and they include: -
(i) Northern Entry Point: - In
the ancient period, the road from Patliputra to ‘Gaya – Bodhgaya’ via
Fatuha – Hilsa – ‘Telhara-Ekengarsarai’ - Islampur was the common and popular route
for pilgrims and merchants.
(ii) Eastern Entry Point: - From
post Gupta period, Lakhisarai – Sheikhpura – Barbigha - Odantapuri
(Biharsharif) – Gaya – Bodhgaya route became popular as Buddhist population
were abound in the East.
After crossing Ganga near Pataligram , Buddha must
have proceeded east upto Fatuha (after
crossing River Punpun) and then took the southern route of the present day
alignment of Fatuha – Daniawan – Hilsa – ‘Ekengarsarai – Telhara’ – Islampur
and from there one can move in all directions: - i.e.
(i)
Eastward movement towards Rajgir,
(ii)
Southward movement towards Gaya, Bodh Gaya;
(iii) Westward movement towards Dharawat
(Gunamati), Rock-cut cave shelters of Barabar and Nagarjuni Hills (Gorathgiri),
Silabhadra Monastery (Kaua Dol).
This ‘North-South Corridor’ continued to be the
most important communication route till Gupta period. Initially, major
monasteries emerged out along this ‘North-South Corridor’ of ‘Patliputra –
Bodh Gaya – Rajagriha’ alignment. These monasteries were located at
Patliputra, Teladika (Telhara), Gunamati, Shilabhadra Monastery, Bodh Gaya,
Jivakarama (Rajagriha) among others.
In
the Gupta period, Nalanda Mahavihara started functioning and it
emerged as an important junction point for visiting both Rajagriha and Bodhgaya.
After
the slow demise of the city of Patliputra, 700 AD onwards; the eastern doorway
of the Magadh heartland gradually opened up through Lakhisarai – Barbigha – Sheikhpura
- Odantapuri corridor. Hence, Odantapuri
(later Biharsharif) emerged as the important junction point in Magadh region as
it was connected with Gaya-Bodhgaya & Rajgir valley region with three
alternate routes. In this phase, monasteries of Nalanda and Odantapuri came
into great prominence.
To
shorten the entry-point to the Magadh Heartland; another route opened up
further east; bypassing Odantapuri-Barbigha portion also and i.e. Lakhisarai –
Sheikhpura – Warsaliganj – Giriyak – Rajgir – Bodhgaya route. In this route,
newer monasteries came to origin and they included Pigeon Monastery
(Daryapur Parvati).
Among all monasteries; the Nalanda and Odantapuri Mahaviharas emerged as two of the five great Universities in the world during 8-12 Century AD. Interestingly, all monasteries (universities) lay in the important highways of the time, so that aspiring students, from far-off places, could reach easily for higher studies.
Photographs, Courtesy - Heritage Society
Photographs, Courtesy - Heritage Society
(My website: - www.forgottenpast.in)
