Transcription
Elections are scheduled to take place in Bihar in November 2025, and these elections will determine who will rule Bihar from now on. Who will sit on the throne in Patna, the capital of Bihar. That same Patna which was once called Pataliputra. Pataliputra, which was once ruled by great people like Ashoka and Chandragupta. Where not only Bihar but the history of the entire India was also shaped. Perhaps you know that the Bihar which is struggling with poverty, unemployment, and various difficulties today, that Bihar has actually witnessed a very rich heritage. Pataliputra has been the center of this history. About twenty-five hundred years ago, this Pataliputra was one of the largest and most powerful cities not only in India but in the world. But do you know who actually made Pataliputra the capital? Or do you know who gave Pataliputra the name Patna? If there is any city in Indian history that has influenced the country's politics for the longest time, it is Pataliputra, which we know today as Patna. This city has been a symbol of historical heritage not only of politics but also of power, religion, and culture. Situated at the confluence of the Ganga, Son, and Gandak rivers, this city was once important not only due to its strategic location but also as a hub of knowledge, administration, and trade. During Ashoka's reign, Pataliputra was considered one of the greatest cities not only in the Indian subcontinent but in the entire world. Megasthenes described this city as a very large, planned, and organized city. During the Gupta period, this city was a center of science, knowledge, and literature. Where many great scientists like Aryabhata emerged. But just as the story of Pataliputra is glorious, its history has also been full of ups and downs. Do you know that the capital of Bihar, Patna, was also named after the grandson of Aurangzeb. What was that name, and how, despite numerous attacks, natural disasters, and political decline, this city still holds within it the history that shaped India's identity. Today, I am going to tell you the story of this city and the great empires buried in its past. So, do watch the video till the end because if you don't know your history, how will you recognize yourself. The story of Pataliputra or Patna begins in the fifth century BCE. The idea of establishing this city first came to the mind of King Ajatashatru of the Magadha Mahajanapada. He saw this place as a strategic location. This place was located at the confluence of three rivers: Ganga, Son, and Gandak. Ajatashatru felt that trade could also happen from this place. Transportation could also be good here, and it was difficult for the enemy to reach this place. That is why he established this city. But Patna was not the capital then. At that time, the capital of the Magadha Mahajanapada was Rajgir. That too has its own specialty. I have made a video on that. You can watch it by clicking here. His son Udayin took the task of shifting the capital from Rajgir to Pataliputra. In the year 450 BCE, Pataliputra was made the capital of the Magadha Empire. In this way, Udayin's decision changed the history of Pataliputra forever. But was it just a coincidence that this city was the capital of both the greatest empires of India, namely the Mauryan Empire and the Gupta Empire? The city is mentioned in Buddhist and Jain texts, which prove its antiquity and its importance. Lord Buddha himself, recognizing the importance of this place, called it a great city of the future. Historian Romila Thapar writes that Pataliputra was not just a strategic capital but also the largest urban center of that era, and this is why Pataliputra played a very important role on India's political map for many centuries to come. Now, Pataliputra's real destiny shone when Chandragupta Maurya made this city the capital of the Mauryan Empire under his rule. Chandragupta Maurya gave Pataliputra considerable importance not only at the strategic level but also at the administrative level. In 322 BCE, Chandragupta defeated the Nanda dynasty and declared Pataliputra the capital of the pan-Indian Mauryan Empire. Pataliputra was now the center not of just an ordinary empire, but of the largest empire in Asia. Chandragupta made Pataliputra very important not only strategically but also administratively. During his reign, the city was run by a council of 30 members. This council was divided into six sub-committees. These sub-committees were for industry, foreign affairs, census, market control, production, and taxes. Imagine that such systematic administration existed in this city 2300 years ago. Foreign traveler Megasthenes wrote in his work Indica that Pataliputra was one of the greatest cities in the world. In Megasthenes' words, this city was 9.5 miles long and about 1.75 miles wide. It was surrounded by a massive wooden wall adorned with 64 gates and 570 bastions. The king's palace, though made of wood, was so magnificent that even the palaces of Persia's Susa could not match it. The palace grounds had amazing gardens and artificial reservoirs. The city walls, the palaces made of wood and stone, their liveliness, and the commercial streets were so organized and so prosperous that even Megasthenes could not believe that all this was possible on this earth. Friends, after Chandragupta Maurya, the most important period comes for his grandson Ashoka. Ashoka took the task of spreading the importance of Pataliputra to the entire world. In the early days of his reign, he was known as Chandashoka, meaning cruel Ashoka. But then the Kalinga war in 261 BCE completely changed him. Witnessing the bloodshed of millions of people on the battlefield of Kalinga, Ashoka's heart was transformed. Then Ashoka abandoned the sword and embraced the path of Dhamma. During his reign, Pataliputra became a center not only of military power but also of moral power. Imagine that when a king could not protect or expand his kingdom without fighting wars, Ashoka changed the thinking of the entire world by turning from violence to compassion. Ashoka built large stupas and viharas in Pataliputra. In the year 250 BCE, the Third Buddhist Council was also organized during his reign. It was in this assembly that the philosophy of Buddhism was given its final form. From Pataliputra, Ashoka sent his envoys to Syria, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and Greece to propagate Dhamma. Ashoka's inscriptions still bear witness to the administration of Pataliputra and its universal moral outlook. During the Mauryan period, Pataliputra taught the world how to follow the path of morality and compassion despite being very powerful. It was due to the Mauryan kings that Pataliputra was counted among the greatest cities in the world. Do you know that the planning of Pataliputra and its urban system were so advanced that foreign travelers considered them equal to Rome and other great cities. After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, the importance of Pataliputra remained hidden for a long time. During the Shunga and Kushan dynasties, the political importance of this city decreased somewhat. But then came an empire that gave new life to this city again. This empire, which came into existence in the fourth century CE, was the Gupta Empire. Where the Mauryan period was of political power, the Gupta period was the era of literature, science, and art reaching its peak. During this period, Chandragupta I, his son Samudragupta, and most importantly Chandragupta II, also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya. Together, they made Pataliputra the center of a very large empire once again. But along with all this, their achievement was that they laid the foundation for a golden age of knowledge. During the Gupta period, in the time of Samudragupta, this city was not just a center of politics or military, but this city began to be identified as a city that was a center of culture and scientific development in itself. Samudragupta conquered many kingdoms from north to south. This also made Pataliputra a symbol of unity between different parts of the empire. During this period, many great scholars and poets resided in Pataliputra. Poet Damodar Gupta called it the abode of Saraswati, which indicates its identity as a center of education and literature. Great scholars like Panini, Pingala, Patanjali, and Vararuci emerged here, who played a very important role in the development of Sanskrit literature and grammar. But friends, Pataliputra received its greatest recognition in the Gupta period during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya or Chandragupta II. Historians call his reign the Classical Age or Golden Age of India. Pataliputra was the brightest jewel of this golden age. Great intellectuals, poets, scientists, and philosophers emerged here, making Pataliputra a very rich city in terms of knowledge. The greatest contribution of this Pataliputra soil to the world was the mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata. It was in this city that he wrote his very famous treatise, Aryabhatiya. He gave the world the correct knowledge of zero and the decimal system. Aryabhata proved that the Earth is round and rotates on its axis, and he also explained the scientific reasons behind solar and lunar eclipses. Imagine, 1500 years ago, the science of Pataliputra was uncovering many profound mysteries of the universe. Along with science and astronomy, the great poet Kalidasa was also associated with this city in the field of literature. His plays like Abhijnanashakuntalam, Meghadutam are considered classic texts of Sanskrit literature. Because there were large-scale scientific and literary developments during the Gupta period, the Gupta period was called India's Golden Age by the world. This was also because Pataliputra was not just a city of the rich, but its heritage, culture, art, architecture, and metallurgy were also at their peak. Just as Megasthenes could not believe that such a city could exist, similarly, the people who came to see this city during the Gupta period were also dazzled by its heritage. For example, during the reign of the Gupta ruler Chandragupta Vikramaditya, around 405 CE, the Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian came to Pataliputra in search of Buddhist texts. What he saw was no less than a fairy tale for him. In Faxian's words, the people of Pataliputra, the capital of Magadha, are prosperous and happy. They are governed by justice and compassion. There is a large charitable dispensary run by very wealthy families. Here, all the needy are provided with free treatment, food, and medicines. Imagine, about 1600 years ago, when such a thing could not even be imagined in other parts of the world, Pataliputra had free healthcare services for all citizens. Faxian also saw the old palaces of Ashoka, which, according to him, were not man-made but seemed to be built by gods. That is, they were so beautiful that he did not think they could have been built by humans. In this way, until the Gupta period, this city witnessed a great heritage. But then the days of its decline began. After the fall of the Gupta Empire, the importance of Kannauj began to grow, replacing Pataliputra. Due to the increasing importance of Kannauj, the reputation of this city gradually diminished. In the seventh century, during the reign of Harshavardhana, Kannauj became one of the most important cities in North India. During the reign of Harshavardhana, about 200 years after the Gupta kings, another great Chinese traveler, Xuanzang, came to India. But he did not describe Pataliputra as the earlier Chinese travelers had. Xuanzang saw that the golden city of the Guptas was now on a decline. Political instability and internal struggles had begun to ruin the city. Xuanzang writes that the old city has become desolate. Although some monasteries still exist, the kings' palaces and ancient buildings have now turned into ruins. This place now survives on its old memories and tradition of learning. Xuanzang saw that Pataliputra was gradually shifting its center. It was working to empower other institutions of learning, such as Nalanda Mahavihara and Vikramashila, which were extensions of Pataliputra's intellectual heritage. That is, the decline of this place as a city had now begun. Then, if we look at the story of Pataliputra's decline in detail, it is a long and quite complex story. Many factors are intertwined. First, when Harshavardhana died, central power in North India again ceased to exist. At the same time, the center of political power shifted from Pataliputra to Kannauj in the north. After this, the Pal and Sen dynasties ruled this area. But they had to constantly fight with other regional powers, such as the Gurjara Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas. These struggles weakened Pataliputra economically and administratively. The city, once considered the safest, was now witnessing constant wars and instability. Among all these, the most terrible period came in the 12th century when Turkic invasions began in India. One of these invaders was Bakhtiyar Khilji. He launched continuous attacks in the regions of Bengal and Bihar. These attacks not only destroyed Pataliputra and nearby centers of learning like Vikramashila, but also damaged Pataliputra's intellectual heritage. Centuries of knowledge, millions of manuscripts, and thousands of scholars were consumed by fire. This was not just the destruction of a city. It was an attack on the brain of Indian civilization. Not only this, but the rivers, which had always been the strength of Pataliputra, gradually began to become the cause of its downfall. Historians believe that from the 12th and 13th centuries, the Ganga River gradually began to change its course. The river changing its course meant that trade would suffer, and sometimes its coming too close meant terrible floods. In this way, due to waterlogging and floods, a large part of the city became uninhabitable. Therefore, people gradually began to leave this desolate capital and move to better places. In this way, friends, a city that remained at the center of Indian politics for about 1100 years was forgotten. But in the Mughal period, this city got some recognition again. In the 16th century, the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri established a new empire in the ruins of Pataliputra. In history, this empire was called the Sur Empire. Then Sher Shah Suri himself changed the name of Pataliputra to Patna. In this way, when the Sur dynasty was established in Bihar during the Mughal period, this city got a new identity. Pataliputra remained only a memory, on whose foundation a new city, Patna, was built. However, the grandson of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Prince Azim-ush-shan, also ordered the renaming of Patna to Azimabad. This name was given after his own name, and he was the governor of this region. Azim-ush-shan carried out many works in this city, built forts, mosques, and renovated markets. However, this name did not last long. With the decline of the Mughal Empire and the arrival of the British, the name Azimabad gradually changed back to Patna. Nevertheless, the name Azimabad continued for some time, and many Urdu poets and writers adopted it. Even today, remnants of Azimabad are found in Patna, which keep alive the city's rich history and cultural heritage. The naming of Azimabad is an important chapter in the city's history, reflecting the development and cultural changes of this city over time. So friends, this was the history of Pataliputra, one of the greatest cities of India. Pataliputra was not just a city. It was a thought, an ideology, a symbol. The rulers who emerged from here gave India the thread of unity. Chandragupta Maurya showed how powerful a united India could be. Ashoka gave the message of non-violence and Dhamma to the whole world. The Gupta rulers made India the pinnacle of the world in art, science, and literature. Even today, remnants of Pataliputra are found in Patna. In Kumhrar, there are remains of an 80-pillared building from the Mauryan period. The Pataliputra capital, kept in the Patna Museum, is a wonderful example of Mauryan sculpture. Now, as the Bihar Assembly elections are being held this year, we should remember how great this land is. The rulers of Pataliputra ruled on the principles of public welfare, justice, and religion. Today, Patna may not look like its history, but its soil hides the glory that influenced the entire world. The rulers who emerged from here showed that true greatness lies not only in power but also in justice, compassion, and public welfare. Friends, if you liked this video, please like and share it, and don't forget to subscribe to the channel. And for such interesting stories, to stay connected with history, do subscribe to History Connect. And yes, tell us in the comments what else you want to know about the history of Pataliputra. If possible, we will try to bring a video on that too. Thank you very much. [Music]