Thread by @PrasunNagar

History of Pātaliputra

The thread would detail about the ancient city of Pātaliputra ( modern Patna).

The city has been named in various texts of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhiam, and has been known by various names such as 'Pātalaigrama', 'Pushpa-pura', 'Kusum-pura', etc.

The origin of the name of Pātaliputra is unclear.

Some scholars consider it from the word 'patali' = a species of rice known as Bignonia suaveloens.

Others consider it from son of a king named as Sudarshan.

The origin of Pātaliputra as a city starts around 490 BCE, when Ajatshatru was ruling Magadha and was fighting against the Vijji(Vajji).
Confederacy.

He constructed a fort at the place where Ganges and Son met, under his ministers Vassakara and Sunipa.

Buddha while speaking to his disciple Ānanda in the 'Digha Nikaya' : " As far as Aryans dwell, this city of Pātaliputra will be a foremost city."

In the 'Patali-sutta', he says that Pātaliputra will emerge as a great city, but will be troubled by fire, floods & civil discord.

After Ajatshatru, his son Udāyan (461-445 BCE) shifted the Magadhan capital from Rājgriha ( modern Rajgir) to Pātaliputra.

The city of Rājgriha was constructed under an architect named as Pandit Mahāgovinda, under the kingship of Bimbisara.

Image of cyclopean walls of Rajgir

In the next few centuries, Pātaliputra became the capital of succeeding dynasties like the Sisunaga, Nandas, Mauryans and the Guptas.

Image of Pātaliputra capital

During the time of Chandragupta Maurya, a Greek ambassador named Megasthenes visited the imperial court at Pātaliputra and has recorded some great information about the city.

Apart from Megasthenes, several other ancient writers have written on length about the great city.

Megasthenes on Pātaliputra:

" The city of Pālibortha is protected by a moat which has a depth of 30 cubits (60 feet), and a width of 6 plethra ( 200 yards)."

" The moat received the sewage of the city."

" The city was protected by a massive timber palisade surrounding it along the moat."

" The palisade was pierced by loopholes through which archers were to shoot. The city had 64 gates and 570 towers."

Image of excavated palisade walls of ancient Pātaliputra

" Pālibortha is situated at confluence of Ganges and Sonus rivers."

" It is in the shape of an oblong, with a length of 60 stades ( 15 km) & a breadth of 15 stades (2.5 km)."

The Royal Palace at Pātaliputra

" The palace is adorned with glided pillars clasped round with a vine embossed in gold, while silver images of those birds which most charm the eye diversify the workmanship."

"The palace is full of tame peacock & pheasants, shady groves & trees set in clumps with branches woven together by some special cunning of horticulture, trees that are always green, they never grow old and never shed their leaves."

"Some trees are native, and some are brought from other lands with great care & these adorn the palace and give it glory. Birds are there free and unconfined.

"The birds come of their own accord, and have their nests and resting places on branches, birds of various kinds."

The Greek historians tells us that the palaces at Susa or Ecatbana are no match for the splendour & luxury of the Indian palace at Pātaliputra.

'Mudra-rakshsa' mentions that the name of the palace was 'Suganga-prasada'.

It is to be noted that perhaps the same place stood through next 600 years and has been described by Fa-Hien, when he visited India in early 5th century AD.

After the Mauryas, Pātaliputra was occupied by the Sungas, who ruled most of North India till 1st century BCE.

After them, the Kānvas were based at the city and till 3rd century AD, it was occupied by small rulers.

The next great Indian empire after the Mauryas was also based at Pātaliputra.

It was the Guptas, who ruled the major portions of the subcontinent for more than 200 years, from 319-550 AD.

A reference to the city is in Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta which states that:

A King of Kota ( kota-kula) was 'captured' by Samudra Gupta's army, while he was 'playing' ( kridata) at his capital city of Pātaliputra.

From the imperial darbar (Upsthana) at Pātaliputra, Samudra Gupta and his successors launched various campaigns throughout the subcontinent, and made the far regions even till South under their suzerainty.

Fa-Hien visited the city between 399-412 AD, & has left a vivid account of the general conditions of the country.

He visited the great monasteries situated at Pātaliputra and met great teachers such as Raivata. He also copied various Buddhist texts available at the monastery.

After the Guptas, the centre of political administration changed and it was no longer Pātaliputra.

The major cities were up North at Kannauj, and afterwards shifted towards Bengal.

Perhaps Pātaliputra was heavily damaged during floods, which occured during mid-5th century AD, and made Skanda Gupta shift the capital to Ayodhya.

Pataliputra as a Centre of Learning:

According to Mahavmsa Tika ( A Buddhist document), Chanakya came all the way from Taxila to Pātaliputra in pursuit of learning & disputation centred at that imperial capital ( vadam pariyesanto purpphapuran ganiva).

It is an extraordinary compliment paid to Pātaliputra as the intellectual capital of India in those days when a scholar of encyclopaedic learning like Chanakya, himself a product of Taxila, should seek to win fresh laurels at this centre of learning called Pātaliputra.

Eminent creative authors and geniuses like Varsha & Upavarsha, Panini & Pingala, and Vyadi, Vararuchi & Patanjali, achieved everlasting fame by passing their exams at Pataliputra

Pātaliputra School of Metal Art:

Pātaliputra was also famous for its schools of metal-working.

A famous e.g is the Sultanganj Buddha, which was made in 5th-6th century AD, and is located presently at Birmingham museum.

In past 2500 years, no Indian city had such an important role to play, except Pātaliputra.

For a thousand years, from 5th century BCE, it was a epicenter of political, cultural, scientific and educational transformation of the country.

End