The name Bihar is derived from the Sanskrit vihāra, meaning "abode(Any address at which you dwell more than temporarily)". The region roughly encompassing the present state was filled with Buddhist vihāra, which were the abodes of Buddhist monks in the ancient and medieval periods.
In the ancient times Bihar was called Magadh and its capital was Patna, called Patliputra at that time. Patliputra was the epicenter of the first ever empire of India, the Nanda Dynasty and later the Mauryan Empire. The greatest ruler ever to originate from this empire was Ashoka. Bihar was always an important place of power, culture and education in the ancient times . The Vikramshila and Nalanda Universities, were among the oldest and best centers of education in ancient India.
In the ancient times Bihar was called Magadh and its capital was Patna, called Patliputra at that time. Patliputra was the epicenter of the first ever empire of India, the Nanda Dynasty and later the Mauryan Empire. The greatest ruler ever to originate from this empire was Ashoka. Bihar was always an important place of power, culture and education in the ancient times . The Vikramshila and Nalanda Universities, were among the oldest and best centers of education in ancient India.
