Vaishali district

Vaishali district
वैशाली जिला
ضلع ویشالی
District of Bihar

Location of Vaishali district in Bihar
Country India
State Bihar
Administrative division Tirhut
Headquarters Hajipur
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituencies Hajipur, Vaishali
 • Assembly seats Hajipur, Lalganj, Vaishali, Mahua, Raja Pakar, Raghopur, Mahnar, Patepur
Area
 • Total 2,036 km2 (786 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 3,495,249
 • Density 1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy 68.56 per cent
 • Sex ratio 892
Major highways NH 19, NH 77, NH 103
Website Official website

Vaishali district is a district in Bihar, India. It is named after the ancient city of Vaishali of Mithila, which is mentioned in the Mahabharata as well as in Buddhism and Jainism. It is a part of Tirhut division.[1]

History

Ancient Vaishali

Budha Stupa in Vaishali.
The Budha Stupa in Vaishali.

Vaishali derives its name from King Vishal. Even before the advent of Buddhism and Jainism, Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant Licchavi Republic, a sovereign state since before the birth of Mahavira (c. 599 BC), which suggests that it was perhaps the first republic in the world, similar to those later found in ancient Greece.[2] In that period, Vaishali was an ancient metropolis and the capital city of the republic of the Vaishali state, which covered most of the Himalayan Gangetic region of present-day Bihar. Very little is known about the early history of Vaishali. The Vishnu Purana records 34 monarchs of Vaishali, the first being Nabhaga, who is believed to have abdicated his throne over a matter of human rights and believed to have declared: "I am now a free tiller of the soil, king over my acre." The last among the 34 was Sumati, who is considered a contemporary of Dasharatha, father of the Hindu god, Rama.

Numerous references to Vaishali are found in texts pertaining to both Jainism and Buddhism, which have preserved much information on Vaishali and the other mahajanapadas. Based on the information found in these texts, Vaishali was established as a republic by the 6th century BCE, prior to the birth of Gautama Buddha in 563 BCE, making it the world's first republic.

Mahavira was born in Vaishali. Gautama Buddha delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Parinirvana there. Vaishali is also renowned as the home of Amrapali, a great courtesan who appears in many folktales as well as in Buddhist literature. Amrapali became a disciple of Gautama Buddha.

A kilometre away is Abhishek Pushkarini, the coronation tank. The sacred waters of the tank anointed the elected representatives of Vaishali. Next to it stands the Japanese temple and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa built by the Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga sect, a Japanese new religion. A small number of śarīra found in Vaishali have been enshrined in the foundation and in the chhatra of this stupa. Near the coronation tank is Stupa 1 or the Relic Stupa. Here the Licchavis reverentially encased one of the eight portions of Buddha's relics, which they received after his Parinirvana. After his last discourse, Buddha set out for Kushinagar, but the Licchavis kept following him. Buddha gave them his alms bowl but they still refused to return. The Master created an illusion of a river in spate which compelled them to go back. This site can be identified with Deora in modern Kesaria, where Ashoka later built a stupa. Ananda, the favourite disciple of the Buddha, attained Nirvana in the midst of the Ganges outside Vaishali.

The Islamic curse fell on Vaishalin13th century when repeated Muslim invasions led to mass beheading and forced conversions. Buddhism gradually disappeared among the local populace due to the hostility of Muslims towards the atheist nature of Buddhism.

Post-Independence

Vaishali became a district when it was split from Muzaffarpur in 1972.[3]

Geography

Vaishali district occupies an area of 2,036 square kilometres (786 sq mi),[4]

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Vaishali one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[5] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[5]

Sub-Divisions

Vaishali district comprises the following Sub-Divisions:

Blocks: 1) Mahnar, 2) Vaishali, 3) Bidupur, 4) Goraul, 5) Raghopur, 6) Lalganj, 7) Hajipur, 8) Mahua, 9) Jandaha , 10) Patepur, 11) Sahdeibuzurg, 12) Bhagwanpur, 13) Chehrakala, 14) Rajapakar, 15) Patedhi-Belshar, 16) Desri

Other Famous Places:

Connectivity: Hajipur-Mahnar Road (Falls in Hajipur-Mahnar Road), Distance from Haipur: 11 km, Distance from Bidupur: 2 km, Local Police Station : Bidupur (2 km), Public Sector Bank Available: Allahabad Bank Ltd.(CBS Banking), Shopping Complex: Sri Laxmi Market, Famous Person: Manish Chaudhary

Connectivity:Hajipur-Muzaffarpur Road

Famous sites : Old gudri Bazar, Mamu Bhanja Mazar, Connectivity : Patna 7 Km, Hajipur 3 Km,

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Vaishali district has a population of 3,495,249,[6] roughly equal to the nation of Panama[7] or the US state of Connecticut.[8] This gives it a ranking of 86th in India (out of a total of 640).[6] The district has a population density of 1,717 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,450/sq mi) .[6] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 28.58%.[6] Vaishali has a sex ratio of 892 females for every 1000 males,[6] and a literacy rate of 68.56%.[6]

Culture

Main festival is Chhath Puja, normally celebrated in the month of October or November.

Flora and fauna

In 1997 Vaishali district became home to the Barela Salim Ali Zubba Saheni Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi).[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://tirhut-muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in
  2. ↑ http://p2.www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074639/Vaisali
  3. ↑ Law, Gwillim (2011-09-25). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  4. ↑ Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) (2010). "States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. pp. 1118–1119. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7.
  5. 1 2 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  7. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. Panama 3,460,462 July 2011 est.
  8. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Connecticut 3,574,097
  9. ↑ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Bihar". Retrieved September 25, 2011.
 Muzaffarpur district
Saran district Samastipur district
   Vaishali district  
Patna district
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