Bhagalpur was a part of the Anga Pradesh in the Vedic ages. Though the people of Anga were unknown to the Rig Veda, they are mentioned in the Atharva Veda.
There is lack of evidence in Vedic literature that Angas were non-Aryan people that came overseas to eastern India. They were, in fact, the earlier Aryan immigrants. Titikshu, the second son of Mahamanas, who was seventh in descent from Anu, founded the kingdom of Anava in the East and named it after his ancestor.
The Asura King Bali begot by his wife Sudesna 's five Kshatriya sons, viz. Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Sumha and the Anava kingdom that expanded and developed under the Asura king was named after his sons, and the five kingdoms thus formed were named Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Sumha. Separated from Magadha by the river Champa, Anga comprised the modern districts of Bhagalpur, Munger, and Banka. The capital of Anga was Malini, also called Champa Malini in the Puranas.
Situated at a distance of about six kilometers to the west of Bhagalpur, it was described in the Mahabharata as a place of pilgrimage. No particulars are available about the kings in the Anga genealogy till we come to Lomapada, also called Rompala, who is placed seventh in the genealogical list. Lomapada was a well-known archer, and a great friend of king Dashrath of Ayodhya. Lomapada's great grandson Champa gave the name Champa to the Anga capital, which was then known as Malini. Champa, also called Champapuri, was surrounded by groves of Champaka at the time of the Mahabharata. After Lomapada the next famous king of Anga was Karna who built and held his court in Karnagarh. Karna was a faithful ally of the Kauravas and a sincere friend of Duryodhana, the chief of the Kauravas. He was a pathetic victim of misfortune throughout his whole life. In reality the eldest of the Pandavas, he was never regarded as such by the Pandava brothers. Being deserted just after his birth by his mother Kunti, because he was born during her maidenhood by the Sun God, he was brought up by a worker in wood, who adopted him as his son. In spite of the social stigma of birth out of marriage, Karna was admitted to be one of the great heroes of the epic age almost unrivalled in war and bravery. The Buddhist works mention one queen Gaggara as having excavated an artificial lake, containing groves of Champaka trees on its banks. From the Champaka Sreshthi Katha, a Jaina work, it appears that the town was in a flourishing condition.
This fair and fortified city, with its ramparts, gates and watchtowers was regarded as one of the six great cities of northern India. Champa was a very sacred place to the Jainas and the Buddhists. Parshva, the immediate predecessor of Mahavira, is associated with Champa. Lord Mahavira spent here three parjjusanas (rainy season retirement). It was the birthplace of Biraja-Jina, author of Tankavatara Sutra, and also that of Palakapya Muni, birthplace and the place of death of Vasupujya, the 12thJaina Tirthankara. Sona Kolaviza, the author of one of the Theragathas was a resident of Champa. At the time of Buddha also, Champa was regarded as one of the six great cities of northern India, the other five being Rajagriha, Sravasti, Saketa, Kausambi and Benares. Ananda, the first and favorite disciple of Buddha, exhorted the latter to give up his earthly body in one of such cities. Subhadrangi, the mother of Ashoka, was born at Champa. Her father was a poor Brahmin, who took her to Pataliputra and presented her to Bindusara, King of Magadha. Champa is also traditionally the abode of Chand Sadagar, the story of whose son Lakhindra and his wife Behula is graphically mentioned in the Bengali poem called Mansar Bhasan. Snake worship and Behula Puja are still performed and a big fair is held at Champa. Today Bhagalpur is the administrative headquarters of both Bhagalpur district and Bhagalpur division.
This town is situated on the bank of the river Ganges. in the Vedic ages. Though the people of Anga were unknown to the Rig Veda, they are mentioned in the Atharva Veda. There is lack of evidence in Vedic literature that Angas were non-Aryan people that came overseas to eastern India. They were, in fact, the earlier Aryan immigrants. Titikshu, the second son of Mahamanas, who was seventh in descent from Anu, founded the kingdom of Anava in the East and named it after his ancestor. The Asura King Bali begot by his wife Sudesna ' five Kshatriya sons, viz. Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Sumha and the Anava kingdom that expanded and developed under the Asura king was named after his sons, and the five kingdoms thus formed were named Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Sumha. Separated from Magadha by the river Champa, Anga comprised the modern districts of Bhagalpur, Munger, and Banka.
The capital of Anga was Malini, also called Champa Malini in the Puranas. Situated at a distance of about six kilometers to the west of Bhagalpur, it was described in the Mahabharata as a place of pilgrimage. No particulars are available about the kings in the Anga genealogy till we come to Lomapada, also called Rompala, who is placed seventh in the genealogical list. Lomapada was a well-known archer, and a great friend of king Dashrath of Ayodhya. Lomapadas great grandson Champa gave the name Champa to the Anga capital, which was then known as Malini. Champa, also called Champapuri, was surrounded by groves of Champaka at the time of the Mahabharata. After Lomapada the next famous king of Anga was Karna who built and held his court in Karnagarh. Karna was a faithful ally of the Kauravas and a sincere friend of Duryodhana, the chief of the Kauravas. He was a pathetic victim of misfortune throughout his whole life. In reality the eldest of the Pandavas, he was never regarded as such by the Pandava brothers. Being deserted just after his birth by his mother Kunti, because he was born during her maidenhood by the Sun God, he was brought up by a worker in wood, who adopted him as his son. In spite of the social stigma of birth out of marriage, Karna was admitted to be one of the great heroes of the epic age almost unrivalled in war and bravery.
The Buddhist works mention one queen Gaggara as having excavated an artificial lake, containing groves of Champaka trees on its banks. From the Champaka Sreshthi Katha, a Jaina work, it appears that the town was in a flourishing condition. This fair and fortified city, with its ramparts, gates and watchtowers was regarded as one of the six great cities of northern India. Champa was a very sacred place to the Jainas and the Buddhists. Parshva, the immediate predecessor of Mahavira, is associated with Champa. Lord Mahavira spent here three parjjusanas (rainy season retirement). It was the birthplace of Biraja-Jina, author of Tankavatara Sutra, and also that of Palakapya Muni, birthplace and the place of death of Vasupujya, the 12thJaina Tirthankara. Sona Kolaviza, the author of one of the Theragathas was a resident of Champa. At the time of Buddha also, Champa was regarded as one of the six great cities of northern India, the other five being Rajagriha, Sravasti, Saketa, Kausambi and Benares. Ananda, the first and favorite disciple of Buddha, exhorted the latter to give up his earthly body in one of such cities. Subhadrangi, the mother of Ashoka, was born at Champa. Her father was a poor Brahmin, who took her to Pataliputra and presented her to Bindusara, King of Magadha. Champa is also traditionally the abode of Chand Sadagar, the story of whose son Lakhindra and his wife Behula is graphically mentioned in the Bengali poem called Mansar Bhasan. Snake worship and Behula Puja are still performed and a big fair is held at Champa. Today Bhagalpur is the administrative headquarters of both Bhagalpur district and Bhagalpur division. This town is situated on the bank of the river Ganges.
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