Champaran
| Champaran | |
|---|---|
| Region | |
 Champaran
|
|
| Coordinates: 26°50′37″N 84°40′57″E / 26.8437°N 84.6826°ECoordinates: 26°50′37″N 84°40′57″E / 26.8437°N 84.6826°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Bihar |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Urdu,Hindi|Urdu|Bhojpuri |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Champaran is a historic region which now forms the East Champaran district, and the West Champaran district in Bihar, India. Champaran was part of erstwhile Mithila under King Janaka.
Champaran District was created in 1866. On 1 December 1971 it was split into two districts: Paschim Champaran and Purbi Champaran. The headquarters of Paschim Champaran district is at Bettiah. The headquarters of Purbi Champaran district is at Motihari. Purbi Champaran consists of six subdivisions and twenty seven blocks.
The name Champaran derives from Champa-aranya or Champkatanys. Champa or champaka means magnolia and aranya means forest. Hence, Champaranya means forest of magnolia trees. It is believed that the forest was named while its western portion was inhabited by solitary ascetics.
In the prehistoric period, Champaran constituted a part of the ancient kingdom of Videha. The Aryan Videhas settled east of the Gandak or Narayani river. Among the greatest of the Videha kings was Sirdhwaj Janak, an erudite scholar as well as the temporal and spirutal lord for his subjects. Yagyavalkya was his chief priest who codified the Hindu law known as Yajnavalkya Smriti. Both of his wives Gargi and Maitreyi were renowned scholars. It is Gargi who is credited with composing some mantras. After the fall of Videhan empire Champaran was ceded to the oligarrochial republic of Vrijjan confederacy, with Vaishali as its capital of the Vriggian confederacy. Lichohavis were the most powerful and prominent.
Ajatashatru, the emperor of Magadha, found the power and fame of Vaishali an irritant. By diplomacy and force he annexed Lichhavis and occupied its capital, Vaishali. He extended his way over the present district of Champaran which lasted for nearly a hundred years. After the Mauryas, the Shungas and the Kanvas ruled over Magadh and its vast territories. Archaeological evidence found in Champaran is testimony of Shunga and Kanva rule in the area.
...
Wikipedia