49-674: Champapuri Bhagalpur , historically known as Champa Nagri , is a city in the Indian state of Bihar , situated on the southern bank of the Ganges river . It is the third largest city of Bihar by population and also serves the headquarters of Bhagalpur district , Bhagalpur division , and Eastern Range . It is known as the Silk City and also listed for development under the Smart Cities Mission by Government of India . It
98-553: A Rescue and Rehabilitation Area located in Bhagalpur, the second largest of its kind. Loss of nesting habitat and feeding sites through drainage, pollution and disturbance, together with hunting and egg collection, caused a massive dip in the population of the species. Garuda birds were first spotted nesting and breeding on a silk cotton tree near a village in the Ganga -Diara area in Bhagalpur in 2007. In May 2006, 42 birds were seen by
147-1188: A copy of the Qur’an transcribed by Murshid Quli Khan , the Nawab of Murshidabad, Bengal. There are many rivers which cross the Bhagalpur Border. They are:- Print media include the Hindi Dainik Jagran , Dainik Bhaskar , Aaj , Hindustan (under Hindustan Times ) and Prabhat Khabar ; the Urdu The Inquilab and Taasir , while English Times of India , The Telegraph and Hindustan Times are also available. Broadcast media include All India Radio (Frequency 1458 kHz, 1206 kHz) 90.4 FM Radio Active (Bhagalpur), and AIR FM Rainbow India 100.1.M, sadhna plus news channel Telecommunications services include BSNL , Airtel , Vodafone Idea , Reliance Jio . Airtel , Jio , BSNL and Sify are providing broadband services in this region. Champapuri Traditional Champapuri , Champa Nagri or Champanagar
196-577: A counter-curse that worshipping her would not be popular on earth unless he worshipped her also. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita say, "[The] legend of [Chand Sadagar and] Manasā Devī, [...] who must be as old as the Mykenean stratum in Asiatic society, reflects the conflict between the religion of Shiva and that of female local deities in Bengal. Afterwards Manasā or Padmā was recognized as
245-405: A form of Shakti , [...] and her worship accepted by Shaivas . She is a phase of the mother-divinity who for so many worshippers is nearer and dearer than the far-off and impersonal Shiva...". Generally, Manasa is worshipped with and without an image. A branch of a cactus tree, an earthen pot or an earthen snake image is worshipped as the goddess, though images of Manasa are worshipped too. She
294-412: A glance of her poison eye. Finally, tired of quarrels between Manasa and Chandi, Shiva deserted Manasa under a tree, but created a companion for her from his tears of remorse, called Neto or Netā. Later, the sage Jaratkaru married Manasa, but Chandi ruined Manasa's wedding night. Chandi advised Manasa to wear snake ornaments and then threw a frog in the bridal chamber which caused the snakes to run around
343-411: A golden complexion (hence the nickname Gauri, Golden) and smiling face. She wears red garments and gold jewellery. She has four arms, with her upper right hands holding a shankh and her left hand holding her favorite flower, lotus. Her lower left hand holds a snake and the right lower right hand displays Varadamudra . She is covered with snakes, sitting on a lotus platform or standing upon a snake. She
392-428: A group of men hanging from a tree upside down. These men were his ancestors , who were doomed to misery as their children had not performed their last rites. So, they advised Jaratkaru to marry and have a son who could free them of those miseries by performing the ceremonies. Vasuki offered his sister Manasa's hand to Jaratkaru . Manasa gave birth to a son, Astika , who freed his ancestors. Astika also helped in saving
441-553: A narrower bill, thicker down on the head and neck, and entirely dark wings. A Garuda bird measures 145–150 cm (about three feet) in length and four to five feet in height. As of the 2011 India census , the Bhagalpur Urban Agglomeration has a population of 410,210, of which 218,284 were males and 191,926 were females. It is the 3rd largest city in Bihar in terms of urban population. The total population in
490-569: A scented flower to worship the local guardian Manasa and commemorate the wedding of Behula Manasa is also worshipped extensively in Assam and Tripura, and a kind of Oja-Pali (musical folk theatre) is dedicated entirely to her myth. Manasa is ceremonially worshipped on Nag Panchami - a festival of snake worship in the Hindu month of Shravan (July–August). Bengali women observe a fast ( vrata ) on this day and offer milk at snake holes. Manasa Devi
539-516: Is a Hindu goddess of snakes. She is worshipped mainly in Bihar , Odisha , Bengal , Jharkhand , South Assam and other parts of northeastern India and in Uttarakhand , chiefly for the prevention and cure of snakebite, and also for fertility and prosperity. In Hinduism , Manasa is the sister of Shesha and Vasuki , king of Nāgas (serpents), and wife of sage Jaratkaru . She is the mother of
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#1732771969544588-762: Is a neighbourhood in Bhagalpur in the Indian state of Bihar . It is the site of the ancient city of Champa, the capital of the Anga Mahajanapada . It is also the main centre of capital of cultural region of Anga . Champapuri is claimed to be the only place where all the five kalyanas- garbha, janma, diksha, kevalagnana and moksha kalyana of Bhagwan Vasupujya took place. It is said that Bhagawan Adinatha , Bhagwan Parshwanatha and Bhagawan Mahavira had their monsoon stay at this place. Bhagawan Mahavira had his third and twelfth monsoon stay at this place. There
637-479: Is also related to great stories of 'origin of Harivansha, Shripal-Mainasundari, Shri Dharma Ghosh Muni, King Karna of Mahabharata , King Mudrak and great architect Vishvakarman ’. The main temple of Champapur Siddha Kshetra is quite ancient (about 2500 years). This temple being symbolic of 'Panch Kalyanaka' is adorned with 5 altars, magnificent spire and 2 columns of fame. It is said that there were 4 'Columns of Fame (Keerti Stambha)’ which existed in four corners of
686-607: Is an idol of Bhagavan at the temple. An ancient temple of Champanala is seen at this place. Champapuri is also believed to be birthplace of Vasupujya , the twelfth tirthankara. Teerthankara Adinath divided the country into 52 Janapadas; of these one was Anga and its capital was The chief pupil - Pattadhara of Tirthankara Mahavir Sudharmaswami and Jambuswami also came here.The fervent devotees of Shri Mahavira - Shravaka Kamadeva, Sudarshan Sheth, emperor Shripala and Satee Chandanbala were also born here. According to Aupapatika Sutra (c. 1st-2nd century CE) forms part of
735-543: Is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List 2004 of threatened species and listed under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This huge stork has a naked pink head, a very thick yellow bill and a low-hanging neck pouch. The neck ruff is white. The bird looks like a vulture. Other than the pale grey edge on each wing, the rest of the greater adjutant's body is dark grey. Younglings have
784-506: Is considered one of the 40 Sufi saints sent to spread the message of Allah. The Sajjadah Nasheen (direct descendant of the saint) is supposed to spend his life within the confines of the Khanqah and take care of its management, lead prayers and offer spiritual services. It is said that they are exempted from appearing in a court of law. The Mosque was built by Aurangzeb and was frequently visited by him. Every Thursday, visitors assemble at
833-546: Is found in the Vedas (the earliest Hindu scriptures), Manasa - a human goddess of snakes - has "little basis" in early Hinduism. Bhattacharya suggests another influence on Manasa being the poison-curing Mahayana Buddhist goddess, Janguli. Janguli shares her swan vehicle and her "poison-destroyer" epithet with Manasa. A theory suggests that Janguli may have been influenced by the Kirata-giri ("the conqueror of all poisons") of
882-697: Is home to the Gangetic dolphin , the National Aquatic Animal of India , and the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is established near the town. The city holds the largest Manasa Puja and one of the largest processions in Kali Puja, an intangible cultural heritage of the region. Greater adjutant ( Leptoptilos dubius ), a member of the stork family, associated with the mythical bird Garuda , has
931-531: Is not the Manasa popular in Bengal. By the 14th century, Manasa was identified as the goddess of fertility and marriage rites and was assimilated into the Shaiva pantheon, related to the god Shiva. Myths glorified her by describing that she saved Shiva after he drank the poison, and venerated her as the "remover of poison". Her popularity grew and spread to southern India, and the cult of her followers began to rival
980-474: Is one of the most important goddesses, and her thaan (shrine) may be found in the courtyard of almost every agrarian household. Among the lower-caste Hindus of East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) too, she is worshipped with great pomp. Manasa is an especially important deity in Bengal for the mercantile castes. This is because Chando of the Manasamangal was the first to initiate her worship, and Behula,
1029-451: Is sheltered by the canopy of the hoods of seven cobras . Sometimes, she is depicted with a child on her lap. The child is assumed to be her son, Astika . In Bengal , she is rarely seen with her husband, Jaratkaru. In some of her idols she is shown with Behula and Lakshminder. The Mahabharata tells the story of Manasa's marriage. Sage Jaratkaru practised severe austerities and had decided to abstain from marriage. Once, he came across
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#17327719695441078-602: Is still been seen and reported when there is heavy rain in the region. Spread over three acres Budhanath Temple is located on the banks of the Uttarvahini Ganga (flowing from south to north) River. Being one of the oldest temples in the region, it witnesses influx of devotees throughout the year. It is about twenty minutes from the main town. Reference of Baba Budhanath can be found in Shiva Purana as Baba Bal Vridheshwarnath. Also, this name has been stated in
1127-405: Is the only district in Bihar after capital city Patna where three major higher educational institutions IIIT Bhagalpur , Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College , TMBU , and Agriculture University (BAU) are located and also Vikramshila Central University is under construction next to the ruins of the medieval Vikramshila Mahavihara . Bhagalpur Railway Station serves the city. The river around city
1176-514: Is widely worshipped in the rainy season, when the snakes are most active. Manasa is also a very important fertility deity, especially among the lower caste Hindus, and her blessings are invoked during marriage or for childlessness. She is usually worshipped and mentioned along with Neto, who is called Neta, Netidhopani, Netalasundori in various parts of Bengal. In North Bengal, among the Rajbanshis, Manasa (called Bishohora, Bishohori or Padmavati)
1225-512: Is worshipped for protection from and cure of snake bites and infectious diseases like smallpox and chicken pox . The following of Manasa is most widespread in South Bengal, where she is ritually worshipped in the local temples as well as in the houses. Almost every Hindu household has a dedicated shrine for goddess Manasa along with Lord Vishnu (Hari), the duo represented by the branch of cactus tree and tulsi tree respectively. The goddess
1274-577: The Atharvaveda . According to McDaniel, she was included in the higher-caste Hindu pantheon, where she is now regarded as a Hindu goddess rather than a tribal one. According to Tate, Manasa as Jaratkaru was initially recognized as a daughter of the sage Kashyapa and Kadru , the mother of all nagas in the epic Mahabharata . According to Bhattacharya, the Jaratkaru of the Mahabharata
1323-672: The Muslim ruler Hasan, but failed to convert Chand Sadagar . Manasa wanted to become a goddess like Lakshmi or Saraswati . To get there, she had to achieve the worship of Chand Sadagar who was extremely adamant and took oath not to worship Manasa. Thus to gain his fear and insecurity, Manasa one by one killed his six sons. At last Manasa conspired against two dancers of Indras Court who loved each other, Anirudha and Usha . Anirudh had to take birth as Lakhinder, Chand and Sanaka's seventh son. Usha took birth as Behula and married him. Manasa killed him but Behula floated on water for nine months with
1372-558: The Northern Black Polished Ware culture (700-200 BCE), with a surrounding fortification and moat. It was a notable centre of trade and commerce. In 2014, the tallest statue of Bhagawan Vasupujya was built and donated by Smt Sona Devi Sethi Charitable Trust based at Dimapur, Nagaland. The statue is 31 feet in height and the stone for the statue was brought all the way for Karnataka. Manasa Manasa ( Sanskrit : मनसा , romanized : Manasā )
1421-449: The 12 Jain upanga āgamas as per Śvetámbara tradition, a holy garden Purnabhadra Chaitya was situated to the north-east of this ancient city. When Mahavira visited Champa he is said to have lodged at this chaitya. Many Jain ascetics, like Muni Dharmaghosh, Muni Padmarath, Ashok and Anchal, attained salvation there, as it was a Siddhakshetra An ancient temple of Champanala is seen at this place. The ancient city had an occupation of
1470-685: The 12th Jain Teerthankar, have taken place. Champapur was the capital of Anga Janpada, one of the 52 Janapadas established by Adi Teerthankar Bhagwan Rishabh Deo. Champapur also existed as Mahajanapada among the six Mahajanapadas during the time of Bhagwan Mahavira Swami. The three Chaturmas of Bhagwan Mahavira Swami during his Dikshakal, religious propagation centre of Anga - Banga - Magadh - Vaishali , test of modesty of Sati Subhadra and Anantmati, Aahardan to Bhagwan Mahaveer Swami by Sati Chandan Bala have taken place in Champapur. Champapur
1519-494: The Mandar Nature Club team for the first time. Prior to this, the species had never been seen in Bihar during its breeding period. Four years after these endangered birds of the stork family started nesting and breeding in Bhagalpur district, their number eventually increased, from 78 to over 500, making Bhagalpur one of only three places to host Garudas; the others being Cambodia and Assam. The greater adjutant
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1568-564: The Puja is so long that it takes 36 hours to complete one big phase of Murti Bisarjan. Kali Puja holds the cultural significance of the Anga Region. The procession after the Puja is the intangible cultural asset to the city. In medieval Bengali literature , Mansamangal is projected has heroine and a goddess. In the period from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century, many works based on this story were made. The religious purpose of these works
1617-433: The age group of 0 to 6 years is 55,898. The total number of literates are 286,125, with 160,720 males and 125,405 females. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population is 80.76%, of which while the male literacy rate is 84.95% with women at 75.95%. Kali Puja is one of the most important festivals in and around the region. Several Kali Temples and Puja Mandaps are decked up on Deepawali to worship Kalika. The procession after
1666-508: The campus of the temple. Later on the 2 out of 4 were destroyed in the earthquake of year 1934 & repair (Jirnoddhar) of other 2 columns was done in 1938. The 'Columns of Fame' are about 2200 years ancient. Founded in 1577 AD, the Khanqah-e-Shahbazia is one of the most revered shrines of Bhagalpur. It houses the grave of Maulana Shahbaz, a saint whose 13th-generation descendants still run the place. Maulana Shahbaz Rahmatullah
1715-429: The chamber. As a consequence, the terrified Jaratkaru ran away from the house. After few days, he returned and Astika, their son, was born. Accompanied by her adviser, Neto, Manasa descended to earth to see human devotees. She was initially mocked by the people but then Manasa forced them to worship her by raining calamity on those who denied her power. She managed to convert people from different walks of life, including
1764-551: The charge of poison that was produced when King Prithu milked the Earth as a cow. When Shiva saw Manasa, he was attracted to her, but she proved to him that he was her father. Shiva took Manasa to his home where his wife, Chandi , suspected Manasa of being Shiva's concubine or co-wife, and insulted Manasa and burnt one of her eyes, leaving Manasa half-blind. Later, when Shiva was dying of poison, Manasa cured him. On one occasion, when Chandi kicked her, Manasa rendered her senseless with
1813-447: The condition that he would leave her if she disobeyed him. Once, when Jaratkaru was awakened by Manasa, he became upset with her because she awakened him too late for worship, and so he left her temporarily. The Mangalkavya s were devotional paeans to local deities such as Manasa, composed in Bengal between the 13th and the 18th centuries. The Manasa Mangalkavya by Vijay Gupta and Manasa Vijaya (1495) by Bipradas Pipilai trace
1862-578: The dead body of her husband and finally brought back the lives of the seven sons and the lost prosperity of Chand. At last, he yielded by offering a flower to the goddess with his left hand without even looking at her. This gesture made Manasa so happy that she resurrected all of Chand's sons and restored his fame and fortunes. The Mangal kavyas say that after this, the worship of Manasa was popular forever. Manasa Mangalkavya attributes Manasa's difficulty in attracting devotees to an unjust curse she gave to Chand in his previous life. Chand then retaliated with
1911-521: The earliest Shaivism (the cult of Shiva). As a consequence, stories attributing Manasa's birth to Shiva emerged and ultimately Shaivism adopted this indigenous goddess into the Brahmanical tradition of mainstream Hinduism. Alternatively, Vasudev suggests that the Bengali tale of Manasa reflects rivalry between Shaivism and the goddess-centric Shaktism . Manasa is depicted as a beautiful woman with
1960-494: The first segment of the eighth segments of Shiva Purana . The lingam of this place of worship is self-incarnated nevertheless as to when it came into being is still unknown. Idol of Ma Bhavani can be seen beside the Shivalinga or Lingam . Champapur is an ancient and historic Teerth Kshetra of Jainism . It is the place where all the five Kalyanaks i.e., Garbha, Janam, Tapa, KevalGyan and Moksha Kalyanak of Bhagwan Vasupujya ,
2009-524: The heroine of the Manasamangal was a daughter of the Saha clan (a powerful trading community). Manasa is the prime deity of Anga Region, specially in Anga's capital, Champa (now Bhagalpur). It is believed that the story of Chand Saudagar and Behula started from this very place. In the old quarters of Champanagar in the city, stands an enormous temple of Manasa. Several artefacts and sculptures found in and around
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2058-473: The naga race from destruction when King Janamejaya decided to exterminate them by sacrificing them in his yajna , called the sarpa satra . The Purana s are the first scriptures to speak about her birth. They declare that sage Kashyapa is her father, not Shiva as described in the later Mangalkavya s. Once, when serpents and reptiles had created chaos on the Earth, Kashyapa created the goddess Manasa from his mind ( mana ). The creator god Brahma made her
2107-460: The origin and myths of the goddess. However these stray further from Puranaic references probably due to creative licenses exercised. At least fifteen Mangalkavyas dedicated to Manasa are known. Scholar D. C. Sen traced fifty-one versions of her tale. According to Manasa Vijaya , Manasa was born when a statue of a girl that had been sculpted by Vasuki's mother which was touched by Shiva 's seed. Vasuki accepted Manasa as his sister, and granted her
2156-475: The place made locals believed that it was where Chand Saudagar had his Rajbari. A recent excavation has also found "Loha- Bashor ghor" or "Bashor ghor", the building made specifically for the wedding night of Lakhendar and Behula . The Angika lokgatha, "Behula Bishari Lokgatha" and the regional art, Manjusha Chitrakatha is full flegedly based on the chronicles of Manasa and the hardships of Behula . Every year, from 16 to 19 August, Bhagalpur springs up like
2205-458: The place to be blessed. Most of the visitors are said to be from the eastern parts of India and Bangladesh. There is a belief that the water in a pond here has medicinal qualities that can cure illness and snake bites. Archeological Survey of India has discovered some ancient manuscripts from the basement of Khanqah e Shahbazia. The Khanqah is also famous for its library, which has a vast collection of Arabic and Persian theological texts, including
2254-403: The presiding deity of snakes and reptiles. Manasa gained control over the earth, by the power of mantras she chanted. Manasa then propitiated the god Shiva, who told her to please the god Krishna . Upon being pleased, Krishna granted her divine Siddhi powers and ritually worshipped her, making her an established goddess. Kashyapa married Manasa to sage Jaratkaru , who agreed to marry her on
2303-521: The sage Astika . She is also known as Vishahari (the destroyer of poison), Nityā (eternal) and Padmavati . In regional tradition, her stories emphasise her bad temper and unhappiness, due to rejection by her father, Shiva , and her husband ( Jagatkaru), and the hate of her stepmother Chandi (Shiva's wife, identified with Parvati in this context). Manasa is depicted as kind to her devotees, but harsh toward people who refuse to worship her. Denied full godhood due to her mixed parentage, Manasa's aim
2352-557: Was to fully establish her authority as a goddess, and to acquire steadfast human devotees. Bhattacharya and Sen suggest that Manasa originated in South India as a non-Vedic and non-Aryan goddess and is related to the Kannada folk snake-goddess Manchamma. Manasa was originally an Adivasi (tribal) goddess. She was accepted in the pantheon worshipped by Hindu backward caste groups. Later, Dimock suggests that although snake worship
2401-473: Was to render the importance of goddess Manasa , but these works are more known for the pious love of Behula and her husband Lakhander (Lakhindar or Lakshinder). This is the story of Bihula-Bishhari from Champa, the capital of Anga , presently Champapuri in Bhagalpur district. However, this is not just a mythological story, the evidence of the metal house created by Vishvakarma on order of Chand Sadagar for Behula and her husband Lakhander to protect from Mansa
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