Bihar takes its name from the word 'vihara' which means monastery. Bihar was a great religious centre for Jains, Hindus and most importantly, Buddhists. It's an important industrial centre with a rich natural wealth. Bihar is bounded in the north by Nepal, in the east by West Bengal, in the west by Uttar Pradesh and in the south by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Bihar has an important place in India’s culture. Great empires sprang up here, each contributing to the rich culture. Rival kings fought legendary battles, devastating the land and people. Yet, by some strange alchemy, the same land saw the birth of some of the most noble and progressive religious teachers like the Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Gobind Singh. Muslims came later and still later came the British.
