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Antiquity Of Sonepur
Harihar-Kshetra or Sonepur, along with Hajipur within a few miles, was an integral part of the Vrijjian Republic. The area of Sonepur-Hajipur remained for long under the influence of Vratyas or Kikatas who were famous for their wealth in kine. In Buddhist and Jain literature Sonepur does not directly come, but in the "Records of Buddhist Religion" there is mention of the existence of a Sangharam, on the confluence of the Mahi and the Sagar, which were either small rivulets or tributaries to the Gandak.
There is a stone pillar of the Sunga period in the Kali Mandir of Sonepur. Some statues of the Gupta and Pala periods have been recently found. In the memoirs of Fa-Hian and Hieun Tsang there is, however, no mention of a place like Hari-Har Kshetra (Sonepur). But Fa-Hian, after visiting Vaisali en route to Magadha, went four yojanas east and came to the confluence of the five rivers.After crossing the river, and going south one yojana, be reached Magadha and the town of Pataliputra (Palinful).
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