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Photo: Photographer unknown 1861/1862, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
It is an important religious center for Hindus from where holy water of Ganges is carried and offered at Deoghar.
Sultanganj also known as Ajgaibinath Dham is a historic and spiritually significant town in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, India. It is situated on the southern bank of the Ganga around 25 km west of Bhagalpur City. Every year, lakhs of devotees gather here during the Shravani Mela to collect holy water from the Ganga and walk over 100 km barefoot to the Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The town is also known for its ancient temples, legends from the Mahabharata era, and archaeological finds that link it to early medieval Indian history.
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It is supposed to have concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram fin the gods to churn the ocean to procure amrit. The serpent, Vasuki offered to serve as the rope and has left behind an impression of the coil on the granite hill. It is believed that Panchjanya, the conch shell used in the Mahabharat was discovered here in the "Shankh Kund". The Puranas also refer to the hill. It is believed to have been visited by Vishnu as Madhusudana (the destroyer of Madhu the Demon). It is said that Vishnu covered Madhu under the hill after defeating him to death. Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava refers to foot marks of Vishnu on the slopes of Mandara. The hill is replete with relics of bygone ages. Apart from inscriptions and statues, there are numerous rock cut sculptures depicting various images of Hindu Gods. The hill is equally revered by the Jains who believe that their 12th Tirthankara attained nirvana at the summit. The area around Mandara Hill is laced with a landscape of extraordinary splendour. The 800 feet high granite hill is a sight to see in the daylight. It is a popular picnic spot for people living in the area.
The royal university ranks next to Nalanda, and owes its origin to Dharmapala, the devout Pala king who called himself Paramasaugata (chief worshipper of the Buddha) and was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism. It was the medieval center to the conservation and propagation of Buddhist education, established by King Dharmapala of Bengal at the end of the 8th century.