ANTIQUITY OF
SONEPURHarihar-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).
