Districts of India : Vaishali

Vaishali District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 2036.0 Km2
Population in Vaishali (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 3,495,249
Male : 1,847,058
Female : 1,648,191

Disabled population
Total disabled population : 59135
In seeing : 32825
In speech : 3687
In hearing : 2047
In movement : 16095
Mental : 4481

Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis )
Backwardness : 112
Sex Ratio Rank : 214
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 106 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 502 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Occurrence of High Arsenic in Ground Water

Vaishali History
Bihar is a land of paradoxes with immense tolerance for incompatibles. It remains poised in the midst of inconsistencies. Its resilience permits drift to extend indefinitely. Bihar is thus at a critical historical juncture. It today’s is like the proverbial coin standing on the edge, whose two sides represent diametrically opposite possibilities.

Contrary to popular belief, Bihar

has been known for good administration. In fact the state has always been proud of its administrative talents. The Mauryas, the Lichchavis and Shershah Suri are widely acclaimed for their good administrations. Many features of their administration are retained even today despite changes in legal, social and political situations

Bihar is placed at the bottom of the ladder. It is economically the poorest, social the most backward, and what is worse, one whose polity and society are most divided. But even at the risk of sounding simplistic, it seems safe to say that Bihar’s problems are essentially economic in nature. Structure and economical forces have played a crucial role in the above, the most glaring example is the lack of implementation of land reforms and reforms and also the pattern and level of investment during the initial years of planning have played an important role in the slow rate growth of the economy

Historical Importance

The district of Vaishali came in to existence on 12/10/1972 Earlier it was the part of old Muzzafarpur district. Vaishali has a past that pre-dates recorded history. It is held that the town derives its name from King whose heroic deeds are narrated in the Hindu epic Ramayana. However, history records that around the time Pataliputra< was the centre of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as centre of the Ganga, it was the seat of the Republic> of Vaishali is credited with being the World's Republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient administration. The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali more than once during his lifetime and announced his approaching to the great followers he had here. Five years after the Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, Lord Buddha came to , the capital of one the first republican states in the Vaishaliis bound by the hills of Nepal on the north and the river Gandak on the west. Hundred years after he attained Mahaparinirvana it was the venue of the second Buddhist Council. According to one belief, the Jain Tirthankar, Lord Mahavir was born at Vaishali. The Chinese travelers Fa-Hien and s respectively and wrote about Vaishali.

The Lichchavi nobility came to receive the Enlightened One with a cavalcade of elephants and chariots bedecked with gold. As the Lord set foot on the soil of Vaishali, lightning and thunder followed by a heavy downpour purged the plague-infected city. The Buddha preached the Ratna Sutra to those assembled, and eighty-four thousand people embraced the new faith. It was also at that Amrapali, the famous courtesan, earned the respect of theSangha and a place in history, with her generous donations. The neighbouring village of Amvara is said to be the site of Amrapali's> mango grove. Once when the Lord was visiting Vaishali, invited him to her house and the Lord graciously accepted the offer. An overjoyed Amrapali, returning on her chariot, raised a cloud of dust. The Lichchavi princes going to meet the Buddha got enveloped in the dust and learnt of the Buddha's forthcoming visit to her house. The Lichchavi princes wanted to exchangeAmrapali's for one hundred thousand gold coins. steadfastly refused their offer and after the Buddha's visit to her house she was purged of all impurities. She gifted her mango grove to the <Sangha. joined the order after the transitory nature of all things, including beauty.