The history of Bihar is one of the most varied in India. Ancient Bihar, known as Magadha,was originally known as vihar.. was the centre of power, learning, and culture in India for 1000 years. India's "first empire", the Maurya empire as well as one of the world's greatest pacifist religion, Buddhism arose from the region that now makes modern Bihar. Magadha empires, notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule.