Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.344

c8.344

Mudgagiri.—The Monghyr copperplate inscription of Devapāladeva, son of Dharmapāla, mentions it, which has been identified by Sir Charles Wilkinson with the modern Monghyr (Gauḍalekhamālā, I, pp. 33ff.). It indicates that Monghyr (Modāgiri or Mudgagiri) was included in the kingdom of Devapāla. Mudgagiri or Modāgiri is generally identified with the hills of Monghyr in Bihar. Monghyr was also known as Mudgalapuri, Mudgalāśrama, etc. The Mudgalas or the people of Monghyr are referred to in the Mahābhārata (Droṇaparva, XI, 397). It is interesting to learn that after defeating Karṇa, king of Aṅga, Bhīmasena fought a battle at Modāgiri and killed its chief. The place is known to have been the site of the royal camp of the Pāla kings in the 10th century A.D. For further details, vide A.S.I., Reports, Vol. XV; B. and O. District Gazetteers, Monghyr, by O'Malley, pp. 232-248.