Magadha (Sanskrit: मगध magadha) is the name of an ancient kingdom, which existed during the 6th and 5th century BCE. The core of the realm was an area located in the contemporary union state Bihar, south of the river Ganges.its first capital was Rajagriha (Sanskrit: राजगृह rājagṛha; modern Rajgir) then Pataliputra (पाटलिपुत्र, pāṭaliputra; modern Patna).
Jainism and Buddhism started from Magadha and during the 3rd century BCE the Maurya Empire emerged from the kingdom Magadha.