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Abstract
Before acquiring the status of a district on 14th November, 1972, Samastipur happened to be a subdivision of Darbhanga district since the formation of Tirhut Division in 1908. The district is bounded on the north by the Bagmati river, which separates it from Darbhanga district, on the west by Vaishali district, on the south by the Ganges, and Patna district and on the east by Begusarai and Khagariadistricts. Samastipur district consists of four subdivisions, viz., Samastipur Sadar Subdivision, Rosera Subdivision, Dalsinghsarai Subdivision and Patori Subdivision comprising Sadar Subdivision 8 Community Development Blocks, Rosara Subdivision 6 Community Development Blocks and rest two Subdivisions compirising 3 each Community Development Blocks.The history of Samastipur district has close association with that of old Darbhanga, its parents district. The district comprises the greater parts of the ancient territory of Mithila. Its legandary history goes back to the Ramayana and Mahabharat periods. According to the accounts in the Vedic literature, the Videhas of the Aryan stock first migrated to the area from the Banks of the Saraswati in the Punjab. Legendary association of the old Darbhanga district with the Pandavas is evidenced by the belief that they stayed in Pandaul village (now part of Madhubani district) during a part of their period of exile.In course of time the Videhan monarchy is believed to have been replaced by the Sangha or federation in the form of a republic. The establishment of the vrijian republic (of which Videha was a part) marks the beginning of the historic period. The centre of power had, however, shifted to Vaishali and Lichchhavis were the most prominent among the different clans that constituted the confederation. The ascendancy of vrijian republic was checked by Ajatshatru, emperor of Magadh, who subdued and extended his control over the north Bihar.