The medieval ages saw the emergence of Maner as an important centre of Sufism, from where it spread to the other parts of Bihar. Historically, Maner was the first abode of Islam in Bihar, and it was from here that it spread rapidly eastwards towards Bihar Sharif, and other places. The Muslim tradition as quoted in details by Hafiz S. Ahmad, Asst Professor of Patna College (1930), assigns Maner a very high place in the religious history of Bihar. Kuraishi’s List mentions that the pargana was generally called in old histories as “Maner-i-Shaikh Yahya”. Sultan Sikandar Lodi (but not the Emperor Babar) is related to have made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Shaikh Yahya. In the Ain-i-Akbari, Maner is described as situated near the junction of the Son with the Ganges. 

Though Bakhtiyar is commonly believed as the first Muslim invader in Magadha, however, according to the local tradition, Maner was first conquered by Sultan Mahmud’s men; and the grave of Prince Tajuddin Khandgah said to be Sultan Mahmud’s nephew, in the courtyard of Bari Dargah, also lends credence to this story. Whether Maner was conquered in Sultan Mahmud’s time or in the time of his successors, it is certain that it had fallen under the sway of the Muhammadans long before Bakhtiyar Khilji came.

A Turk’s duty is mentioned in the Maner Copper Plate of King Govind Chandra, which in turn suggests that well before (in 1126 A.D. itself) the invasion of Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1197 A.D., the people of Maner were paying Turk’s duty as a regular payment like other state dues such as trade duties and the revenue. Hafiz concludes that long before Bakhtiyar’s advent in Bihar, some part of the Province including Maner had fallen under a sort of suzerainty of the Turks (the Ghaznavite emperors) who used to receive regular tribute from these places.

To be continued..........