Asoha

According to C.A. Elliott, the name "Asoha" is derived from that of Ashwatthama, the figure in the Mahabharata, who is said to have rested here for a time after the murder of Draupadi's children.[4] Asoha was historically the seat of a pargana, which is first attested during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar in the late 16th century.[4] At the turn of the 20th century, Asoha had five temples, a police station, a cattle pound, and a primary school, as well as "unusually extensive" groves of mango and mahua trees.[4]

The 1961 census recorded Asoha as comprising 4 hamlets, with a total population of 1,868 (981 male and 887 female), in 304 households and 286 physical houses.[5] The area of the village was given as 861 acres.[5] It had a police force of 1 sub-inspector, 1 head constable, and 13 constables at the time.[5]

A legendary figure named Astik is worshipped in Asoha.[3] He is said to have been born during the Dvapara Yuga period,[4] and that at the time of the great Sarpa Satra performed by Janamejaya, Astik received a boon from the serpent Takshak, who promised him that men bitten by snakes would recover if they took his name.[3]

Asoha CD block has the following 122 villages:[2]