Why in the News?

A decade after the resurgence of Nalanda University, the Government of Bihar is now focusing on the revival of Vikramshila University.

About Vikramshila University

• Vikramshila University was founded by King Dharmapala of the Pala Dynasty in the 8th-9th century AD in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, near the Ganges River.
• It was established to address the decline in academic standards at Nalanda University.
• The university specialized in Tantric Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Subjects taught included philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, logic, and tantras.
• Notable scholars like Atisa Dipankara and Naropa were associated with Vikramshila.
• It housed over 1,000 students and employed more than 100 teachers.
  • The university had 208 monastic cells, where monks studied and meditated.
• Administration was managed by a Kulpati, or Mahasthavir, overseeing both academics and operations.
• Key Features:
  • The university’s iconic cruciform brick stupa stood at 15 meters.
  • It also had a library with a unique cooling system to preserve manuscripts.
  • The architecture included a square layout with gates at four cardinal directions and surrounding votive stupas.
• Decline and Destruction:
  • It thrived for about 400 years before being destroyed by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1193 AD.
  • The decline was due to the rise of Hinduism, the fall of Buddhism, and foreign invasions.

Cultural Significance of Vikramshila University

• Vikramshila was a major centre for Tantric and Vajrayana Buddhism, focusing on esoteric practices and rituals.
• The Cakrasamvara Tantra was developed here, with scholars like Buddhajnanapada contributing to its spread.
• The teachings from Vikramshila spread Buddhism across the Himalayas, Central Asia, and the Far East.
• Vikramshila represented the zenith of Buddhist scholarship in India and contributed significantly to Buddhist texts, some of which survived through Tibetan manuscripts.

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