Context: The state government of Bihar has recently identified 202 acres of land at Antichak village, Bhagalpur district to establish a Central University, a few kilometers away from the site of ancient Vikramshila Mahavihar.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Vikramshila Mahavihar
Vikramshila Mahavihar:
- Vikramashila was a Buddhist monastery situated in Bhagalpur district, Bihar. One of the three most important Buddhist Mahaviharas of its time in India, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri.
- Founded by: King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty in the late 8th to early 9 Century AD. Thrived during the Pala Period (8th to 12th century). Vikramshila Mahavihar existed and flourished at the time of Nalanda.
- Practised Tantrayana: Tantric practices and rituals (one of the three great vehicles of Indian Buddhism after Hinayana and Mahayana).
- Only university that specialised in tantric and occult studies.
- Other subjects such as theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics and logic were also taught.
- Eminent scholar: Atisa Dipankara played a key role in the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet.
- Factors for decline (13th century): Combination of factors, including- invasion of Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193 AD, and rising Hinduism and the decline of Buddhism.
- Major artifacts found: carved limestone sculpture that depicts the eight major events of Buddha’s life; sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu deities such as Avalokiteshvara, Loknath, Ganesh, Surya, Vishnu, etc.
- The university also had a vast library and a dedicated air-conditioned system (cooling system) possibly for preserving precious manuscripts.
Read More: Nalanda University