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Vikramashila
Site of an medieval university in India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Vikramashila (IAST: Vikramaśilā) was a monastery in the Magadha region of modern-day Bihar in India. It was founded by King Dharmapala between the late eighth and early ninth century.[1]
![]() Ruins of Vikramashila mahavihara | |
Location | Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district, Bihar, India |
---|---|
Coordinates | 25°19′29″N 87°17′05″E |
Type | Centre of learning |
History | |
Founded | 8th–9th century CE |
Abandoned | 13th century CE |
Events | Destroyed by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193 |
It was one of the three most important Buddhist Mahaviharas of its time in India, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri. Its location is now the site of Antichak village near Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district in Bihar. It was one of the largest Buddhist mahaviharas, with more than one hundred teachers and about one thousand students. It produced eminent scholars who were often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learning, culture and religion including Atiśa and Ratnākaraśānti.[2]
Vikramashila was established by the Pala emperor Dharmapala (783 to 820 CE) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda. It was destroyed by the forces of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193.
Atiśa, the renowned pandita and philosopher, is listed as a notable abbot. [3][4]