Vikramshila University was one of the most important centers of Buddhist learning in ancient India, located at Antichak village in Bhagalpur district, Bihar. Along with Nalanda and Odantapuri, it formed a trio of great Buddhist universities in medieval India.
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Foundation of Vikramshila
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Founded in the late 8th century CE by Pala king Dharmapala (c. 783–820 CE).
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Established as a complement to Nalanda University, with special focus on Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana school).
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Became famous across Asia for its rigorous discipline and high standards of education.
Infrastructure and Scale
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Built on a hillock near the Ganga River, covering a vast area.
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The university had 108 temples, six gates, hostels, stupas, meditation halls, and a grand library.
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It housed more than 1,000 students and 100 teachers at its peak.
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The central stupa and monastery were key landmarks.
Curriculum and Learning
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Primary focus: Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism) and advanced Buddhist philosophy.
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Other subjects included logic, grammar, metaphysics, medicine, and astronomy.
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The university was also a training center for Buddhist missionaries, who later spread Buddhism to Tibet and beyond.
Eminent Scholars
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Vikramshila produced great scholars like:
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Atisha Dipankara (982–1054 CE), who later played a vital role in the revival of Buddhism in Tibet.
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Other renowned scholars: Ratnakara Shanti, Jnanasrimitra, Abhayakaragupta.
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These scholars strengthened India’s spiritual and cultural contact with Tibet, Nepal, and Southeast Asia.
Decline of Vikramshila
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Like Nalanda, Vikramshila flourished under the Pala dynasty.
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In the 12th century CE, it was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji’s Turkish army, leading to the decline of Buddhist learning in Bihar.
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The library and monasteries were burnt, causing the loss of invaluable Buddhist texts.
Legacy of Vikramshila
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Vikramshila was a key link in the chain of Buddhist knowledge transmission from India to Tibet and Southeast Asia.
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The ruins of Vikramshila University still exist in Bihar and are an important archaeological and heritage site.
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It stands as a testimony to Bihar’s glorious role in nurturing Buddhist education and philosophy.