ANCIENT UNIVERSITIES OF BIHAR





NALANDA UNIVERSITY
1.          The ancient centre of higher learning,
2.          Located in the Magadh Kingdom,
3.          Founded by SHAKRADITYA OR KUMARAGUPTA 1
4.          Approximately 2000 years old,
5.          The medium of education was PALI,
6.          Son of KUMARAGUPTA, BUDDHGUPTA had built a Vihar.
7.          Later on, HARSH VARDHAN also built a Vihar there,
8.          During the rule of HARSH VARDHAN, NALANDA MAHAVIHAR became famous as an international institution.
9.          Subject taught ranged from MAHAYAN BUDDHISM, MEDICINE, LOGIC, PHILOSOPHY, GRAMMAR, SAMKHYA etc.
10.   3 large multi-storeyed buildings were there. Sacred manuscripts were kept.
11.   Students from TIBET, GREECE, CHINA, KOREA, JAVA, PERSIA etc.
12.   King Shailendra of Indonesia had built a structure inside the campus.
13.   DHARMAPALA, CHANDRAPALA, GUNAMATI,  STHIRMATI,  PRABHAMITRA, JINAMITRA, DINGNAG, GYANCHANDRA, NAGARJUNA, VASUBANDHU, ASANG, DHARMKIRTI were famous acharyas of University.
14.   SHEELBHADRA was chancellor.
15.   It was destroyed by BAKHTIYAR KHILJI.
16.   BAKHTIYAR KHILJI was a Turkish Muslim ruler who plundered Nalanda University in 1193 ad. He killed Acharyas and students of the university. Also, he set fire to the library.
17.   MINHAJ-I-SIRAJ in his book TABAQAT-I NASIRI,  it took several months to burn the manuscripts present there.





ODANTAPURI UNIVERSITY
1.          Located in Odantapuri, which is known as Biharsharif presently.
2.          It was founded by the first king of Pal dynasty, GOPALA( 730- 749 CE)
3.          Vedic literature and Buddhism were taught.
4.          Was not famous like Nalanda or Vikramshila.
5.          MAHARAKSCHIT, DHARMARAKSCHIT, SHEELRAKSCHIT, CHANDRAKIRTI were prominent scholars of University.
6.          In early 13th century, it was plundered by son of BAKHTIYAR KHILJI, MUHAMMAD.



VIKRAMSHILA UNIVERSITY
1.          Located near Bhagalpur in Bihar.
2.          It was built by son of Gopala, Dharmapala in later 7th century BCE.
3.          Subjects taught were PHILOSOPHY, GRAMMAR, TANTRA SHASTRA, LOGIC, KARAMKANDA.
4.          The main subject was TANTRA SHASTRA.
5.          ATISA DIPANKARA was one of bright student of Vikramshila University.
6.          BHAKTHIYAAR KHILJI in 1203 BCE destroyed this university.