 The ruins of Vikramashila Buddhist Mahavihara | |
| Location | Bhagalpur, Bihar, India |
|---|---|
| Type | Centre of learning |
| History | |
| Founded | 8th–9th century CE |
| Abandoned | 13th century CE |
| Events | Destroyed by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193 |
| Pilgrimage to |
| Buddha's Holy Sites |
|---|
 |
Vikramashila (IAST: Vikramaśilā) was a Buddhist monastery situated in what is now modern-day Bihar in India. It was founded by King Dharmapala between the late eighth and early ninth century.[1]
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.[3][4]
- ^ Buswell Jr, Robert (2013). "Vikramaśīla". Princeton Dictionary of Buddhis: 970. ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3.
- ^ Anupam, Hitendra (2001). "Significance of Tibetan Sources in the Study of Odantapuri and Vikaramsila Mahavihars". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 61: 424–428. JSTOR 44148119.
- ^ Alexis Sanderson (2009). "The Śaiva Age: The Rise and Dominance of Śaivism during the Early Medieval Period". In Einoo, Shingo (ed.). Genesis and Development of Tantrism. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. p. 89.
- ^ Eaton, Richard (22 December 2000). "Temple desecration in pre-modern India". Frontline. 17 (25): 62–70.