In News:

After the revival of Nalanda University, another renowned ancient centre of learning, Vikramshila University, is set to be revived in Bihar. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is developing the archaeological site to promote heritage tourism, while the Bihar Government has identified 202.14 acres at Antichak village (Bhagalpur) for establishing a Central University. The project was approved by the Centre in 2015 with an initial outlay of ?500 crore, but was delayed due to land acquisition issues.

About Vikramshila University

• Vikramshila University was established by King Dharmapala of the Pala Dynasty during the late 8th–early 9th century AD.
• Situated on the banks of the River Ganga in present-day Bhagalpur, Bihar, it emerged as one of the great Mahaviharas (Buddhist universities) of ancient India and became an internationally renowned centre of higher learning.
• The university was founded to restore excellence in Buddhist education and soon gained prominence as the foremost centre of Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism, complementing the broader academic tradition of Nalanda University.

Salient Features

Vikramshila attracted over 1,000 students and around 100 teachers from different parts of Asia, reflecting its global academic reputation. It also produced eminent scholars such as Atisa Dipankara, whose teachings played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism in Tibet.

Some important features include:

• Built around a central stupa surrounded by 208 monastic cells.
• Possessed a library with a unique water-based cooling system to preserve manus.
• Offered education in philosophy, theology, grammar, logic, metaphysics and tantras.
• The university was headed by a Kulpati (Mahasthavir).

Decline

Vikramshila University was destroyed by Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1203 AD, the same invasion that led to the destruction of Nalanda University, bringing an end to one of India's greatest centres of Buddhist learning.