Vikramshila: The Other Great Ancient University of Bihar

Vikramshila University, established by the Pala emperor Dharmapala in the late 8th century, was one of the most important centers of Buddhist learning in ancient India. Alongside its famous contemporary, Nalanda University, it formed a network of educational excellence under the Pala Dynasty. The ruins are located in the Bhagalpur district, which is also famous for its Silk City.,The university was particularly renowned for its specialized teaching in Tantric Buddhism. The curriculum was vast and comprehensive, covering subjects like philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, and logic. The university was presided over by a board of six eminent scholars. The site is now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.,One of Vikramshila's most celebrated scholars was Atisha Dipankara, a key figure in the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet. The university's main stupa, a terraced structure, was designed for ritual circumambulation and is a unique feature of its architecture. The walls of the stupa are adorned with terracotta plaques depicting various Buddhist deities and scenes from daily life.,Like Nalanda, Vikramshila met a tragic end around 1200 CE at the hands of Bakhtiyar Khilji's forces. Today, the excavated Vikramshila Ruins in Bhagalpur district offer a glimpse into its glorious past, with a large stupa, library building, and numerous votive stupas. The art of this region, like Manjusha Art, and the local language, Angika, also carry a rich history.

Keywords: vikramshila university, pala dynasty, bhagalpur, ancient university, buddhism, bihar history, dharmapala