Question

Who was the founder of Vikramshila Vihar?
A.Dharmapala
B.Gopala
C.Nagpala
D.Mahipala

Answer 1

Hint:
Vikramshila Vihar was one of the largest Buddhist universities built around the 8th -9th century AD in Bihar during the reign of the Pala Empire. It was founded by the son of the Gopala, the founder of the Pala Empire.


Complete answer:
-Vikramshila Vihar was one of the most important branches of learning of Buddhist tantras.
Let us review the options and discuss the answer.
Option A. Dharmapala succeeded his father Gopala in 770AD and he was a devoted Buddhist. He was also known as Paramasaugata. He was an incredible proponent of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
-Dharmapala is most popular for Vikramshila University. He founded it in the late 8th century.
Hence, it is the correct option.

Option B. The Pala kingdom was established by Gopala in 750AD. The empire had its rule in Bengal and most of Bihar. It is an incorrect option as Vikramshila was established after his death.
Option C. Nagpala and Option D. Mahipala are also incorrect as they were later Pala rulers who ruled around the 11th century.


Therefore the answer is A.Dharmapala


Additional Information: -
-Alongside Nalanda University, it turned into the incredible focus of Buddhism concentrates in India. The Vikramshila University is situated at Kahalgaon close to Bhagalpur in Bihar. Dharmapala had likewise constructed a Vihara at Somapuri, another at Paharpur, and then another Vihara at Odantapuri.
-The midst of the university once had a huge temple, decorated with a life-size replica of the Mahabodhi tree. It is asserted that roughly 108 temples were established around it. Out of these, nearly 53 temples were devoted to the research of the Guhyasamaja Tantra.
-The door of the central temple stood watched over by two stunning sculptures of Nagarjuna and Atisa Dipankar who was an incredible scholar of Vikramasila University.


Note:
- Nalanda, Vikramshila, Odantapura, Somapura, and Jaggadala are together called Mahaviharas.
-Mahavihara translates to “Great Monasteries”.
-Even Nalanda University was burned and destroyed by Bhaktiyar Khilji in the 11th century AD.
-Vikramshila was destroyed by the Turkish ruler Bhaktiyar Khilji in 1193AD. For centuries the University was neglected.