Knowledge Nugget: Why is Vikramshila Mahavihara, a center of Tantric Buddhism, important for UPSC?

Why in the news?

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the launch of development works in Bhagalpur, Bihar, said that “At its peak, Vikramshila University was a centre of knowledge for the world. We have already fused ancient Nalanda university’s glory with the new Nalanda University. After Nalanda, it is the turn of Vikramshila as we are opening a Central university.”

The project for Vikramshila University was approved in 2015, and Rs 500 crore was also sanctioned. However, the Bihar government was unable to identify suitable land for the project. Recently, the state government has identified 202.14 acres at Antichak village in Bhagalpur, which is 3 km away from the original site.

Key Takeaways:

1. Dharmapala, ruler of the Pala dynasty, founded the Vikramshila Mahavihar. It was the only university that specialised in tantric and occult studies. It flourished along with the Nalanda University, which was established during the Gupta period.

2. Subjects such as theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, and logic were taught at Vikramshila. But the most important branch of learning was the tantras because Vikramshila flourished in the days of tantricism, when occult sciences and magic were subjects of study both in Buddhism as well as Hinduism.

3. The university produced several eminent scholars, among them, Atisa Dipankara, who played a key role in the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. Many sanskrit texts were translated into tibetan language at this monastery.

4. The institution prospered for about four centuries before fading out along with Nalanda around the 13th century — a decline that experts attribute to a combination of factors, from the rising of Hinduism and the decline of Buddhism to the invasion of Bakhtiyar Khalji. Bakhtiyar was also instrumental in the burning down of Somapura, Jagaddala, and Odantapuri monasteries.

5. Tantric Buddhism is also referred to as Vajrayana, Mantrayana, or tantrayana Buddhism. It is classified as the final period of Buddhism in India. The Pala dynasty played a crucial role in the promotion and propagation of tantric Buddhism. In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is believed that salvation could best be achieved by acquiring magical powers, known as Vajra, meaning thunderbolt or diamond.

6. The followers of this sect believed that this form of Buddhism focused on feminine divinities, who represented the force or potency (Shakti) behind male divinities. These feminine ‘spouses’ of the Buddhas or Bodhisattvas in this sect were considered saviouresses (Tārās) of their followers.

7. Among the many formulas of tantric Buddhism, one is specially famous is “Om mani padme hum”; such formulae were expected to bestow magical power on the worship and lead to the highest bliss. According to A.L. Basham, this phrase means “Ah! The jewel is indeed in the lotus.”

Pala Dynasty

1. In eastern India, after the death of king Shashanka in c. 637 CE, there was situation of political confusion in Bengal and adjoining areas. The Khalimpur Copper plate inscription of Dharampala asserts that “finally Gopala, founder of the Pala dynasty, was elected by the people, rescuing them from matsya-nyaya (chaos).”

2. Gopala’s successor Dharmapala (770–810) was able to conquer large parts of northern India. He was the founder of Buddhist monastery at Vikramashila and Somapura monastery. Nalanda and Vikramshila flourished during his reign. A renowned Buddhist scholar, Santarakshita, belonged to his reign.

3. Ramapala was the last strong Pala ruler. By the 11th century, the Pala dynasty was considerably weakened, with many areas engulfed in rebellion. The Sena dynasty under Vijaysena dethroned the Pala dynasty, and with that, the reign of the last major Buddhist power in the subcontinent ended.

BEYOND THE NUGGET: Famous Universities during the Pala Dynasty

Royal patronage to the Nalanda Mahavihara was made by Dharampala of the Pala Dynasty. (Wikimedia Commons)

1. Nalanda Mahavihara flourished during the time of the Gupta and post-Gupta period. However, Nalanda and Vikramshila had a common patron in King Dharmapala. During his reign, Vikramshila reigned supreme and is known to have controlled Nalanda’s affairs as well. It became an important center of Mahayana Buddhism.

2. Scholars like Nagarjuna and Aryabhatta were associated with this university. Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (also known as Hsuan Tsang or Mokshadeva), who travelled across India from 629–645 CE, had spent roughly five years in Nalanda, where he studied under the mahavihara’s grand abbot, Silabhadra.

2. Somapuri Monastery, near Paharpur in Bangladesh, was also founded by Dharmapala. It is credited with the grant of 200 villages to the Nalanda University. Another prominent university which was established by Pala ruler Gopala I was Odantapuri University of Biharsharif. It was also associated with the Buddhist teachings.

Post read question

(a) 2-1-4-3

(b) 3-1-4-2

(c) 2-4-1-3

(d) 3-4-1-2

(2) Consider the following:

1. ‘Two Truths Doctrine’ is the central concept

2. Use of ‘samdhya-bhasa’

3. Salvation through acquiring magical power

Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Vajrayana Buddhism?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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