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Two great Buddhist universities of Nalanda and Vikramshila were patronised by the
Answer & Solution
Correct Answer:
Option
A
Nalanda was a Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. They reportedly chided King Harsha for patronising Nalanda during the great age of the Guptas, was prized and cherished by the Palas. Vikramashila was one of the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda. Vikramashila was one of the largest Buddhist universities,
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Login**Option D**
**Solution:**
Both Nalanda and Vikramashila were significant centers of learning in ancient India, but they were patronized by different rulers. Let's explore their histories:
1. **Nalanda**:
- **Patronage**: Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the **Gupta Empire** in the 5th and 6th centuries CE. Later, during the reign of **Harsha**, the emperor of Kannauj, it continued to thrive.
- **Curriculum**: Nalanda's curriculum included major Buddhist philosophies like **Madhyamaka**, **Yogachara**, and **Sarvastivada**, as well as other subjects like the Vedas, grammar, medicine, logic, mathematics, astronomy, and alchemy.
- **Library**: Nalanda had a renowned library that served as a key source for Sanskrit texts transmitted to East Asia by pilgrims like Xuanzang and Yijing.
2. **Vikramashila**:
- **Patronage**: Vikramashila was established by the **Pala emperor Dharmapala** in response to a perceived decline in scholarship quality at Nalanda. Dharmapala was a great patron of Buddhism and a follower of the Mahayana sect.
- **Notable Abbot**: The renowned pandita and philosopher **Atiśa** served as a notable abbot at Vikramashila.
- **Destruction**: Unfortunately, Vikramashila was destroyed by the forces of **Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji** around 1193 CE.
Therefore, the correct answer is **D. All the above**—both Palas (for Nalanda) and Dharmapala (for Vikramashila) played crucial roles in supporting these centers of learning. 🌟
Source:
(1) Nalanda mahavihara - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalanda_mahavihara.
(2) Vikramashila - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikramashila.
(3) Vikramashila: India’s Main Intellectual And Learning Center Of Tantric .... https://www.ancientpages.com/2015/09/19/vikramashila-indias-main-intellectual-and-learning-center-of-tantric-buddhism/.
(4) Buddhist Centres of Learning and Pilgrimage Sites - Vajiram & Ravi. https://vajiramandravi.com/quest-upsc-notes/buddhist-centres-of-learning-and-pilgrimage-sites/.
(5) Educational institutes- Taxila, Nalanda and vallabhi. https://andhrapradesh.pscnotes.com/appsc-group-1-mains/paper-i/history-paper-i/educational-institutes-taxila-nalanda-vallabhi/.