Vikramashila

Vikramashila
	Ruins of Vikramashila mahavihara
	Shown within India Vikramashila (Bihar)
Location	Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district, Bihar, India
Coordinates	25°19′29″N 87°17′05″E / 25.32472°N 87.28472°E
Type	Centre of learning
History
Founded	8th–9th century CE
Abandoned	13th century CE
Events	Destroyed by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193

Vikramashila (IAST: Vikramaśilā ) was one of the three most important University and Buddhist monasteries in India, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri. Its location is now the site of Antichak village near Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district in Bihar. It was one of the largest Buddhist universities, with more than one hundred teachers and about one thousand students. It produced eminent scholars who were often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learning, culture and religion.^[1]

Vikramashila was established by the Pala emperor Dharmapala (783 to 820 CE) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda. It was destroyed by the forces of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193.

Atiśa, the renowned pandita and philosopher, is listed as a notable abbot. ^[2]^[3]

^ Anupam, Hitendra (2001). "Significance of Tibetan Sources in the Study of Odantapuri and Vikaramsila Mahavihars". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 61: 424–428. JSTOR 44148119.
^ Alexis Sanderson (2009). "The Śaiva Age: The Rise and Dominance of Śaivism during the Early Medieval Period". In Einoo, Shingo (ed.). Genesis and Development of Tantrism. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. p. 89.
^ Eaton, Richard (22 December 2000). "Temple desecration in pre-modern India". Frontline. 17 (25): 62–70.

[1] Anupam, Hitendra (2001). "Significance of Tibetan Sources in the Study of Odantapuri and Vikaramsila Mahavihars". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 61: 424–428. JSTOR 44148119.

[2] Alexis Sanderson (2009). "The Śaiva Age: The Rise and Dominance of Śaivism during the Early Medieval Period". In Einoo, Shingo (ed.). Genesis and Development of Tantrism. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo. p. 89.

[Eaton-3] Eaton, Richard (22 December 2000). "Temple desecration in pre-modern India". Frontline. 17 (25): 62–70.

[1]

[2]

[3]

History
Ruins of Vikramashila mahavihara
Shown within India Show map of India Vikramashila (Bihar) Show map of Bihar
Location	Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district, Bihar, India
Coordinates	25°19′29″N 87°17′05″E / 25.32472°N 87.28472°E / 25.32472; 87.28472
Type	Centre of learning
Founded	8th–9th century CE
Abandoned	13th century CE
Events	Destroyed by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193