Question

Which one of the following ancient universities provided for the teaching of a special subject

 'Vajarayana Buddhism’ along with other subjects ?

1. Mithila University
2. Jagaddala University
3. Nalanda University
4. Odantapuri University

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Jagaddala University

• King Ramapala (1077-1129) is said to be the founder of this University.
• Jagaddala University was the largest construction works undertaken by the Pala Kings. This was a centre for the study and dissemination of Tantric Buddhism.
• It followed the methods, practices, and traditions of Nalanda. According to Tibetan works many books were translated to the Tibetan language at Jagaddala.
• The Buddhist teacher Sakya Sri Bhadra, seeing that Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri were in ruins after the Muslim invasion, entered Jagaddala for his studies.
• It is said that his pupil Danaseela translated ten books to Tibetan Sakya Sri Bhadra was responsible for the propagation of Tatntric Buddhism in Tibet.
• He lived for seven years at Jagaddala. In 1027 the Muslim invaders sack and destroyed Jagaddala.

Nalanda University:

• Nalanda University was established by Shakraditya of the Gupta dynasty in modern Bihar during the early 5th century and flourished for 600 years till the 12th century. 
• Nalanda was the world’s first university to have residential quarters for both students and teachers. It also had large public lecture halls. A vast amount of what came to comprise Tibetan Buddhism, both its Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, stems from the teachers and traditions at Nalanda.
• It was a large Buddhist Monastery located in Nalanda, Bihar is one of the oldest learning institutions in India. 
• Gautam Buddha is also believed to have delivered sermons at Nalanda. Tibetan historian Taranath referred to Nalanda as ‘the mine of learning’.​

• Mithila University records hardly mention Mithila University. This learning centre had been in existence since the time of Raja Janak. The reason is the lack of archaeological finds dating back to the ancient period. It was a prominent seat of the Brahmanical system of education.
• Jagaddala University, jaggadala Vihara in Varendrabhumi (now Bangladesh) was also an important center of learning in the early 11th century. It was established by king Kampala, who ruled from 1084 to 1130 A.D.
• Odantapuri University was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty during the late 8th century in Magadha (which is in modern-day Bihar) and flourished for 400 years till the 12th century. The famous Acharya Sri Ganga who was a professor at the Vikramashila University was a graduate of Odantapuri University. Odantapuri (also called Odantapura or Uddandapura) was a Buddhist Mahavihara in what is now Bihar, India. It was established by the second Pala Emperor Dharma Pala in the 8th century. It is considered the second oldest of India's Mahaviharas after Nalanda University and was situated in Magadha.