Vikramaśīla
—  town  —
Vikramaśīla Location of Vikramaśīla in Bihar and India
Coordinates	25°19′28″N 87°17′12″E / 25.3244°N 87.2867°E / 25.3244; 87.2867Coordinates: 25°19′28″N 87°17′12″E / 25.3244°N 87.2867°E / 25.3244; 87.2867
Country	India
State	Bihar
Nearest city	Bhagalpur
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Codes • Telephone • +0641

Ruins of Vikramshila University

Vikramaśīla University was one of the two most important centers of Buddhist learning in India during the Pala dynasty, along with Nālandā University. Vikramaśīla was established by King Dharmapala (783 to 820) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nālandā. Atisha, the renowned pandita, is sometimes listed as a notable abbot.

Vikramasila (village Antichak, district Bhagalpur, Bihar) is located at about 50 km east of Bhagalpur and about 13 km north-east of Kahalgaon, a railway station on Bhagalpur-Sahebganj section of Eastern Railway. It is approachable through 11 km long motorable road diverting from N.H.80 at Anadipur about 2 km from Kahalgaon.

History[link]

A number of monasteries grew up during the Pāla period in ancient Bengal and Magadha. According to Tibetan sources, five great Mahaviharas stood out: Vikramaśīla, the premier university of the era; Nalanda, past its prime but still illustrious, Somapura, Odantapurā, and Jaggadala.^[1] The five monasteries formed a network; "all of them were under state supervision" and there existed "a system of co-ordination among them . . it seems from the evidence that the different seats of Buddhist learning that functioned in eastern India under the Pāla were regarded together as forming a network, an interlinked group of institutions," and it was common for great scholars to move easily from position to position among them.^[2]

Vikramaśīla was founded by Pāla king Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th Century A.D. It prospered for about four centuries before it was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji during fighting with the Sena dynasty along with the other major centers of Buddhism in India around 1200 CE.^[3][4]

Vikramaśīla is known to us mainly through Tibetan sources, especially the writings of Tāranātha, the Tibetan monk historian of 16th-17th Century AD.^[5]

Vikramaśīla 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. The most distinguished and eminent among all was Atiśa Dipankara, a founder of the Sarma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Subjects like philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, Indian logic etc. were taught here, but the most important branch of learning was tantrism.

Organization[link]

According to scholar Sukumar Dutt, Vikramaśīla appears to have had a more clearly delineated hierarchy than other mahaviharas, as follows:^[6]

• Abbot (Adhyakṣa)
• Six gate protectors or gate scholars (Dvārapāla or Dvārapaṇḍita), one each for the Eastern, Western, First Central, Second Central, Northern, and Southern Gates
• Great Scholars (Mahapaṇḍita)
• Scholars (Paṇḍita), roughly 108 in number
• Professors or Teachers (Upādhyāya or Āchārya), roughly 160 in number including paṇḍitas
• Resident monks (bhikṣu), roughly 1,000 in number

According to Tāranātha, at Vikramaśīla's peak during the reign of King Canaka (955-83), the dvārapāla were as follows: Ratnākaraśānti (Eastern Gate), Vāgīsvarakīrti (Western Gate), Ratnavajra (First Central Gate), Jñānaśrīmitra (Second Central Gate), Naropa (Northern Gate), and Prajñākaramati (Southern Gate).^[6] If this is correct, it must have been toward the end of Canaka's reign given the generally accepted dates for Naropa (956-1041).

Tantric preceptors[link]

Vikramaśīla was a center for Vajrayana and employed tantric preceptors. The first was Buddhajñānapāda, followed by Dīpaṁkarabhadra and Jayabadhra.^[7] The first two were active during Dharmapāla's reign, the third in the early to mid portion of the ninth century. Jayabadhra was the first prominent commentator on the Cakrasamvara tantra.^[7] Śrīdhara was the next preceptor, followed by Bhavabhaṭṭa.^[8] The latter, also a prominent commentator on Cakrasamvara, may have been the mahāsiddha Bhadrapāda.^[9] He in turn was succeed by three more prominent Cakrasamvara commentators, Bhavyakīrti, Durjayacandra, and Tathāgatarakṣita.^[9] Durjayacandra collaborated with the renowned Tibetan translator Rinchen Zangpo (rin chen bzang po) and his commentary became particularly important for the Sakya school, and Tathāgatarakṣita collaborated with Rin-chen grags.^[9]

In chronological order:

1. Buddhajñānapāda
2. Dīpaṁkarabhadra
3. Jayabadhra
4. Śrīdhara
5. Bhavabhaṭṭa
6. Bhavyakīrti
7. Līlavājra
8. Durjayacandra
9. Samayavajra
10. Tathāgatarakṣita
11. Bodhibhadra
12. Kamalarakṣita

Layout and excavation[link]

The remains of the ancient university have been partially excavated at village Antichak in the Bhagalpur district, Bihar state, India, and the process is still underway. Meticulous excavation at the site was conducted initially by Patna University (1960–69) and subsequently by Archaeological Survey of India (1972–82). It has revealed a huge square monastery with a cruciform stupa in its centre, a library building and cluster of votive stupas.^[10] To the north of monastery a number of scattered structures including a Tibetan and a Hindu temple have been found. The entire spread is over an area of more than one hundred acres.

The monastery, or residence for the Buddhist monks, is a huge square structure, each side measuring 330 metres having a series of 208 cells, 52 on each of the four sides opening into a common verandah. A few brick arched underground chambers beneath some of the cells have also been noticed which were probably meant for confined meditation by the monks.

The main stupa built for the purpose of worship is a brick structure laid in mud mortar which stands in the centre of the square monastery. This two terraced stupa is cruciform on plan and about 15 metres high from the ground level accessible through a flight of steps on the north side. On each of the four cardinal directions there is a protruding chamber with a pillared antechamber and a separate pillared mandapa in front. In the four chambers of the stupa were placed colossal stucco images of seated Buddha of which three were found in situ but the remaining one on north side was possibly replaced by a stone image after the clay image was somehow damaged.

About 32 metres south of the monastery on its south west corner and attached with the main monastery through a narrow corridor is a rectangular structure identified as a library building. It was air-conditioned by cooled water of the adjoining reservoir through a range of vents in the back wall. The system was perhaps meant for preserving delicate manuscripts.

A large number of antiquities of different materials, unearthed from this place in the course of excavation, are displayed in the site museum maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Stupa[link]

The Main stupa at the center

The Stupa is a sacred solid structure raised over the body remains or belongings of buddha or a distinguished monk; or to commemorate any event associated with them. But some stupas are merely symbolic made for worship by the monks. Votive stupa is a miniature stupa erected by a devotee in gratitude of fulfillment of his desire.

The Vikramshila stupa built for the purpose of worship is a brick structure laid in mud mortar and stands in the centre of the square monastery. This two terraced stupa is cruciform on plan and about 15 meters high from the ground level. The lower Terrance is about 2.25 meters high from the ground level and the upper terrace is at a similar height from the lower side. At both terraces there is a circumbulatory path, the lower about 4.50 meters wide and the upper about 3 meters wide.

The main stupa placed over the upper terrace is accessible through a flight of steps on the north side on each of the four cardinal direction. There is a protruding chamber with a pillared antechamber and a separate pillared mandapa in front, placed beyond the circumbulatory passage. In the four chambers of stupa were placed colossal stucco images of seated buddha of which three were found in Situ but the remaining of the north side was possibly replaced by a stone image after the clay image was somehow damaged. All the Stucco images are unfortunately broken above the waist portion. The images are placed over a brick pedestal having traces of painting in red and black pigments. The walls and floors of the chamber and Antechamber were plastered with lime.

The wall Carvings of various deities

The walls of both the terraces are decorated with mouldings and terracotta plaques which testify the high excellence of Terracotta art flourishing in the region during pala period (8th to 12th century A.D). Over the palques are depicted many buddhist deities like Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, manjusri, Maitreya, Jambala, Marichi, Tara and scenes related to buddhism in addition to some social and hinting scenes and a few Hindi deities like Vishnu, Parvati, Ardhanarisvara and Hanuman

In Addition many human figures like that of Asceitc,Yogi, preacher, drummer, warrier, archer, snake charmer etc. and animal figures like Monkey, Elephant, Horse, Dear, Boar, Panther, Lion, wolf and birds are depicted.

The Architecture of the Stupa and the Terracotta plaques bear great resemblance to the somapura mahavihar, Paharpur (Bangladesh) which, too, was founded by the same king Dharmapala. On plan both are very much alike with the significant difference that Somapura is centered around a central temple rather than a stupa. Vikramasila monastery is also larger and has fort like projections on its outer wall.

Restoration work[link]

Vikramaśīla was neglected for years which contributed to extensive damages to the monument A.S.I. is now planning to develop the excavated site of Vikramshila University.^[11][12][13]

From the year 2009, there has been considerable work in maintaining and beautifying the place to attract tourism. There has been inflow of western tourist as well, during their river cruises on the ganges river.

Cultural activities[link]

The Vikramshila site is the place for Vikramshila Mahotsav,^[14] which is held annually during the month of February.

How to reach there[link]

Nearest Big Town is Kahalgaon about 13 km, It is approachable through 11 km long motorable road diverting from N.H. 80 at place Anadipur about 2 km from Kahalgaon.

Lately river cruises from Kolkata to Varanasi have started, which also stop by the Vikramshila ruins. The river cruises are conducted by Pandaw cruises.^[15] The river curises have started from September 2009 ^[16]

In popular culture[link]

Indian Railway Train fames this place by running a Train No. 2367/2368 Vikramshila Express that runs from Delhi to Bhagalpur, Bihar.

Gallery[link]

• Ruins of Vikramshila
• 

  The Vikramshila Museum at the entrance of the Excavation site. It holds many exhibits which have been excavated from the ruins, these include monuments, art figures, utensils, coins, weapons and jewellery.

• 

  The view of the entrace from the Stupa.

• 

  Pillars at Vikramshila University

• 

  Landscape of Vikramshila Ruins, the seating and meditation area

• 

  Vikramshila History on excavation location

• 

  Maintenance work going on to beautify the place

• 

  Gardens around the main stupa

• 

  A stone structure at the ruins

See also[link]

• Ancient Universities of India
• Nalanda
• Taxila
• Sharada Peeth

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vikramshila

• Vikramshila Mahotsav
• Bihar Government Tourism Department
• Vikramshila page Bhagalpuronline
• A visit to Vikramasila
• Vikramshila Guide