Clear, student-friendly explanation of why the answer is correct
Vikramshila University, situated at Antichak in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, was founded by Pala emperor Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th century AD. It was renowned for tantric Buddhist learning.
विक्रमशिला विश्वविद्यालय (वर्तमान भागलपुर जिला) की स्थापना पाल सम्राट धर्मपाल ने की थी। यह विशेष रूप से तंत्रयान/वज्रयान बौद्ध धर्म के अध्ययन का विख्यात केंद्र था।
Dissection of why each option is correct or incorrect
| Option | Status | Critical Educational Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| (A) Nalanda Mahavihara / नालंदा महाव... | Incorrect | Incorrect. Nalanda Mahavihara was established centuries earlier in the 5th century CE by Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I (Shakraditya). |
| (B) Vikramshila University / विक्रमश... | Correct | Correct. Vikramshila was founded by Pala emperor Dharmapala (r. c. 783–820 CE) at Antichak, Bhagalpur. |
| (C) Odantapuri University / ओदंतपुरी... | Incorrect | Incorrect. Odantapuri (in modern Bihar Sharif) was established by Gopala I, the founder of the Pala dynasty. |
| (D) More than one of the above / उपर... | Incorrect | Incorrect. Only Vikramshila was founded by Dharmapala as the premier center of Vajrayana. |
| (E) None of the above / उपर्युक्त मे... | Incorrect | Incorrect. Option B is historically verified. |
Master the topic deeply rather than simply memorizing the answer
During the Pala empire (8th to 12th century CE), Magadha and Anga regions became the global center of Mahayana and Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhist scholarship. Pala monarch Dharmapala founded Vikramshila on a bluff overlooking the Ganga at Antichak in Bhagalpur district. The university had over a hundred professors and thousands of scholars. It had six gates, each presided over by an eminent 'Dwarapandita' (gate scholar) who examined admission candidates. The most celebrated scholar was Atisha Dipankara Srijnana, who later traveled to Tibet to revive Buddhism.
High-yield revision points frequently tested in BPSC TRE examinations
Avoid common traps and confusing options in this topic
Students often conflate the founders of Pala monasteries: Odantapuri was founded by Gopala, Vikramshila by Dharmapala, and Somapura Mahavihara also by Dharmapala. Nalanda was founded earlier by Gupta king Kumaragupta I.
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