Module 1: Ancient Universities, Philosophical Traditions and Early Scholars
Concept
Subtopic 1.1: Nalanda, Vikramashila and the scholars of Mithila
- Ancient Bihar was Asia's leading seat of higher learning. Nalanda University, founded in the Gupta age, taught Buddhist philosophy and the secular sciences. Its medium of instruction was Pali.
- Dignaga, the master of Buddhist logic, and the scholar-monk Silabhadra were acharyas of Nalanda. Silabhadra taught visiting foreign scholars.
- The Chinese travellers Xuanzang and Yijing, and the Tibetan pilgrim Dharmasvamin, studied for long periods at Nalanda. The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta came much later, in the Delhi Sultanate, and never studied at Nalanda.
- Other great centres in ancient Bihar were Vikramashila in Bhagalpur, Odantapuri at present-day Bihar Sharif, and Vajrasana at Bodh Gaya. Taxila stood on the north-western frontier and was not in ancient Bihar.
- Atisha Dipankara was an acharya of Vikramashila before he went to Tibet to renew Buddhist teaching. Shantarakshita was the leading acharya of Odantapuri.
- Mithila was the centre of orthodox Hindu philosophy. Sage Gautama lived at Brahmapuri and wrote the Nyaya Sutras. Sage Yajnavalkya explained Upanishadic thought, and Lakshmidhara was another learned scholar of Mithila.
- The medium of instruction at Nalanda University was Pali.
- Gautama, who lived in Brahmapuri, Yajnavalkya and Lakshmidhara were all scholars of ancient Mithila.
- Taxila was on the north-western frontier. Nalanda, Vikramashila in Bhagalpur and Vajrasana at Bodh Gaya were in ancient Bihar.
- Ibn Battuta did not study at Nalanda. Xuanzang, Dharmasvamin and Yijing lived and studied there.
- Both Dignaga and Silabhadra served as acharyas at Nalanda.
- Atisha Dipankara was an acharya of Vikramashila. Shantarakshita was the chief acharya of Odantapuri.
- Question: What was the medium of instruction in Nalanda University? Answer: Pali language.
- Question: Who among the following was associated with Mithila of ancient Bihar? Answer: All of the above.
- Question: Which of the following universities was not situated in ancient Bihar? Answer: Taxila University.
- Question: Which foreign traveller did not study at Nalanda University? Answer: Ibn Battuta.
- Question: Who among the following were acharyas of Nalanda University? Answer: Both A and B.
- Question: Atisha Dipankara was an acharya of which university? Answer: Vikramashila University.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 5: What was the medium of instruction in Nalanda University?
Question 21: Who among the following was associated with Mithila of ancient Bihar?
Question 34: Which of the following universities was not situated in ancient Bihar?
Question 35: Which foreign traveller did not study at Nalanda University?
Question 36: Who among the following were acharyas of Nalanda University?
Question 37: Atisha Dipankara was an acharya of which university?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
What was the medium of instruction in Nalanda University?
Pali language.Who among the following was associated with Mithila of ancient Bihar?
All of the above.Which of the following universities was not situated in ancient Bihar?
Taxila University.Which foreign traveller did not study at Nalanda University?
Ibn Battuta.Who among the following were acharyas of Nalanda University?
Both A and B.Atisha Dipankara was an acharya of which university?
Vikramashila University.