Context:
Prime Minister inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar.
Nalanda University:
- One of the ancient universities on the Indian Subcontinent
- Located in – Bihar (ancient Magadha kingdom)
- Timeperiod – Early 5th century, and it flourished for 600 years until the 12th century.
- Founded by – Kumara Gupta, Gupta dynasty
- Gained popularity during the era of Harshavardhan and the Pala monarchs
- Curriculum – Provided secular and religious knowledge
- Included all major Buddhist philosophies like Mahayana, Madhyamaka, Yogachara, Sarvastivada, Hinayana, Samkhya
- Decline – Rise of Tantric practices in Buddhism during the Pala rule
- Destroyed in 1193, by Turkish ruler Qutbuddin Aibak’s general Bakhtiyar Khilji.
- Rediscovered in – 1812, by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and later identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861.
- Imminent pilgrim monks like Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing from East Asia visited this place in the 7th century.
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other learning centres that existed in India:
| Learning Centres | Location | Significance |
| Takshashila | Punjab, modern-day Pakistan | Associated with Panini, Chanakya and Charaka |
| Odantapuri | Bihar | Founded by Gopala, the first ruler of the Pala dynasty |
| Somapura | Bangladesh | Founded by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty |
| Jagaddala | Bengal | Founded by Ramapala of Pala dynasty |
| Vikramasila | Bihar | Founded by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty |
| Valabhi | Gujarat | Received patronage from Maitrakas of Valabhi |
| Sharda Peeth | Kashmir (along the Neelam River) | Associated with Adi Shankara and Kalhana |
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of the Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 3 is incorrect. Then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, did the Pran Pratistha.
