Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.554

c8.554

Vikramaśilā.—This village lies in the Bihar sub-division, 10 miles south of Bihar. It was famous for its Buddhist monastery which was a great seat of learning in the 11th century A.D. This monastery appears to have flourished till the Mahommedan conquest when it was burnt by the invaders. The modern name of the village is Śilao which is a contraction of Vikramaśilā (A.S.I. Reports, Vol. VIII; J.A.S.B., Vol. LX, Pt. I, 1891). The Vikramaśilā Vihāra was a Buddhist monastery situated on a bluff on the right bank of the Ganges. It had ample space for a congregation of 8,000 men with many temples and buildings. On the top of the projecting steep hill of Pātharghāṭā there are the remains of a Buddhist monastery. This Pātharghāṭā was the ancient Vikramaśilā (J.A.S.B. new series, Vol. V, No. 1, pp. 1-13). In this University many commentaries were composed. It was a centre of Tantrik learning. At the head of the University there was always a most learned and pious sage. Grammar, metaphysics (including logic) and ritualistic books were especially studied here. On the walls of the University were painted images of learned men, eminent for their learning and character. The most learned sages were appointed to guard the gates of the University which were six in number (B. C. Law, The Magadhas in Ancient India, pp. 43-44).