Public Administration in Ancient India c22.50

c22.50

The monastic University of Odantapuri was perhaps founded in the fifth or sixth century A.D., but it rose to fame during the reigns of the Pāla Kings of Bengal.² It had a splendid library, which was destroyed by the Mahomedans at the time of their first invasion of Bengal. Another University which was established under the patronage of the Pāla Kings was that of Vikrama-sīla. It is said that the University was composed of six colleges, and employed more than a hundred professors. There were numerous religious establishments and hostels attached to the University for the residence of monks and pupils. Vārānasi in Northern India and Kānchi in the south also flourished as seats of learning for many centuries.