VIKRAMSHILA UNIVERSITY -HISTORY
NEWS: A decade after the establishment of Nalanda University in the foothills of Rajgir, efforts are underway to revive another ancient center of learning Vikramshila in Bihar.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Revival of Vikramshila University
1. Efforts for Revival:
• A decade after Nalanda University was re-established in the foothills of Rajgir, similar efforts are being made to revive Vikramshila University, another ancient seat of learning in Bihar.
2. Development Initiatives:
• Since December 2023, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been actively working on the development of the Vikramshila site to attract more tourists and scholars.
3. Land Allocation for Central University:
• The Bihar government has recently allocated 202.14 acres of land at Antichak village in Bhagalpur district for the establishment of a Central University, marking a significant step in reviving Vikramshila’s legacy.
About Vikramshila University
1. Location:
• Vikramshila University was situated in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on a hilltop along the banks of the river Ganges.
2. Founder and Establishment:
• It was established by King Dharmapala of the Pala Dynasty in the late 7th century CE as a center of Buddhist learning.
3. Peak of Glory:
• The university flourished and reached its zenith in the 12th century CE under the administration of King Ramapala.
4. A Major Buddhist Learning Center:
• Vikramshila was one of the three most prominent centers of Indian Buddhism, alongside Nalanda and Odantapuri.
5. Specialization in Tantrayana Buddhism:
• Unlike Nalanda, which focused on Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, Vikramshila was renowned for its specialization in Tantrayana Buddhism, which integrated tantric rituals and occult sciences into its teachings.
6. Other Disciplines Taught:
• Apart from Buddhist philosophy, the university also provided education in diverse subjects, including:
Theology
Philosophy
Grammar
Metaphysics
Medicine
7. Notable Scholars and Alumni:
• Atisha Dipankara, a prominent Buddhist monk who played a key role in reviving Buddhism in Tibet, was an alumnus of Vikramshila.
• Vasubandhu, a distinguished Buddhist scholar, was also associated with the university.
8. Historical Records:
• The Tibetan scholar Taranath was the first to document the university’s existence, referring to it as Vikramshila Mahavihar.
9. Architectural Features:
• The university featured a central temple, which housed a life-size replica of the Mahabodhi tree.
• The most prominent structure was the central stupa, serving as the heart of the university complex.
• The walls of the terraces were adorned with intricate terracotta panels, many of which have been damaged or destroyed over time.
10. Destruction of Vikramshila University:
• The university was destroyed in the late 12th century by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turkish general under Qutbuddin Aibak.
• He also led the destruction of Nalanda University, marking the decline of Buddhist education in India.
About Nalanda University
1. World’s Oldest Residential University:
• Nalanda University was the world’s oldest known residential university, founded in the 5th century CE by Kumargupta I of the Gupta Dynasty.
• It functioned as a fully residential institution, accommodating around 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.
2. Royal Patronage:
• Over centuries, Nalanda received patronage from several rulers, including:
King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (7th century CE), who provided financial support.
The Pala rulers (8th – 12th century CE), who expanded the university’s influence.
Emperor Ashoka, who made offerings to the Chaitya of Sariputra and built a Buddhist temple at the site.
3. Visits by Prominent Religious Figures:
• According to Pali Buddhist literature, Gautama Buddha himself is said to have visited Nalanda.
• Sariputra and Moggallana, two of Buddha’s chief disciples, hailed from the Nalanda region.
• As per Jaina texts, Mahavira Vardhamana, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, spent fourteen rainy seasons in Nalanda.
4. Notable Teachers and Scholars Associated with Nalanda:
• Aryabhatta – The famous mathematician and astronomer who studied and taught at Nalanda.
• Nagarjuna – A leading Mahayana Buddhist philosopher known for his work on the Madhyamaka school of thought.
• Dignaga – The founder of the Buddhist school of logic.
• Dharmapala – A renowned Brahmin scholar who contributed significantly to Buddhist teachings.
• Abhayakaragupta – A noted tantric scholar, who served as the abbot of Mahabodhi, Nalanda, and Vikramshila monasteries.
• Naropa – A key figure in Tibetan Buddhist tantric traditions, who served as the abbot of Nalanda (1049-1057 CE).
5. Chinese Scholars Who Visited Nalanda:
• I-Qing and Hiuen-Tsang (Xuanzang) visited Nalanda in the 7th century CE and left detailed records of its grandeur.
• Hiuen-Tsang studied Yogashastra at Nalanda under Chancellor Shilabhadra, who was one of the highest authorities on yoga and Buddhist philosophy at the time.
6. Destruction of Nalanda University:
• Nalanda suffered destruction in the 12th century CE at the hands of Bakhtiyar Khilji, leading to the demise of Buddhist learning in India.
• The vast library, which housed thousands of ancient manuscripts, is believed to have burned for months.
7. Recognition and Heritage Status:
• In 2016, the ruins of Nalanda University were officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its historical and educational significance.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-nalanda-another-bihar-university-now-set-to-rise-from-the-ruins-9904222/
SHORT NEWS:
1.‘SECRET SITTING’ OF LOK SABHA
NEWS: The provision of “secret sitting” of the Lok Sabha in the Constitution hasn’t been utilised so far since independence.
About the ‘Secret Sitting’ of Lok Sabha Provision
• Constitutional Provision:
• Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha: Chapter 25 of the rule provides for holding secret sittings at the request of the Leader of the House.
• Rule 248, subclause (1): The Leader of the House needs to put forward a request to the Speaker, who will then fix a day or a part of it for “secret sitting” of the House.
• ‘Secret Sitting’ Meaning:
• Presence of Outside People: It means that no stranger will be permitted to be present in the “chamber, lobby or the galleries,” as per subclause 2 during the proceeding of the house.
• The proceedings of Lok Sabha will also not be live streamed on Sansad TV and a record will also not be maintained on the government’s Digital Sansad website.
• Recording and Reporting: No person present shall keep a note or record of any proceedings or decisions of a secret sitting or issue any report to describe such proceedings.
A report on the proceedings is issued in a way deemed fit by the Speaker.
• Violation: To disclose the proceedings or decisions taken during a secret proceeding or sitting will be treated as a gross breach of privilege of the House.
• Revoking of Secrecy: The Leader of the House or any authorised member needs to move a motion against the secret sitting with Speaker’s consent.
• Once the motion is passed, the secretary general will put together a report of the proceedings during the “secret sitting”, and publish it at the earliest.
• Past Instance: The motion to conduct a secret sitting of Lok Sabha to discuss the 1962 Chinese aggression on the border was put forward by the opposition bench.
• The then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru disagreed with the proposal remarking that the government is accountable to the people and deserved to know about issues plaguing India.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/what-is-secret-sitting-lok-sabha-jawaharlal-nehru-9902123/