Nalanda Mahavihara, the great Buddhist centre of learning, was founded by
- A.Chandragupta Maurya
- B.Kumaragupta I
- C.Dharmapala
- D.Harshavardhana
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Kumaragupta I. Nalanda was founded by Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty in the fifth century and grew into the most famous monastic university in Asia, with students from China, Tibet, Korea and South East Asia. Xuanzang and Itsing have left accounts of it, its library was called the Dharmaganja, and it was destroyed about 1193; the archaeological site was inscribed by UNESCO in 2016.
Option A, Chandragupta Maurya, belongs to the fourth century BCE, long before Nalanda existed. Option C, Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty, founded Vikramashila in Bhagalpur, and Gopala before him founded Odantapuri, so the Palas are the patrons of the other two universities. Option D, Harshavardhana, gave Nalanda generous endowments in the seventh century but did not found it.
Read the full article: Buddhism and Jainism in Bihar: Sites and Councils
Practice Questions
View allThe Buddha attained enlightenment at which place in present day Bihar?
- A.Rajgir
- B.Bodh Gaya
- C.Vaishali
- D.Pataliputra
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Gautama attained enlightenment at Uruvela, the Bodh Gaya of today, under a peepal tree on the bank of the Niranjana river, which is called the Phalgu now.
Read the full explanation →The term Tripitakas in Buddhism means three
- A.baskets
- B.houses
- C.roads
- D.trees
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Tripitaka is a Pali and Sanskrit word in which pitaka means a basket, so the whole means three baskets, a name that came from the practice of keeping the palm leaf manuscripts of each collection in a separate basket.
Read the full explanation →The first Buddhist council was held at which place?
- A.Vaishali
- B.Pataliputra
- C.Rajgriha
- D.Kundalvana
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The first Buddhist council met at Rajgriha, the Rajgir of today, in the Saptaparni cave soon after the Buddha's death, under the patronage of king Ajatashatru and the presidency of Mahakassapa.
Read the full explanation →Mahavira, the twenty fourth Jain tirthankara, attained nirvana at
- A.Pavapuri
- B.Kundagrama
- C.Sammed Shikhar
- D.Rajgriha
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Mahavira attained nirvana at Pavapuri in the present Nalanda district of Bihar at the age of seventy two, traditionally in 527 BCE, and the Jal Mandir, a marble temple standing in the middle of a tank, marks the place of his cremation.
Read the full explanation →The third Buddhist council was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of
- A.Ajatashatru
- B.Kalashoka
- C.Ashoka
- D.Kanishka
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The third council met at Pataliputra in the reign of Ashoka, with Moggaliputta Tissa presiding.
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