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The Nalanda Mahavihara (university) was founded by the Gupta ruler:
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Answer: Option D — Kumaragupta I
Detailed Solution
The Nalanda Mahavihara, the famous Buddhist monastery and centre of learning, was founded in the 5th century CE by the Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I (ruled about 415-455 CE), also known as Shakraditya.
About Kumaragupta I:
- He was the son and successor of Chandragupta II.
- He ruled for about 40 years, a period of peace and prosperity.
- He took titles such as "Mahendraditya" and "Shakraditya".
- He performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice and issued Ashvamedha-type coins.
- Towards the end of his reign, the empire faced attacks by the Pushyamitras and the Hunas, which were repelled by his son Skandagupta.
About Nalanda:
- It is located in the Nalanda district of Bihar, near Rajgir.
- It became one of the greatest centres of learning in the ancient world, flourishing for about 700 years (5th-12th century CE).
- It was a residential university with thousands of students and teachers, coming from China, Korea, Tibet, Central Asia and South-East Asia.
- Subjects taught included Buddhist philosophy (especially Mahayana), the Vedas, logic, grammar, medicine, mathematics and astronomy.
- Admission was through an oral test conducted by the gatekeepers (dvarapandita), and only a few applicants passed.
- Its library, called "Dharmaganja", is said to have had three large buildings: Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi and Ratnaranjaka.
- Famous teachers included Nagarjuna (by tradition), Aryadeva, Dharmapala, Shilabhadra and Shantarakshita.
- Later kings, including Harshavardhana and the Pala rulers, gave generous grants to Nalanda.
Its destruction:
It was attacked and destroyed around 1193-1200 CE by the forces of Bakhtiyar Khalji, a Turkish general.
Nalanda today:
- The ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
- A new Nalanda University was established at Rajgir by an Act of Parliament in 2010, and its new campus was inaugurated in 2024.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Chandragupta I and Samudragupta were earlier Gupta rulers.
- ✗Skandagupta was the son of Kumaragupta I.
Quick tip
Remember: Nalanda founded by Kumaragupta I (Shakraditya, 5th century CE); destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khalji (about 1193); UNESCO 2016; new Nalanda University (2010 Act, campus 2024).
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Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.