BIHARSHARIF: A 30-member delegation of Buddhist scholars from Taiwan were disappointed after they failed to locate the remains of the ancient Odantapuri University in Biharsharif on Wednesday. It is believed to have existed till the 13th century AD.
Li Wen, one of the scholars from Taiwan, told this newspaper on Thursday, “According to ancient scriptures, the founder of the Pala dynasty, King Gopala, had built a university of Buddhist learning called ‘vihara’ inside his fort at Odantapuri in the 7th century AD. It was referred to as ‘Adband’ by Arab writers and as ‘Odyantapuri’ by Taranatha, a Lama of the Jonang school of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1197AD, Turkish invader Bakhtiyar Khilji attacked the fort and destroyed the university.”
Wen pointed out that the present government should have taken steps to ensure that some parts of the ancient structure were preserved. “An excavation can still bring out the structure buried underneath,” he said.
Executive director of Bihar Heritage Development Society, Bijoy Kumar Chaudhary, however, claimed that there was limited scope for excavation as the present day Biharsharif was densely populated.
“No remains of Odantapuri University, which was a seat of learning of Buddhism in the early medieval period, could be found because it was largely destroyed by Khilji. Besides, the dense population of Biharsharif leaves very little scope for excavation of the site,” Chaudhary claimed.
Patna-based author Naushad Ansari said, “Odantapuri Vihara was damaged when the Turkish Army led by Bakhtiyar Khilji had invaded the fort.”
Li Wen, one of the scholars from Taiwan, told this newspaper on Thursday, “According to ancient scriptures, the founder of the Pala dynasty, King Gopala, had built a university of Buddhist learning called ‘vihara’ inside his fort at Odantapuri in the 7th century AD. It was referred to as ‘Adband’ by Arab writers and as ‘Odyantapuri’ by Taranatha, a Lama of the Jonang school of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1197AD, Turkish invader Bakhtiyar Khilji attacked the fort and destroyed the university.”
Wen pointed out that the present government should have taken steps to ensure that some parts of the ancient structure were preserved. “An excavation can still bring out the structure buried underneath,” he said.
Executive director of Bihar Heritage Development Society, Bijoy Kumar Chaudhary, however, claimed that there was limited scope for excavation as the present day Biharsharif was densely populated.
“No remains of Odantapuri University, which was a seat of learning of Buddhism in the early medieval period, could be found because it was largely destroyed by Khilji. Besides, the dense population of Biharsharif leaves very little scope for excavation of the site,” Chaudhary claimed.
Patna-based author Naushad Ansari said, “Odantapuri Vihara was damaged when the Turkish Army led by Bakhtiyar Khilji had invaded the fort.”
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