Encyclopedia.com > Dictionaries, Thesauruses, Pictures, and Press Releases > A Dictionary of Buddhism > January 2004

Vikramaśīla

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

Vikramaśīla. One of the great Buddhist monastic universities of ancient India, located about 150 miles east of Nālandā near the present-day city of Bhagalpur on the Ganges. Tibetan sources provide most of the known details about this university since a number of masters from Vikramaśīla were active in Tibet during the Second Transmission period. It was founded in the early 9th century through the inspiration of Haribhadra and the patronage of the Pāla King Dharmapāla. Tantric Buddhist studies particularly flourished here under the guidance of such masters as Buddhaśrījñāna and Nāropa, although a number of celebrated masters of Buddhist logic (pramāṇa) also taught here such as Jñānaśrīmitra. Like the other nearby Buddhist universities of Nālandā and Odantapurī, Vikramaśīla was plundered and destroyed by invading Muslim raiders in the 12th century ce.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vikramaśīla." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vikramaśīla." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Vikramala.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vikramaśīla." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Vikramala.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: