Unfortunately, even as not much information has survived in local memoirs or traditions, life still gets infused into the vast excavated remains when one reads earlier accounts like those of Lama Taranath and Nag Tcho. While Taranath has narrated the developments in a timeline along with the names and important details of the principal teachers and the ruling monarchs, Nag Tcho has highlighted the importance of the institute and detailed the story of efforts made by Tibetans to persuade Atisa to proceed to their kingdom, in order to reform the Buddhist faith,then practiced. Reconstructed from such accounts, the story of Vikramshila begins in the times of Dharmapala, understood to have been a devout Buddhist, who during his reign not only constructed the Mahavihar, but also another 50 centres for the spread of the doctrine, of which 35 were exclusively meant for the study of the prajna-paramita.

Located atop a hill on the right banks of the Ganga in the north of Magadha, the Vihar is said to have contained a total of 108 temples within boundary walls. The main central temple housing a human-size statue of the Mahabodhi was surrounded by 53 smaller Guhya tantra temples and 54 others. In the initial days of the monastery, 114 persons, namely 108 panditas and the Bali-acharya, Pratisthana-acharya, Homa-acharya, Musika-pala, Kapota-pala and the supervisor of the deva-dasas, were provided with sufficient provisions. A monthly festival was also organised for Buddhist devouts, who were also rewarded with excellent gifts. Interestingly, Nalendra i.e. Nalanda, probably lost its earlier position of prominence, as the chief of Vikramshila is learnt to be in charge of the affairs of the former.

To be continued...