An Epilogue to the Story of Vikramshila

A Succession Board of Vikramshila’s Teachers

Had Vikramshila survived decimation from the invading Turks, there is a probability that it may have survived to this day and would have been famous as one of the most historical centres of learning in the world. In such case, the modern visitor upon entering the University would have been bewildered with its long list of teachers and prominent alumni and with the magnificent biographies and legends attached to their great personae. As Taranath’s description allows us to identify the “Seven Pala”, rulers, remembered prominently for their contribution to the Buddhist faith and including Gopala, Devapala, Dharmapala, Mahipala, Mahapala, Neyapala (Nayapala) and Ramapala, it also helps us to create such a succession board of the Chief Teacher’s of Vikramshila, which would have read as follows.

1.    Buddhajnanapada

2.    Dipamkarabhadra, the first two being from the period of Dharmapala.

3.    Lanka-jayabhadra, who was born and initially educated in Lanka i.e. Singhala, where he thoroughly studied the Mahayana and later on reaching Magadha, became a scholar of the Guhya-tantra. He meditated on Cakrasamvara at Vikramshila and received the vision of the deity. He then went to the Mahabimba chaitya in the Konkana region, which was unapproachable even as its reflection could be seen in the sky, and preached the Guhya-tantra-yana for sometime. Then he became the Tantra-acharya at Vikramshila.

4.    Sridhara,the Brahmin acharya, who was invited to Vikramshila after heacquired fame as a preacher of the Mahamaya in the south.

To be continued...