प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

V] EDUCATIONAL CENTRES AND INSTITUTIONS 123 tion in this work from Padmasambhava, a Kashmirian monk educated at Nālandā¹. Intellectual and literary activity of Nālandā must have continued in subsequent centuries also, for several manuscripts have been preserved to this time, which were copied at Nālandā during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries A.D. Supersession by Vikramasila University : Tārā- nāth informs us that the professors of Vikramaśīlā were often appointed to watch over the affairs of Nālandā by the Pāla rulers². From the 11th century onwards the new University of Vikramaśīlā began to receive a greater share of the royal patronage ; this circumstance may have led to the decline of Nālandā during the 11th and 12th centuries. Evidence from the Tibetan sources shows that by this time Tantricism had aquired a hold over the Buddhist mind and it may have perhaps affected the progress of serious studies. We have, however, no definite evidence on the point. The Destruction of the University : The ruin of the establishment was brought about by the Muslim invaders under Bakhtiyar Khilji towards the end of the 12th century. The buildings were burnt or destroyed and the whole of the monk population was put to the sword. The priceless library of the university was also wantonly committed to flames. Thus perished this famous university at the hands of fanatic invaders who did not know its value. VALABHI³ A Famous Centre of Learning : Valabhi, situated

1. Bose, Indian Teachers of Buddhist Universities, pp. 116-81.
2. Ibid, p. 86.
3. See Altekar, A History of Important Towns and Cities in Gujarat and Kathiawar, pp. 89-40 for the history of this place.