Nalanda University was a world-famous centre specifically for the study of:
Correct Answer: Mahayana Buddhism
Subject: history
- Hinayana Buddhism
- Mahayana Buddhism
- Vajrayana Buddhism
- Digambara Jainism
Explanation: • Nalanda (Bihar) — premier centre for Mahayana Buddhist studies (5th–12th century AD)
• Founded during Gupta period — Kumaragupta I credited
• 10,000 students + 2,000 teachers — scholars from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Indonesia
• Subjects: Mahayana theology, logic, grammar, medicine, astronomy
• Destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji (1193 AD)
• Compare: Takshashila → Vedic + secular sciences; Vikramshila (Pala) → Vajrayana Buddhism