In ancient Indian history, which ruler of the Gupta dynasty is traditionally credited with starting the construction of Nalanda Mahavihara, the great Buddhist university?

Introduction / Context:
Nalanda Mahavihara was one of the most renowned centres of Buddhist learning in ancient India, attracting students from many parts of Asia. Understanding who initiated its construction helps students link educational and religious history with the political history of Indian dynasties. Competitive exams commonly ask which ruler is traditionally credited with starting the construction of Nalanda, highlighting the role of the Guptas in supporting Buddhism and higher education.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to Nalanda Mahavihara, a great Buddhist university.
• It asks which ruler started its construction.
• Options include rulers from different dynasties and periods.
• Only one option names the Gupta ruler commonly associated with the founding of Nalanda.

Concept / Approach:
Traditional accounts and many exam oriented texts state that Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty is credited with founding or at least starting the construction of Nalanda as a major monastic university. Later rulers such as Harsha and the Pala kings, including Dharampala, also supported and expanded Nalanda, but the initial foundation is usually linked with Kumaragupta. The approach is therefore to recognise this association and distinguish it from the contributions of later patrons.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Gupta period is often called a golden age of Indian culture, art, and learning. Step 2: Remember that Kumaragupta I was one of the prominent Gupta emperors in the fifth century CE. Step 3: Note that many references credit Kumaragupta with founding or initiating the great Buddhist monastic university at Nalanda. Step 4: Recognise that later rulers such as Harsha and the Pala king Dharampala gave further patronage but did not start the original construction. Step 5: From the options, select Kumaragupta I as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting standard ancient Indian history books and Buddhist history sources. Many exam specific guides explicitly ask and answer the same question, stating that Kumaragupta I started Nalanda and that later dynasties continued to support and expand it. While there may be scholarly discussions about early phases of the site, the widely accepted exam convention is to treat Kumaragupta I as the founder. This makes him the appropriate choice in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ashoka, though a great patron of Buddhism, belonged to the Mauryan dynasty and lived several centuries before the Gupta period. His main contributions were rock edicts and stupas rather than Nalanda as a university. Dharampala was a Pala ruler who gave strong patronage to Nalanda and Vikramashila but came much later and expanded an already famous institution. Harsha also supported Nalanda but ruled in the seventh century, not at the time of its initial foundation. Samudragupta was an earlier Gupta ruler, and while he was important politically, he is not typically credited with starting Nalanda Mahavihara.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes choose Ashoka or Dharampala because they strongly associate those names with Buddhism and monastic institutions. Others may pick Harsha due to his known support for Nalanda from Chinese pilgrim accounts. The key is to distinguish between starting construction and later patronage. To avoid mistakes, students should make a small chart linking Nalanda with its founder (Kumaragupta I) and key later patrons (Harsha and the Pala rulers).

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Kumaragupta I.