Vikramshila Mahavihara, a famous Buddhist monastic university in eastern India, was founded by which Pala ruler?

Introduction / Context:
During the early medieval period, eastern India became a major centre of Buddhist learning, with great monastic universities such as Nalanda, Vikramshila and Odantapuri. The Pala dynasty of Bengal and Bihar played a crucial role in patronising these institutions. Knowing which Pala ruler founded Vikramshila Mahavihara is a common question in Indian history exams and helps connect royal patronage with the flourishing of Buddhist education and culture.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The institution in question is Vikramshila Mahavihara, a Buddhist monastic university.
• The options list Baladitya, Harsha, Gopala and Dharmapala.
• We assume the learner knows that the Palas ruled eastern India and were ardent patrons of Buddhism.
• The question asks which ruler founded this particular Mahavihara.

Concept / Approach:
Dharmapala, the second ruler of the Pala dynasty, is generally credited with founding Vikramshila Mahavihara. He ruled in the late 8th and early 9th centuries CE and sought to strengthen Buddhism both within his kingdom and across Asia. While Gopala was the founder of the Pala dynasty, he is not usually named as the founder of Vikramshila. Harsha, who ruled earlier from Kannauj, patronised Buddhism but did not establish this specific institution. Baladitya is associated with other historical contexts and is not the Pala king linked to Vikramshila's foundation. Therefore, Dharmapala is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the Pala dynasty as the ruling family in Bengal and Bihar that actively supported Mahayana Buddhism. Step 2: Recall that Dharmapala, the son and successor of Gopala, expanded Pala power and invested heavily in Buddhist monasteries and universities. Step 3: Recognise that historical and traditional accounts credit Dharmapala with founding Vikramshila Mahavihara as a major centre of Buddhist learning. Step 4: Note that Gopala is remembered chiefly as the founder of the Pala dynasty, not as the specific founder of Vikramshila. Step 5: Understand that Harsha ruled earlier in north India and established other centres of patronage, but not Vikramshila. Step 6: Conclude that Dharmapala is the correct choice for the founder of Vikramshila Mahavihara.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard histories of medieval India and Buddhism consistently state that Dharmapala founded Vikramshila as a counterpart to Nalanda, creating another great centre of Buddhist scholasticism. They mention that under the Palas, eastern India became a stronghold of Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, with Vikramshila attracting students from across the Buddhist world. These references confirm Dharmapala's role and do not attribute the foundation to Gopala, Harsha or Baladitya.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Baladitya: Not the Pala ruler associated with founding Vikramshila; this name is connected with different historical contexts.
• Harsha: An earlier ruler and patron of Buddhism, but he ruled from Kannauj and is not credited with establishing Vikramshila.
• Gopala: Founder of the Pala dynasty, remembered for stabilising the region, but Vikramshila's foundation is credited to his successor Dharmapala.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose Gopala simply because he was the founder of the Pala dynasty and they assume he must have founded all major institutions. Others confuse Harsha's patronage of Buddhism with later Pala initiatives. To answer correctly, focus on the specific pairing: Dharmapala and Vikramshila, just as Nalanda is often associated with earlier Gupta and later Pala patronage.

Final Answer:
Vikramshila Mahavihara was founded by the Pala ruler Dharmapala.