Which one of the following ancient universities provided for the teaching of a…

Concept

Among the great monastic universities (mahaviharas) of early-medieval India, each became associated with a distinct intellectual focus. By the Pala period (8th-12th century CE), Indian Buddhism had shifted strongly toward Vajrayana, also called Tantric Buddhism - a school built on esoteric rituals, mantras, mandalas and the guidance of a guru. Identifying which mahavihara specialised in a given subject is a matter of matching the institution to its documented curriculum and founding context.

Application

The university famous for teaching Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism as a special subject is Jagaddala. Founded by the Pala king Ramapala (reigned c. 1077-1130 CE) in Varendra (North Bengal, in present-day Bangladesh), Jagaddala was established at the height of Vajrayana's influence and was purpose-built as a centre for its study and dissemination. The scholar Sakya Sri Bhadra took refuge here and helped carry Tantric texts to Tibet, confirming Jagaddala's role as a Vajrayana stronghold.

Contrast

• Nalanda - the oldest and largest mahavihara, renowned as a broad centre of Mahayana philosophy, logic and the liberal arts, not specifically the Vajrayana specialist.

• Odantapuri - a Pala-era monastic university in Magadha (Bihar) noted for monastic discipline and administration, not singled out for a Vajrayana specialisation.

• Mithila - a Brahmanical seat of learning celebrated for Nyaya (logic) and Sanskrit law/grammar, outside the Buddhist mahavihara tradition altogether.

Hence the institution that provided for the special teaching of Vajrayana Buddhism is Jagaddala University.