Which of the following ancient universities developed in connection with…

CONCEPT

A vihara was a Buddhist monastic residence.

In ancient India, some viharas grew into organized centres of higher learning, so this classification concerns institutions linked with Buddhist monastic education rather than every old centre of scholarship.

APPLICATION

1. Nalanda was a renowned Buddhist mahavihara in Bihar.

2. Valabhi was an important Buddhist learning centre in western India and is included in the historical classification of universities that developed in connection with viharas.

3. Takshashila was an ancient multi-tradition centre in Gandhara and is included in the same historical classification through its Buddhist scholarly and vihara connection.

4. Navadeep developed as a later centre of Sanskrit learning in Bengal, not as one of the vihara-connected institutions in this classification.

5. Odantapuri was a Pala-era Buddhist mahavihara in Bihar.

CONTRAST

• Nalanda and Takshashila alone omit Valabhi and Odantapuri.

• Nalanda, Takshashila, and Navadeep add the later Sanskrit-learning centre while omitting Valabhi and Odantapuri.

• Nalanda, Valabhi, and Takshashila omit Odantapuri.

• Nalanda, Valabhi, Takshashila, and Odantapuri contain the four institutions linked with the vihara/Buddhist-learning tradition in this classification.

RESULT

Therefore, the four institutions are Nalanda, Valabhi, Takshashila, and Odantapuri.