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{{Short description|Ancient Buddhist vihara}}{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Pondit Bihar
| native_name = পণ্ডিত বিহার
| native_name_lang = bn
| alternate_name = Pondit Bihar University
| map_type = Bangladesh
| map_caption = Location of Pondit Bihar in [[Bangladesh]]
| coordinates = {{coord|22.2236|91.8625|display=inline,title}}
| map_dot_label = Pandita Vihara
| location = Deyang Hill, [[Anwara Upazila]], [[Chattogram]]
| region = [[East Bengal]] (present-day [[Bangladesh]])
| type = [[Bihār]]
| built = 8th century CE
| abandoned = Likely 17th century CE
| epochs = 8th–13th century CE
| cultures = [[Tantric Buddhism]]
| dependency_of =
| occupants = [[List of modern scholars in Buddhist studies|Buddhist scholers]], [[monks]]
| event = Decline due to regional conflicts
| discovered = Artifacts found in 1927 CE
| notes = Proposed for reestablishment
| mapframe = yes
}}
'''Pondit Bihar''' or '''Pandita Bihar University''' was an ancient university of the [[Indian subcontinent]] established in the 8th century CE in [[East Bengal|eastern Bengal]] (present-day [[Bangladesh]]), in [[Chittagong|Chattogram]], and it is now completely extinct.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Uddin |first=Jamal |title= |publisher=Balaka Publications |year=2009 |edition=1st |location=[[Chattogram]] |language=bn |script-title=bn:চট্টগ্রামের ইতিহাস, জনবসতি, নামকরণের যৌক্তিকতা, কাল নির্ণয় ও পণ্ডিতবিহার বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় (গবেষণা গ্রন্থ) |trans-title=The History of Chattogram, Settlement, Logic of Naming, Chronology, and Pondit Bihar University (Research Book)}}</ref> This [[Bihār|Bihar]] was essentially an educational institution similar to [[Nalanda University]], which operated as a center for teaching and propagating [[Vajrayana|Tantric Buddhism]] in eastern Bengal.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Malek |first=MA |date=November 1955 |editor-last=Khaled |editor-first=Mohammad |title= |script-title=bn:হাজার বছরের চট্টগ্রাম |work=[[Dainik Azadi]] |language=bn |edition=1st}}</ref> During a conflict in the 13th century, Nalanda Vihara in [[Bihar]] was destroyed, and many eastern Buddhist scholar communities later took refuge in Pondit Bihar. Atiśa Dīpaṅkara Śrījñāna, a [[Bhikkhu|Buddhist monk]] and missionary of the [[Pala Empire
]], stayed and studied for some time at Pondit Bihar.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Uddin |first=Jamal |date=12 January 2012 |title= |script-title=bn:চট্টগ্রাম পণ্ডিতবিহার বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় প্রতিষ্ঠা |work=[[Samakal]]}}</ref>

The professors at Pondit Bihar, along with their teaching, studies, and yogic practices, also composed songs and ''dohas'' during their leisure time, which later gained recognition as ''[[Charyapada]]'', the earliest known work of [[Bengali language]] and poetry.<ref name=":1" /> Before and after Pondit Bihar, and until approximately the mid-18th century, the name of no other educational institution is found in history.<ref name=":0" />

== Location ==
There are various prevailing opinions regarding the location of Pondit Bihar. According to some discovered memorial artifacts, [[Tibet]] and [[Culture of Buddhism|Buddhist culture]] expert [[Sarat Chandra Das]] and other scholars and researchers have speculated that in the 8th century, the university was located on the hill adjacent to the present-day General Hospital in [[Chattogram City Corporation|Chattogram city]]. According to many, it is assumed that the university was situated either at Chakrashala in [[Patiya Upazila]] of [[Chittagong|Chattogram]] or in the southern part of Deyang Hill in the villages of Jhiuri and Hajigaon in [[Anwara Upazila]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uddin |first=Jamal |date=2016-04-12 |title= |script-title=bn:ভারতবর্ষে বৌদ্ধধর্মের প্রসার ও বিলুপ্তির ইতিহাস - নির্বাণা |url=http://nirvanapeace.com/history-heritage/bangladeshi-history-heritage/778 |access-date=2025-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412014226/http://nirvanapeace.com/history-heritage/bangladeshi-history-heritage/778 |archive-date=12 April 2016 }}</ref> Others believe it was located on [[Chandranath Hill]] in [[Sitakunda Upazila]]. However, based on most opinions, there is much evidence and data suggesting that the university was located on Deyang Hill. In February 1927 CE, 66 [[brass]] [[Buddha in art|Buddha statues]] were discovered at the border of the villages of Jhiuri and Hajigaon on Deyang Hill in Anwara, which confirms evidence of the university's presence at this site.<ref name=":1" />

== History and decline ==
The principal of Pondit Bihar was Tilopa, a Brahmin son residing in Chakrashala, [[Patiya Upazila|Patiya]]. Regarding the origin of the name "Tilopa," it is known that during his Hindu life, his yogic companion earned a living by grinding sesame seeds (''til''), and thus he adopted the name Tilopa. Later, after embracing [[Vajrayana|Tantric Buddhism]], he took the name Prajñabhadra and was appointed principal of Pandita Vihara. The chief [[Acharya|ācārya]] of [[Magadha]], [[Naropa]], received initiation from Prajñabhadra at Podit Bihar. Buddhist ''siddhācāryas'' and scholars such as [[Luipada|Luipa]], [[Shavaripa]], Lāripa, [[Natha Sampradaya|Avadhūtapa]], Amoghānātha, Dharmashrī, Maina, Buddhajñānapāda, and Anangavajra came to Pondit Bihar either as visitors or as professors. Researchers speculate that the name ''Pondit Bihar'' possibly originated from the gathering of various Buddhist scholars (''[[Pondit (Buddhism)|Ponditas]]'') at this monastery.<ref name=":0" />

The cause of Pondit Bihar's decline is not known. It is believed that the university existed in the 8th century CE. In 1059 CE, after the King [[Anawrahta|Anoratha]] of [[Myanmar|Burma]] conquered [[Chittagong|Chattogram]] and Pattikara, he abolished the prevailing Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition and began promoting the Hīnayāna or Theravāda sect. Later, in 1230 CE, the Buddhist king of [[Samatata]], Damodar Deva (reigned 1230–1253 CE), conquered Pattikara along with Chattogram and ruled the region until 1253 CE. Historically, it is known that during the reign of King Damodar Deva, Pandita Vihara still existed in a flourishing state.<ref name=":1" />

In the later century, in 1340 CE, the general Kadalkhan Gazi of Sonargaon’s Sultan [[Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah]] (reigned 1338–1350 CE) expelled the [[Rakhine people|Arakanese]] from the Chattogram region and brought Chattogram under Muslim rule for the first time. Until 1580 CE, Chattogram remained under the rule of the independent Sultans and Afghan rulers of Bengal. It is assumed that during this period, the condition of Pondit Bihar became miserable. According to historical sources from Arakan, during that time, the kings of Arakan at times temporarily, and at times for extended periods, held control and governed the Chattogram region. In 1580 CE, the Arakanese king Min Phalaung defeated Afghan military ruler Jamal Khan Panni and annexed the entire Chattogram region into the Arakan kingdom. From that time until 27 January 1666 CE, Chattogram remained part of the Arakan kingdom. Historians believe that Pondit Bihar continued to exist even during this period. In 1666 CE, the Subahdar of Bengal, Shaista Khan, assigned his son [[Buzurg Umed Khan]] as his chief commander and sent him on an expedition to the Chattogram region. On 27 January 1666 CE, the Mughal soldiers captured the Chatigaon fort in Anwara Upazila and expelled the Maghs. During these battles, the ancient port town of Deyang in Chattogram was damaged, and it is assumed that as a result of this and the passage of time, Pandita Vihara eventually ceased to exist.<ref name=":1" />

== Reestablishment ==
In 2012, a special delegation from the [[University Grants Commission of Bangladesh|University Grants Commission]] conducted an on-site visit to the historical ruins of Pondit Bihar on Deyang Hill in Anwara. It has been decided that the university will be reestablished on approximately one hundred and fifty acres of hilly land, primarily funded jointly by China, Japan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hossain |first=Morshed |date=22 January 2012 |title= |script-title=bn:আন্তর্জাতিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় হচ্ছে আনোয়ারায় |url=https://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/news/215250 |url-status= |archive-url= |access-date=19 August 2016 |work=[[Prothom Alo]]}}</ref>

==Revival efforts==
During her 2010 visit to China, Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]] proposed reviving the ancient university as International Pondit University, following the footsteps of the revival of the ancient [[Nalanda University]] in India. As of 2016, the concept was still stalled due to lack of funding.<ref name="ds29Jun2016">{{cite news |author=Prabir Barua Chowdhury |title=Historic university lost in time |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/historic-university-lost-time-1247437 |work=The Daily Star |date=29 June 2016 |access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhismandaustralia.com/ba/index.php/Pandita_Vihar_:_The_Old_University_of_Chittagong_by_Venerable_Dr._Jinabodhi_Bhikkhu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815054945/http://www.buddhismandaustralia.com/ba/index.php/Pondit_Bihar_:_The_Old_University_of_Chittagong_by_Venerable_Dr._Jinabodhi_Bhikkhu |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |title=Pondit Bihar : The Old University of Chittagong by Venerable Dr. Jinabodhi Bhikkhu |publisher=Buddhism and Australia |date=2015-03-23 |accessdate=2016-11-18}}</ref>

== Further reading ==

* {{Cite book |last=Uddin |first=Jamal |title= |publisher=Balaka Publications |year=2009 |edition=1st |location=[[Chattogram]] |language=bn |script-title=bn:চট্টগ্রামের ইতিহাস, জনবসতি, নামকরণের যৌক্তিকতা, কাল নির্ণয় ও পণ্ডিতবিহার বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় (গবেষণা গ্রন্থ) |trans-title=The History of Chattogram, Settlement, Logic of Naming, Chronology, and Pandita Vihara University (Research Book)}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ancient Dharmic centres of Higher Learning}}
{{Non-extant Bengal places}}
{{Buddhism topics}}

[[Category:9th-century Buddhist temples]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Ancient universities of the Indian subcontinent]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist holy sites in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Medieval Indian universities]]
[[Category:Buddhist universities and colleges]]
[[Category:History of education in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Chittagong Division]]
[[Category:Defunct universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Buddhist architecture]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in the 8th century]]
[[Category:8th-century establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:History of Buddhism in Bangladesh]]

Pandita Vihara - Revision history

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