ODANTAPURI,

also spelled Uddandapura, in ancient times a celebrated Buddhist centre of learning (vihara) in India, identified with modern Bihar town in the Patna district of Bihar state. It was founded in the 7th century AD by Gopala, the first ruler of the Pala dynasty, no doubt in emulation of its neighbour Nalanda, another distinguished centre of Buddhist learning. Odantapuri served as a model and inspiration for Tibetan Buddhists. Tibetan sources indicate that in 749 the Sam-Ye (Bsam-Yas) monastery was modelled upon it and that several distinguished Tibetan scholars studied there. It fell into decline during the 11th century, and it was probably sacked and destroyed, along with Nalanda, c. 1200, when Muslims under Ikhtiyar-ud-Din Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji invaded Bihar.