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Somapura Mahavihara ((ベンガル語:সোমপুর মহাবিহার) ''Shompur Môhabihar'') in Paharpur, Badalgachhi Upazila, Naogaon District, Bangladesh is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archeological sites in the country. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. ==History== A number of monasteries grew up during the Pāla period in ancient Bengal and Magadha. According to Tibetan sources, five great Mahaviharas stood out: Vikramashila, the premier university of the era; Nalanda, past its prime but still illustrious; Somapura Mahavihara; Odantapurā; and Jaggadala.〔Vajrayogini: Her Visualization, Rituals, and Forms by Elizabeth English. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-329-X pg 15〕 The monasteries formed a network; "all of them were under state supervision" and there existed "a system of co-ordination among them ... it seems from the evidence that the different seats of Buddhist learning that functioned in eastern India under the Pāla were regarded together as forming a network, an interlinked group of institutions," and it was common for great scholars to move easily from position to position among them.〔''Buddhist Monks And Monasteries Of India: Their History And Contribution To Indian Culture.'' by Dutt, Sukumar. George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London 1962. pg 352–3〕 The excavation at Paharpur, and the finding of seals bearing the inscription ''Shri-Somapure-Shri-Dharmapaladeva-Mahavihariyarya-bhiksu-sangghasya'', has identified the Somapura Mahavihara as built by the second Pala king Dharmapala (''circa'' 781–821) of Pāla Dynasty.〔(Somapura Mahavihara ), Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, ''Retrieved: 2014-06-15''〕 Tibetan sources, including Tibetan translations of ''Dharmakayavidhi'' and ''Madhyamaka Ratnapradipa'', Taranatha's history and ''Pag-Sam-Jon-Zang'', mention that Dharmapala's successor Devapala (''circa'' 810–850) built it after his conquest of Varendra.〔 The Paharpur pillar inscription bears the mention of 5th regnal year of Devapala's successor Mahendrapala (''circa'' 850–854) along with the name of Bhiksu Ajayagarbha.〔 Taranatha's ''Pag Sam Jon Zang'' records that the monastery was repaired during the reign of Mahipala (''circa'' 995–1043 AD).〔 The Nalanda inscription of Vipulashrimitra records that the monastery was destroyed by fire, which also killed Vipulashrimitra's ancestor Karunashrimitra, during a conquest by the Vanga army in the 11th century. Over time Atish's spiritual preceptor, Ratnakara Shanti, served as a sthavira of the vihara, Mahapanditacharya Bodhibhadra served as a resident monk, and other scholars spent part of their lives at the monastery, including Kalamahapada, Viryendra and Karunashrimitra.〔 Many Tibetan monks visited the Somapura between the 9th and 12th centuries.〔 During the rule of the Sena dynasty, known as ''Karnatadeshatagata Brahmaksatriya'', in the second half of the 12th century the vihara started to decline for the last time.〔 One scholar writes, "The ruins of the temple and monasteries at Pāhāpur do not bear any evident marks of large-scale destruction. The downfall of the establishment, by desertion or destruction, must have been sometime in the midst of the widespread unrest and displacement of population consequent on the Muslim invasion."〔''Buddhist Monks And Monasteries Of India: Their History And Contribution To Indian Culture.'' by Dutt, Sukumar. George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London 1962. pg 376〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Somapura Mahavihara」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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