Odantapuri, Odanta-puri: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Odantapuri means something in the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Viharas In Ancient India

Odantapuri (or Odantapura) is the name of an ancient Buddhist Monastery (Vihara) in Bihar (eastern India).—During the declining period of the Mahavihara of Nalanda another monastery was erected at Odantapuri by a certain Gopala or Lokapala who ascended the throne of Bengal in about 730 A.C. This monastery was perhaps, located in the district of Patna in Bihar and endowed with a magnificent library of Buddhistic and Brahtnanical works.

The monastery at Odantapurī was built with the gold that was said to have been miraculously obtained by a Buddhist in mystical process. Tārānātha (in his dGos-'ded-Kun-'byun) recorded : “Between Gopāla and Devapāla, Śrī Odantapurī temple was built. A Tīrthika Yogī, with purity of character, obtained miraculous power somewhere near Magadha. His name was Narada [or Nārada]. He wanted to perform the ritual with a corpse (śava-sādhanā). For this purpose, he needed a companion [i.e., Unna Upasaka]. [...] (Narada) flew to heaven with the sword. And the Upāsaka, with the Vetala’s gold built the colossal temple of Odantapurī (Odanta means ‘flying over’); for the Upāsaka flew in the sky over Sumeru along with its four dvīpas and saw these with his own eyes. That is why, he built the temple (Odantapurī) in its model (i.e. in the model of Sumeru along with its four Dvīpas). And the Upāsaka’s name became Unna Upāsaka. [...]”.

Source: Wikipedia: India History

Odantapuri (or Odantapura, Uddandapura) was a prominent Buddhist Mahavihara in what is now Bihar Sharif in Bihar, India. It is believed to have been established by the Pala ruler Gopala I in the 8th century. It is considered the second oldest of India's Mahaviharas after Nalanda and was situated in Magadha. Inscriptional evidence also indicates that the Mahavihara was supported by local Buddhist kings like the Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya

Source: academia.edu: Tilopā: A Buddhist Yogin of the Tenth Century

Odantapuri is the Tibetan rendering of the Indian toponym Uddaṇḍapura is attested in a pedestal inscription found at Bihar Sharif, the headquarters of the Nālandā District in the state of Bihar. Since Tāranātha confuses the order of the Pāla kings, as known from epigraphy, we cannot rely on his information about the foundation of the Mahāvihāra. In this case, the Chos ’byung completed in 1322 by Bu ston Rin chen grub (1290–1364), although it ascribes the foundation of Nālandā to Gopāla, is more reliable than Tāranātha. The latter in fact, not only ascribes the establishment of Nālanda to Gopāla after his conquest of Magadha, but also it would have been the Nālandā Mahāvihāra to have been built near Uddaṇḍapura. In this confusion, at least, Bu ston’s account of Gopāla is correctly followed by the one of Dharmapāla, with a fascinating legend focussed on the latter’s magic birth and foundation of the Uddaṇḍapura Mahāvihāra. [...]

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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