Somapura Mahavihara
Somapura Mahavihara was an ancient Buddhist monastery in present-day Bangladesh. It was founded by the Pala emperor Dharmapala in the 8th century and served as a major center of Buddhist learning for centuries. Test your knowledge about Somapura Mahavihara with this quiz.
Questions
Who founded Somapura Mahavihara?
- Ashoka
- Harshavardhana
- Dharmapala
- Kanishka
In which present-day country is Somapura Mahavihara located?
- India
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
What was the primary purpose of Somapura Mahavihara?
- A center of Buddhist learning
- A military fortress
- A trading center
- A royal palace
What architectural style was Somapura Mahavihara built in?
- Gupta
- Pala
- Chola
- Dravidian
How many stupas were there at Somapura Mahavihara?
- 177
- 108
- 52
- 21
What was the main stupa at Somapura Mahavihara called?
- Dharmarajika Stupa
- Mahabodhi Stupa
- Sanchi Stupa
- Amaravati Stupa
How tall was the Dharmarajika Stupa?
- 170 feet
- 120 feet
- 80 feet
- 40 feet
What was the diameter of the Dharmarajika Stupa?
- 120 feet
- 90 feet
- 60 feet
- 30 feet
What materials were used to build Somapura Mahavihara?
- Brick
- Stone
- Wood
- All of the above
How many monks lived at Somapura Mahavihara at its peak?
- 1,000
- 2,000
- 3,000
- 4,000
What was the main language of instruction at Somapura Mahavihara?
- Sanskrit
- Pali
- Prakrit
- Bengali
What subjects were taught at Somapura Mahavihara?
- Buddhist scriptures
- Philosophy
- Logic
- All of the above
What was the significance of Somapura Mahavihara in the history of Buddhism?
- It was a major center of Buddhist learning
- It was the birthplace of the Mahayana school of Buddhism
- It was the site of the first Buddhist council
- It was the home of the Buddha's relics
When was Somapura Mahavihara abandoned?
- 12th century
- 13th century
- 14th century
- 15th century
What is the current status of Somapura Mahavihara?
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- It is a national park
- It is a museum
- It is a pilgrimage site