Ancient India was home to several great centers of learning that functioned as universities. This question tests the knowledge of the foundation and patronage of one of the most famous of these institutions.
Understanding the Question, Key Concepts, and Approach
The question asks to identify the university founded by the Gupta emperor Kumara Gupta I. The solution requires linking the major ancient universities with their respective founders or patron dynasties.
Detailed Solution
Step 1: Identify the ruler and period. Kumara Gupta I was a prominent emperor of the Gupta Dynasty who ruled in the 5th century CE. The Gupta period is often regarded as a golden age for art, science, and education in India.
Step 2: Connect the ruler to the university. Historical sources, including archaeological evidence and the accounts of Chinese travelers like Hiuen Tsang, credit Kumara Gupta I with the foundation of the great Mahavihara (monastery and center of learning) at Nalanda in modern-day Bihar. It grew to become a world-renowned university for Buddhist studies, logic, medicine, and more.
Step 3: Eliminate other options.
Takshashila (Taxila) was a much older center of learning, flourishing even before the Mauryan Empire.
Vikramashila was established later, in the 8th century CE, by King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty.
Vallabhi in Gujarat was another important center of learning, patronized by the Maitraka rulers.
Step 4: Conclusion. Nalanda University was founded by the Gupta ruler Kumara Gupta I.