Tiladhak (Telhara) University: A Comprehensive Study

Tiladhak (Telhara) University stands as one of the forgotten yet significant centres of higher learning in ancient India. It is located in the modern-day Nalanda district of Bihar. It is mentioned in the travel records of the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) and has ample records through extensive excavations of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Tiladhak University flourished during the Gupta, Pala, and later medieval periods. This paper tries to find the origin, development, academic culture, architectural remains, and decline of the institution, while comparing it with contemporary educational centres such as Nalanda, Vikramashila, Odantapuri, and Vallabhi. The paper focuses on the material culture excavated from Telhara, including sculptures, terracotta plaques, seals, inscriptions, and pottery, which furnishes thoughtful insights into the intellectual and social life of that time. Furthermore, this paper examines the continuity of India’s university tradition by putting Tiladhak within a historical context, leading up to today’s modern universities. To reestablish Telhara’s significance in the academic and cultural map of ancient India is the main aim of the paper.