[Solved] Who was Balaputradeva? | Nalanda Monastery Founder

The ruler of Suvarnabhumi, who founded a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda and requested Devapala through his ambassador to grant, five villages for its maintenance, was-

[64th B.P.S.C. Prelims 1999]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Medieval India maintained deep maritime and religious ties with Southeast Asia (Suvarnabhumi). These connections are recorded in inscriptions documenting international religious patronage.

Authentic Source Evidence

The Nalanda Copper-plate Inscription records that Balaputradeva, the king of the Sailendra dynasty of Srivijaya (Suvarnabhumi), built a monastery at Nalanda. He requested the Pala King Devapala to grant five villages for its upkeep.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Option C is correct. This event highlights the global prestige of Nalanda as a center of Buddhist learning in the 9th century.

Logic 2: Devapala, known for his patronage of Buddhism, granted the request, strengthening ties with Southeast Asia.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Where was 'Suvarnabhumi' located?"

Suvarnabhumi (Land of Gold) refers to the region of Southeast Asia, particularly Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Balaputradeva grant is a definitive archaeological proof of India's role as the 'cultural center' of the Buddhist world during the Pala era."

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Analysing authentic 64th B.P.S.C. Prelimsprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to International Buddhist Relations helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Balaputradeva and Nalanda monastery builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →