The head of the University of Nalanda was the great Bengali Scholar

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Shilabhadra
Shilabhadra was the head (or Acharya) of the ancient Nalanda University, one of the greatest centers of learning in ancient India. He was a renowned scholar and teacher, particularly of Buddhist philosophy, and played a pivotal role in spreading Buddhist teachings.

Key Points About Shilabhadra and Nalanda University:

Position at Nalanda:

• Shilabhadra served as the head of Nalanda during the 7th century CE, a time when the university was at its zenith.
• He was a revered teacher who attracted students from across India and foreign countries like China and Tibet.

Connection with Xuanzang:

• The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang) studied under Shilabhadra at Nalanda during his visit to India in the 7th century CE.
• Xuanzang documented his admiration for Shilabhadra’s knowledge and teaching methods in his travel accounts.

Contributions:

• A key figure in preserving and expanding Mahayana Buddhist philosophy.
• Played an essential role in training scholars who carried Buddhist teachings to other parts of Asia.

Additional Information:

• Vasubandhu: An earlier Buddhist scholar and founder of the Yogachara school of Mahayana Buddhism but not associated with Nalanda University.
• Nagarjuna: A founder of the Madhyamika (Middle Path) school of Mahayana Buddhism; lived much earlier than Nalanda’s peak.
• Shri Jnan Atish (Atisha Dipankara): A later Bengali Buddhist scholar who revitalized Buddhism in Tibet but was not the head of Nalanda.