Somapura
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Somapura Mahavihara was among the best known Buddhist viharas in India. The excavations at Paharpur has been identified with the Somapura Mahavihara, built by the Dharmapala (c 781-821 AD). The Pala rulers were devout Buddhists and they founded a number of viharas in their domain.
The monastery was renovated during the rule of Mahipala I (c 995-1043 AD). The Tibetan text Pag Sam Jon Zang mentions that that the same king used to visit Somapura Vihara to offer his homage.
Somapura Mahavihara gradually declined and was finally abandoned during the 13th century, when the region was conquered by the Muslims.
Many Tibetan monks visited the Somapura during 9th and 12th century AD. Atisha Dipankar Srijnan stayed here for many years and translated the Madhyamaka Ratnapradipa into Tibetan. His spiritual preceptor, Ratnakara Shanti, and several other famous scholars like Mahapanditacharya Bodhibhadra Kalamahapada, Viryendra and Karunashrimitra were associated with this vihara.
