The correct option is Nalanda.
Explanation
The Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita ("The Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Lines") is a seminal Mahayana Buddhist text. Illustrated manuscripts of this text are the most significant surviving examples of the Pala School of Miniature Painting, which flourished in Eastern India (Bengal and Bihar) during the 8th to 12th centuries.
Detailed Analysis
- Origin and Style: The Pala School represents the earliest examples of miniature painting in India. These paintings were executed on palm leaves (Talapatra) and wooden book covers.
- Association with Nalanda: While the Pala style flourished across several Mahaviharas (great monasteries) including Vikramsila and Odantapuri, the Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript is most famously associated with the Nalanda monastery.
- Historical Evidence: Several surviving manuscripts contain colophons (inscriptions) specifically stating they were produced at Nalanda during the reigns of Pala kings such as Mahipala and Ramapala. Nalanda was the primary intellectual and artistic center where this style reached its zenith.
- Subject Matter: The illustrations typically depict Buddhist deities from the Vajrayana pantheon, characterized by sinuous lines and the use of primary colors, influencing later art forms in Nepal and Tibet.
Key Takeaway: The Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita is the hallmark text of the Pala School of Miniature Painting, with its most prominent manuscripts produced at the Nalanda Mahavihara.