in ancient times a celebrated Buddhist centre of learning (vihāra) in India, identified with modern Bihār town in the Patna district of Bihār state. It was founded in the 7th century AD by Gopāla, the first ruler of the Pāla dynasty, no doubt in emulation of its neighbour Nālandā, another distinguished centre of Buddhist learning.

Odantapurī served as a model and inspiration for Tibetan Buddhists. Tibetan sources indicate that in 749 the Sam-Ye (Bsam-Yas) monastery was modelled upon it and that several distinguished Tibetan scholars studied there. It fell into decline during the 11th century, and it was probably sacked and destroyed, along with Nālandā, c. 1200, when Muslims under Ikhtiyār-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Bakhtiyār Khaljī invaded Bihār.