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    Nalanda (IAST: Nālandā; /naːlən̪d̪aː/) was a Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. The site is located about 95 kilometres (59 mi) southeast of Patna near the city of Bihar Sharif, and was a centre of learning from the fifth century CE to c. 1200 CE.[4] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[5][6] The highly formalized methods of Vedic learning helped inspire the establishment of large teaching institutions such as Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila[7] which are often characterised as India's early universities.[8][9][10][11] Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries and later under Harsha, the emperor of Kannauj.[12] The liberal cultural traditions inherited from the Gupta age resulted in a period of growth and prosperity until the ninth century. The subsequent centuries were a time of gradual decline, a period during which the tantric developments of Buddhism became most pronounced in eastern India under the Pala Empire.[13] At its peak, the school attracted scholars and students from near and far with some travelling from Tibet, China, Korea, and Central Asia.[14] Archaeological evidence also notes contact with the Shailendra dynasty of Indonesia, one of whose kings built a monastery in the complex. Much of our knowledge of Nalanda comes from the writings of pilgrim monks from Asia such as Xuanzang and Yijing who travelled to the Mahavihara in the 7th century. Vincent Smith remarked that "a detailed history of Nalanda would be a history of Mahayanist Buddhism". Many of the names listed by Xuanzang in his travelogue as products of Nalanda are the names of those who developed the philosophy of Mahayana.[15] All students at Nalanda studied Mahayana as well as the texts of the eighteen (Hinayana) sects of Buddhism. Their curriculum also included other subjects such as the Vedas, logic, Sanskrit grammar, medicine and Samkhya.[7][16][17][18] Nalanda was very likely ransacked and destroyed by an army of the Mamluk Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate under Bakhtiyar Khilji in c. 1200 CE.[19]. However, according to the archaeologists Krishna Deva and VS Agarwala, evidence reveals a “complex history of destruction, abandonment and reoccupation” at Nalanda that pre-dated the arrival of Muslims[20]. While some sources note that the Mahavihara continued to function in a makeshift fashion for a while longer, it was eventually abandoned and forgotten until the 19th century when the site was surveyed and preliminary excavations were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India. Systematic excavations commenced in 1915 which unearthed eleven monasteries and six brick temples neatly arranged on grounds 12 hectares (30 acres) in area. A trove of sculptures, coins, seals, and inscriptions have also been discovered in the ruins many of which are on display in the Nalanda Archaeological Museum situated nearby.

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    Nalanda (IAST: Nālandā; /naːlən̪d̪aː/) was a Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. The site is located about 95 kilometres (59 mi) southeast of Patna near the city of Bihar Sharif, and was a centre of learning from the fifth century CE to c. 1200 CE.[4] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[5][6] The highly formalized methods of Vedic learning helped inspire the establishment of large teaching institutions such as Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila[7] which are often characterised as India's early universities.[8][9][10][11] Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries and later under Harsha, the emperor of Kannauj.[12] The liberal cultural traditions inherited from the Gupta age resulted in a period of growth and prosperity until the ninth century. The subsequent centuries were a time of gradual decline, a period during which the tantric developments of Buddhism became most pronounced in eastern India under the Pala Empire.[13] At its peak, the school attracted scholars and students from near and far with some travelling from Tibet, China, Korea, and Central Asia.[14] Archaeological evidence also notes contact with the Shailendra dynasty of Indonesia, one of whose kings built a monastery in the complex. Much of our knowledge of Nalanda comes from the writings of pilgrim monks from Asia such as Xuanzang and Yijing who travelled to the Mahavihara in the 7th century. Vincent Smith remarked that "a detailed history of Nalanda would be a history of Mahayanist Buddhism". Many of the names listed by Xuanzang in his travelogue as products of Nalanda are the names of those who developed the philosophy of Mahayana.[15] All students at Nalanda studied Mahayana as well as the texts of the eighteen (Hinayana) sects of Buddhism. Their curriculum also included other subjects such as the Vedas, logic, Sanskrit grammar, medicine and Samkhya.[7][16][17][18] Nalanda was very likely ransacked and destroyed by an army of the Mamluk Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate under Bakhtiyar Khilji in c. 1200 CE.[19]. However, according to the archaeologists Krishna Deva and VS Agarwala, evidence reveals a “complex history of destruction, abandonment and reoccupation” at Nalanda that pre-dated the arrival of Muslims[20]. While some sources note that the Mahavihara continued to function in a makeshift fashion for a while longer, it was eventually abandoned and forgotten until the 19th century when the site was surveyed and preliminary excavations were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India. Systematic excavations commenced in 1915 which unearthed eleven monasteries and six brick temples neatly arranged on grounds 12 hectares (30 acres) in area. A trove of sculptures, coins, seals, and inscriptions have also been discovered in the ruins many of which are on display in the Nalanda Archaeological Museum situated nearby.

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    Nalanda (Mahavihara) : Continued During and After Gupta Period

    Uploaded by

    Rohan Pandhare
    Nalanda (IAST: Nālandā; /naːlən̪d̪aː/) was a Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. The site is located about 95 kilometres (59 mi) southeast of Patna near the city of Bihar Sharif, and was a centre of learning from the fifth century CE to c. 1200 CE.[4] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[5][6] The highly formalized methods of Vedic learning helped inspire the establishment of large teaching institutions such as Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila[7] which are often characterised as India's early universities.[8][9][10][11] Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries and later under Harsha, the emperor of Kannauj.[12] The liberal cultural traditions inherited from the Gupta age resulted in a period of growth and prosperity until the ninth century. The subsequent centuries were a time of gradual decline, a period during which the tantric developments of Buddhism became most pronounced in eastern India under the Pala Empire.[13] At its peak, the school attracted scholars and students from near and far with some travelling from Tibet, China, Korea, and Central Asia.[14] Archaeological evidence also notes contact with the Shailendra dynasty of Indonesia, one of whose kings built a monastery in the complex. Much of our knowledge of Nalanda comes from the writings of pilgrim monks from Asia such as Xuanzang and Yijing who travelled to the Mahavihara in the 7th century. Vincent Smith remarked that "a detailed history of Nalanda would be a history of Mahayanist Buddhism". Many of the names listed by Xuanzang in his travelogue as products of Nalanda are the names of those who developed the philosophy of Mahayana.[15] All students at Nalanda studied Mahayana as well as the texts of the eighteen (Hinayana) sects of Buddhism. Their curriculum also included other subjects such as the Vedas, logic, Sanskrit grammar, medicine and Samkhya.[7][16][17][18] Nalanda was very likely ransacked and destroyed by an army of the Mamluk Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate under Bakhtiyar Khilji in c. 1200 CE.[19]. However, according to the archaeologists Krishna Deva and VS Agarwala, evidence reveals a “complex history of destruction, abandonment and reoccupation” at Nalanda that pre-dated the arrival of Muslims[20]. While some sources note that the Mahavihara continued to function in a makeshift fashion for a while longer, it was eventually abandoned and forgotten until the 19th century when the site was surveyed and preliminary excavations were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India. Systematic excavations commenced in 1915 which unearthed eleven monasteries and six brick temples neatly arranged on grounds 12 hectares (30 acres) in area. A trove of sculptures, coins, seals, and inscriptions have also been discovered in the ruins many of which are on display in the Nalanda Archaeological Museum situated nearby.

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    Nalanda (Mahavihara)

    When was it built: 5th century CE

    Who built it: Originally by Emperor Kumaragupta I of Gupta Dynasty; Expansion works
    continued during and after Gupta period

    Where is it located: Nalanda district, Bihar, India

    Why was it built: As Mahavihara (large Buddhist monastery)

    Best Time to Visit: October to March

    Visit Timing: Daily, 9 am to 5 pm

    How to Reach: Nearest railhead is Rajgir (11 km) and airport is Patna (89 km)

    Image Credit:
    Nalanda, a large Buddhist monastery, now in ruins, was one of the most publicly
    acknowledged Mahaviharas of ancient India located in ancient Magadha kingdom (modern
    Bihar). It remained a learning centre from 7th century BCE through c. 1200 CE and is many
    a time categorised as one of the early universities of India along with other institutions like
    ‘Vikramashila’ and ‘Taxila’. The patronage of the Gupta Empire saw this Mahavihara prosper
    during 5th and 6th century as also during the reign of emperor Harsha of Kannauj. However
    tantric developments of Buddhism during the Pala rule saw an eventual decline of Nalanda.
    Students and scholars from places like China, Central Asia, Korea and Tibet studied in this
    great vihara that taught Mahayana, Hinayana, Sanskrit grammar, Vedas and Samkhya
    among others. Imminent pilgrim monks like Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing from East Asia visited
    this place in the 7th century. Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Nalanda
    not only boasts of being one of the most revered Buddhist tourism sites in India but also
    continues to draw attention from scholars, historians and archaeologists.

    Image Credit: http://patnabeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Nalanda-Mahavira-3.jpg

    History

    Nalanda was originally a thriving village close to Magadha’s capital Rajagriha (presently
    Rajgir) located beside a prime trade route. According to sources, Gautam Buddha gave
    away lectures in a close-by mango grove called Pavarika and Jain thirthankara, Mahavira
    also stayed at Nalanda for about fourteen rainy seasons thus validating the existence of the
    place to as early as the 5th–6th century BCE. The Tibetian Lama Taranatha of the 17th
    century mentioned that a huge temple was constructed at the site of chaitya of Shatiputra
    at Nalanda by the great Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, Ashoka who later embraced
    Buddhism. Taranatha also stated that Nagarjuna, a 3rd-century CE luminary and Mahayana
    philosopher remained chief of the institution while his contemporary, another luminary
    Suvishnu constructed around 108 temples in the area. Various theories exist regarding the
    naming of the place. While Hiuen Tsang asserted that it was derived from ‘Na alam d?’
    meaning charity without intermission or no end in gifts, I-tsing believed it came from ‘N?ga
    Nanda’ where naga refers to a snake in the local tanks whose name was Nanda. The
    travelogues of these two Chinese monks gave most of the information that could be
    gathered about Nalanda prior to the 8th century.

    Image Credit: http://patnabeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Nalanda-Mahavira-2.jpg

    During Gupta Period

    The accounted history of Nalanda dates back to the Gupta Empire with a seal confirming
    the founder of the place as the 5th-century CE Gupta monarch Shakraditya (?akr?ditya) who
    was identified as emperor Kumaragupta I (r. c. 415 – c. 455 CE). A coin of the monarch was
    found at the site. Expansions and development including building new temples and
    monasteries took place during the reign of his successors namely Buddhagupta, Baladitya,
    Tathagatagupta and Vajra. Among them the 12th Gupta emperor Narasimhagupta Baladitya
    was raised under the guidance of Vasubandhu, a very influential Buddhist monk, scholar
    and Mahayanist philosopher from Gandhara. Clay sealing of Baladitya was found in
    Nalanda. A 91 m high vihara encompassing a Buddha statue and a sangharama was built
    by him.

    Image
    Credit:http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/0100_0199/nalanda/nal
    anda2.jpg

    Post Gupta Period

    Post the Gupta period Nalanda continued to develop under the auspices of several kings,
    particularly during the 7th century under the reign of emperor Harsha of Kannauj. While one
    of the monarchs constructed a high wall surrounding the structures of the site, another
    emperor Purnavarman built a six stage pavilion for installing a 24 m high copper idol of Lord
    Buddha. Emperor Harsha who held the Buddhist monks in high regards and deemed himself
    as their servant was a converted Buddhist whose royal congregation included around
    thousand monks from Nalanda. A brass monastery was constructed by him inside Nalanda.
    Revenues of hundred villages as also daily supply of rice, milk and butter were furnished to
    the monks of the institution under the instruction of the emperor.

    Image Credit: https://www.groupouting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Nalanda-1.jpg

    During Pala Period

    The Pala Empire that originated from the Bengal region remained an imperial power on the
    Indian subcontinent during the Late Classical period from 8th to 12th century. The Palas
    were followers of Mahayana and Tantric schools of Buddhism. Although they revered
    Nalanda as a prized cultural legacy and continued to patronize it, the increasing Tantra-
    influenced version of Mahayana practiced in Vajrayana had an effect on Nalanda with tantric
    doctrines and magic rites taking precedence. They set up four more Mahaviharas at
    Odantapura, Jagaddala, Vikramashila and Somapura all of which typified the Nalanda
    Mahavihara. Establishment of such Mahaviharas most likely saw several learned monks
    joining them thus leaving Nalanda. Among the Pala emperors the third and most powerful
    emperor, Devapala, who ruled in the 9th century and constructed the Mahavihara at
    Somapura seemed to be the most noted patron of his time. Two important inscriptions and
    several metallic figures having his reference were unearthed from the ruins of Nalanda.
    While one of the inscriptions etched on a copper plate manifests endowment bestowed by
    Balaputra, the maharaja of Srivijaya, the other inscription, the Ghosrawan inscription
    indicated that Devapala patronised Vedic scholar Viradeva who eventually served as head
    of the Mahavihara.

    Image Credit:
    Hiuen Tsang in Nalanda

    Hiuen Tsang also called Xuanzang was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, translator and
    traveler who elucidated the communication between India and China during the early Tang
    dynasty of China. He visited the Nalanda Mahavihara twice in 637 and 642 CE while
    travelling around India from 630 to 643 CE. In Nalanda he came under the tutelage of
    Shilabhadra, a Buddhist monk, philosopher and expert on Yog?c?ra teachings who
    remained an abbot of the monastery. Xuanzang who was lovingly called Mokshadeva in
    Nalanda took up courses on Buddhist studies, Sanskrit, logic and grammar and at a later
    stage delivered lectures there. A guest of Emperor Harsha, he catalogued the generosity
    and bountifulness of the emperor. He carried 657 Buddhist texts, mostly Mahayanist as also
    150 relics in 520 cases with him while on his return to China, being transported on 20 horses.
    74 of such texts were translated by him. Around 11 travellers from China and Korea visited
    Nalanda over the next three decades after his return to China.
    Image Credit: https://www.groupouting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Nalanda-5.jpg

    I-tsing in Nalanda

    Another Chinese Buddhist monk of Tang dynasty, Yijing, also known as I-tsing visited India
    in 673 CE after studying Sanskrit in Srivijaya. In his 14 years tenure in India he spent 10
    years in Nalanda and furthered his studies in Buddhism. He took 400 Sanskrit texts with him
    on his return to China in 695 CE and eventually translated them in Chinese language.
    Accounts given by him predominantly focus on the practice of the religion in India and a
    thorough elucidation of the traditions, rules, customs and norms followed by monks of
    Nalanda. He mentioned about the daily course of the monks of Nalanda that included an
    array of rites meant for all starting from the bathing hour to ablution of Lord Buddha’s image
    to performing chaityavandana in the evening that included chanting of shlokas and particular
    set of hymns. All the works were signalled by beating a gong. He mentioned that as huge
    daily assembly gatherings posed difficulty due to large number of inmates at the monastery,
    a ritual was later adopted which saw a priest along with amateur servants and children
    holding flowers and incense visiting the halls of the monastery while chanting the service.
    Image Credit: https://mjosedotorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/img_2182.jpg

    About The Mahavihara

    Nalanda, an architectural chef d'oeuvre that was spread over a large area during the ancient
    period, is today in dilapidated condition with its excavated ruins measuring an area of around
    12 hectares. Comprising of 10 temples, 8 individual compounds, classrooms, meditation
    halls, parks and lakes this residential school with dormitories for students boasted of having
    more than 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students during its prime. Scholars and students from
    far off places including China, Japan, Turkey, Persia, Korea, Tibet and Indonesia attended
    the Mahavihara. Subjects taught here included Mahayana, Hinayana, Samkhya,
    Atharvaveda, Shabdavidya, Chikitsavidya and Vedas among others. According to
    conventional Tibetian sources, Nalanda housed a big library called ‘Dharmaganja’ (Piety
    Mart) that encompassed three multi-storied edifices called ‘Ratnaranjaka’ (Jewel-adorned),
    ‘Ratnodadhi’ (Sea of Jewels) and ‘Ratnasagaral (Ocean of Jewels). Collections of the library
    included religious manuscripts and texts on medicine, astronomy, logic, astrology and
    literature among others. According to I-tsing, the monks would assemble to discuss
    administrative and other decisive matters and finalised decisions only after taking consent
    of all at the assembly as also the resident monks.
    Image Credit: http://www.7wonders.org/images/asia/india/nalanda-university/nalanda-
    university.jpg

    Decline and End

    With the rise of Tantric practices in Buddhism during the Pala rule that included secret magic
    and rituals following the gradual decline of the Pala dynasty post 11th century complimented
    with a surge of Hindu philosophies across the subcontinent saw an eventual decline of
    Buddhism in India leading to decline of Nalanda. Although still surviving, Nalanda
    presumably faced a big blow in c. 1200 CE when it was plundered and destroyed by an army
    headed by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turkish military general of the Muslim Mamluk Dynasty.
    According to some sources, it tried to function temporarily but was gradually deserted and
    only came to notice when the ‘Archaeological Survey of India’ (ASI) surveyed the site and
    conducted initial excavation works in the 19th century. Excavation works of ASI in 1915
    brought to light existence of 6 brick temples and 11 monasteries. Several antiques including
    inscriptions, coins, sculptures and seals were excavated from the site which now finds place
    in the Nalanda Archaeological Museum. The museum remains open from 10 am to 5 pm on
    all days except Friday. Entry fee per person is Rs. 5/-.

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