Nalanda –ugc history
Nalanda in Bihar, since the 5th century AD, has been the seat of learning in India.Nalanda, founded in the 5th century AD, is famous as the ancient seat of learning. The ruins of the world`s most ancient university lies here which is 62 km from Bodhgaya and 90 km south of Patna. Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous center of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries. Hieun Tsang stayed here in the 7th century AD and left detailed description of the excellence of education system and purity of monastic life practiced here. He also gave a vivid account of both the ambiance and architecture of this unique university of ancient times. In this first residential international university of the world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 monks students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied here. The Gupta kings patronized these monasteries, built in old Kushan architectural style, in a row of cells around a courtyard. Emperor Ashoka and Harshavardhana were some of its most celebrated patrons who built temples, monasteries and viharas here. Recent excavations have unearthed elaborate structures here. An International Center for Buddhist Studies was established here in 1951.
Nalanda University Ruins Archaeological Complex
The total area of the excavation is about 14 hectares. All the edifices are of the red brick and the gardens are beautiful. The buildings are divided by a central walk way that goes south to north. The monasteries or "Viharas" are east of this central alley and the temple or "Chaiyas" to the west. The Vihara-1 is perhaps the most interesting with its cells on two floors built around a central courtyard where steps lead up to what must have been a dais for the professors to address their students. A small chapel still retains a half broken statue of the Lord Buddha.
The enormous pyramidal mass of the Temple no .3 is impressive and from its top commands a splendid view of the entire area. It is surrounded by smaller stupas, many of which studded with small and big statues of the Lord Buddha in Various poses or "Mudras" .
How can we say that it was a University? Hieun Tsang does not say it was a University but a monastery where monks resided. Hieun Tsang would have probably stayed there to know more about Buddhism from the monks. What is the evicence that the Buddha visited this monastery? What is the evidence that Ashoka patronised this monastery?
ReplyDeleteThe British excavated this site and at that time there was no reference to this place as university. It was one of the ruins of a huge monastery. Probably it would have been a refugee center for Buddhists who were persecuted by Hindu kings. The presence of several cells and a huge hall to accommodate refugees suggest that it was a refugee center.