Nalanda University - “One of the First Great Universities in Recorded History"

Western established universities like Oxford, Yale, Cambridge, Harvard, etc. have been known for their education and guidance for the past two centuries. However, a thousand years before the worldwide colonization of Europeans, Asian centers of learning such as Nalanda University (Mahavihara) of Magadha were renowned for their academic excellence. The architecture of the Buddhist monastic center was similar to our modern university towns, which provide lodging and boarding for their students.

It has been called “one of the first great universities in recorded history. The origins of the scholastic institution in Nalanda date back to the 5^th century CE and it served as a highly recognized seat of learning for an uninterrupted duration of 800 years. It survived political waves, the rise and fall of civilizations, religious wars, and the birth of intellectual greats for almost a millennium before the Turks destroyed it.

History

It is believed that Nalanda University land was purchased for 10 kotis (old currency form) of gold pieces by five hundred merchants. They gifted the land to Lord Buddha, who preached under a Pāvārikāmbavana (mango grove of Pavarika) for several years. Another scholar writes that the university was founded by Kumaragupta I of the Gupta Dynasty (415-455 CE). The succeeding Gupta Emperors promptly invested in the religious and epistemic growth of the university. Under their reign, the building had eight monasteries, 11,000 cells, three libraries, and around 2000 pupils in attendance. The monks and students of the university survived on the generosity and grace of their contemporary rulers. Between 606-647 CE, Nalanda owned 200 villages nearby with the grace of many generations of Pala kings. The land allotted to the Indian monasteries attracted the Turk invasions in the next centuries.

It was a completely residential university believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students. The Nalanda ruins reveal through their architectural components the holistic nature of knowledge that was sought and imparted at this University. It suggests a seamless co-existence between nature and man, and between living and learning.

The profound knowledge of Nalanda’s teachers attracted scholars from places as distant as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia. These scholars have left records about the ambiance, architecture, and learning at this unique university. The most detailed accounts have come from Chinese scholars and the best known of these is Xuan Zang who carried back many hundred scriptures which were later translated into Chinese.

Architecture

Nalanda was regarded as an architectural masterpiece. Enveloped by a lofty wall and a huge gate, the institution is comprised of several temples, viharas (educational and residential buildings), compounds, stupas, classrooms, and meditation halls. Parks and lakes also adorned the institution’s grounds. The excavated ruins of the institution indicate that bright red bricks were used in its construction.

One of the highlights of Nalanda was its well-equipped and colossal library housed in three large multi-storied buildings called the Ratnasagara (Ocean of Jewels), the Ratnaranjaka (Jewel-adorned), and the Ratnodadhi (Sea of Jewels). Ratnodadhi was where the most sacred manuscripts of the institution were kept and this building was nine stories high.

Admission Process

Similar to the way the much-gritted and difficult to crack SATs and IELTS haunt today’s young generation, the challenging ‘entrance exams’ of Nalanda were administered by Dwaracharyas (learned pundits), various gatekeepers, and finally, through a separate board of teachers specially assigned to handling the admission process.

Chinese philosopher Xuanzang (602-644 AD) recited that a series of tasks were set for a prospective student before admission. They had to be well-versed in religious and philosophical Hindu and Buddhist texts. Debates, conversations, and tutorials were part and parcel of the teaching methods. The final exams were conducted with the help of innovative modes: the students had to participate in debates/discussions with the gatekeepers, and their grading system was regulated by the satisfaction level of the examiner’s assessment.

The education was not for all. The main goal of Nalanda University, the most famous institute of its time, was to impart spiritual lessons and moral code to its students. The patriarchal and religion-based society ensured that the student body only consisted of upper caste, male candidates.

Demolition

According to the records Nalanda University was destroyed three times by invaders but rebuilt only twice. The first destruction was caused by the Huns under Mihirakula during the reign of Skandagupta (455–467 AD). But Skanda’s successors restored the library and improved it with an even bigger building.

The second destruction came in the early 7th century by the Gaudas. This time, the Buddhist king Harshavardhana (606–648 AD) restored the university.

The third and most destructive attack came when the ancient Nalanda University was destroyed by the army led by the Turkish leader Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193. It is believed that Buddhism as a major religion in India had a setback for hundreds of years due to the loss of the religious texts during the attack. And, since then, the Nalanda University has not been restored until the recent developments.

The un-heard story

It is said that Bakhtiyar Khilji had fallen sick and doctors in his court failed to cure him. Then, someone advised him to get himself cured by Rahul Sri Bhadra, the principal of Nalanda University.

Khilji was too proud of his Islamic culture and refused to get himself treated by a person outside his religion. But his health worsened and he was left with no other option but to invite Bhadra from Nalanda.

But Khilji put a condition and asked Bhadra to cure him without any medicines. Bhadra then asked Khilji to read some pages from the Koran as a remedy to his illness and to everyone’s surprise Khilji was cured.

Disturbed by the fact that an Indian scholar and teacher knew more than the doctors of his court, Khilji decided to destroy the roots of knowledge, Buddhism, and Ayurveda, from the country. He set fire to the great library of Nalanda and burned down nearly 9 million manuscripts.

The library was so vast and strong that it took three months to destroy it. The Turkish invaders also murdered monks and scholars in the university.

Current Situation of Nalanda University

Nalanda flourished on a sprawling campus in medieval times, but only a small portion of that huge campus has been excavated to date. Today, nothing more than the ruins of the Nalanda University (Mahavihara) remain on the site. However, due to its historical, educational, and religious significance, the ruins of Nalanda are considered among the top historical places in and around Patna. It is also a top tourist attraction in India and an important site for those exploring the Buddhist tourism circuit.

The ruins of Nalanda have also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India in 2016. Nalanda University Archaeological Complex is currently owned, maintained, and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The 30-acre excavation area also comprises a museum, temples, and ruins of other structures.

Since 1917, the Nalanda University (Mahavihara) Site houses the Nalanda Archaeological Museum where several the excavated artifacts have been kept on display. These include coins, sculptures, images of Buddha, inscriptions, seals, samples of burnt rice, terracotta jars, and other antique items. A visit to the museum will give you an idea about the items that were in use when the Nalanda University (Mahavihara) was at its peak.