Nalanda University was a Buddhist Mahavihara (monastery-university) 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 town of Bihar Sharif, and was a centre of learning from the fifth century CE to1200 CE. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The “Excavated remains of Nalanda Mahavihara”, the great monastic-cum-scholastic establishment are located around 88 km away from Patna, state capital of Bihar in India. It presents a key archaeological evidence of a truly international centre for organised learning. The “Excavated remains of Nalanda Mahavihara”, the great monastic-cum-scholastic establishment is a part of World Heritage List.
The Excavated remains of Nalanda Mahavihara has included in the World Heritage List. You should know that the nomination dossier for ‘Excavated Remains of Nalanda Mahavihara’ was prepared by the ASI and submitted in January 2015 to the World Heritage Committee for the purpose of its inscription in the year 2016 and on 15 July 2016 it has got inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Excavated remains of Nalanda Mahavihara has included in the World Heritage List. You should know that the nomination dossier for ‘Excavated Remains of Nalanda Mahavihara’ was prepared by the ASI and submitted in January 2015 to the World Heritage Committee for the purpose of its inscription in the year 2016 and on 15 July 2016 it has got inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Nalanda Mahavihara: Facts
Nalanda Mahavihara was founded by Kumargupta I of the
Gupta dynasty in 5th century CE. It was patronized by various rulers including
King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (7th century CE) and the Pala rulers (8th – 12th
century CE) as well as various scholars.
The site was first discovered and reported by Sir Francis
Buchanan. The site was systematically excavated and consolidated by
Archaeological Survey of India from 1915 to 1937 and again from 1974 to 1982.
Thematic and iconographic assimilation of features from
major art-centres of the sub-continent with local practices is evident in art
of Nalanda. While Nalanda stucco influenced practices in Thailand, its metal
art influenced art of the Malayan archipelago, Nepal, Myanmar and Tibet travelling
out through scholars.
Nalanda attracted scholars from the Indian subcontinent
and beyond and received patronage of local rulers and foreign kings for
unbroken period of 800 years. Students were admitted after rigorous evaluation
only. Apart from teaching of topics related to Buddhism, contemporary texts and
philosophies, logic, grammar, science, and medicine were also part of the
knowledge imparted at Nalanda.
Earning the title
of ‘Medieval School of Discussion and Logic’, Nalanda`s scholars mastered the
art and science of debate developing it into a critical tool for higher
learning. Today, the continuity of its systems is also evident in contemporary
monasteries in Sri Lanka, Tibet and Nepal. In fact, the term Nalanda has become
synonymous with aspired standard of education as evidenced in several 21st
century namesake institutions all over the world.
All surviving remains of Nalanda Mahavihara in the
proposed property area demonstrate amply the attributes of the property such as
its planning and layout, its architectural manifestation and extant building
materials and applied ornamental embellishments. Preserved in-situ is
structural remains of viharas (residential-cum-scholastic structure) and
chaityas (temple-like structure) whose layers of construction show evolution of
the respective forms. The positioning of these structures over the length of
the site shows the planned layout unique to Nalanda.
Nalanda University: Facts in Brief
- It was founded in the 5th century CE by the Gupta Empire.
- It was one of the first universities in the world, and it attracted scholars from all over Asia.
- It was a center for the study of Buddhism, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.
- It had a large library with over 9 million books.
- It was destroyed by the invading army of Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 CE.
- It was rebuilt in the 21st century as a modern university.
- Nalanda University was one of the most important centers of learning in the world for over 700 years.
- It was a place where scholars from all over Asia came to study and debate the great questions of philosophy, religion, and science.
- The destruction of Nalanda was a major setback for the development of knowledge in the world, but its legacy continues to inspire scholars and students today.
- The university was divided into 8 colleges, each of which specialized in a different subject.
- The students at Nalanda were required to study a wide range of subjects, including Buddhism, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.
- The university had a large library with over 9 million books.
- The teachers at Nalanda were highly respected, and they came from all over Asia.
- The university was a center for the translation of texts from Sanskrit into other languages.
- Nalanda University was a major center for the spread of Buddhism.
- Nalanda University was a truly unique institution, and it had a profound impact on the development of knowledge in the world. It is a reminder of the importance of education and the power of knowledge to change the world.
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