Nalanda University - नालंदा विश्वविद्यालय
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Nalanda,where ruins of the great ancient university have been excavated,is situated at a distance of 90 km. in the south east of Patna by road. The ruins extend over a large area and represent only a part of the extensive establishment. There are many versions of what the term Nalanda means. One is that Nalam means Lotus and Da means to give. Both combined together,Nalanda means Giver of Lotus. Since Lotus is supposed to represent knowledge,Nalanda means Giver of Knowledge.
Nalanda was the largest residential centre of learning that the world had ever known. The library was located in a nine storied building. Since the time of Buddha,the bhikkus were always encouraged to study the various arts and sciences. Learning was greatly encouraged as served dual proposes: knowledge and practice. The monks,therefore took to learning so that they might practice it and realise Dhamma perfectly and thereby enrich the masses.
The University of Nalanda was founded in the 5th century by the Gupta emperors. There were thousands of students and teachers. The subjects taught at Nalanda University covered every field of learning. The courses offered at Nalanda included the study of scriptures of Mahayana and Hinayana Schools of Buddhism,Brahminical vedic texts,Philosophy,logic theology,grammer,astronomy,mathematics and medicine. Its importance as a monastic university continued until the end of the 12th century.
The International Scholastic Centre at Nalanda described by later Scholars as an International University was founded much earlier than the 5th century A.D. Nalanda eventually developed into the greatest ancient centre of Buddhist learning. Students from China and Korea,Sri Lanka and Indonesia and from all the regions of India came to Nalanda to study. Nalanda monastary sites As is evident from the remains of Nalanda,there were row of monastery sites lies from south to north. By and large all of them are of the same pattern. But most important of them is site no.1,entrance of which lies in the west wall through a large portico of which the roof rested on pillars. At a later period this portico was converted into a porch with an ante-chamber by the addition of two walls.
A long succession of kings from 5th to 12th century extended their royal patronage to ensure the progress and prosperity of the university. The university received royal patronage of the great emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj and also pala kings. It was a great centre of learning and students from foreign centre of learning and students from foreign countries were also attracted to this university.
Nalanda during its days was a flourishing residential university with over 10,000 students and 1500 teachers. The university was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. Hiuen Tsang,the Chinese pilgrim spent three years at Nalanda. He has left a detailed note about the university,its curriculum,activities and other accounts. The Tibetan pilgrim Dharmasvamin was here in 1234 and has left an a gripping account of the monastery's destruction by the Muslims.
Nalanda today is in ruins but still it imparts the scholarly look. The archaeological zone here is classified into a number of sites that include 11 monasteries and several temples built in red bricks. Nalanda The Nalanda Archaeological Museum Opposite to the entrance to the ruins of the university is a small but beautiful collection of Buddhist and Hindu bronzes and a number of undamaged statues of the Lord Buddha that were found in the area. The collection includes copper plates and stone inscriptions,coins,pottery and samples of burnt rice (12th century AD) found among the ruins here Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is devoted to study and research in Pali Literature and Buddhism.
Silao In between Nalanda and Rajgir lies a village named Silao that is very popular for is local sweet "Khaja".Surajpur Baragaon
The lake with its temple to Surya,the Sun god,is a pilgrim destination twice a year in "Vaishakha" (April-May) and in "Kartika" (October-November),during the Chhath Puja or sun Worship. Access:
* Nearest airport is Patna 93 Kms.
* Nearest railway station is Bakhtiyarpur 38 Kms.
* Connected by Road to Patna,Rajgir,Gaya,Delhi and Calcutta.
The ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda was probably founded in the Gupta period (6th century). Prominent remains include nine monasteries and four temples, dating mostly from the 7th century AD but with some earlier and later elements, that face each other in two rows. A Hindu temple of the same period, designated Temple 2 in the plan, abuts the rear wall (east) of monasteries 7 and 8. Its association with the Buddhist university of Nalanda is unclear.
Buddha and Mahavira both used to visit Nalanda during their lifetimes, and Ashoka Maurya worshiped at a Buddhist shrine there in the 3d century BC. By the 7th century AD, it was the most famous center of Buddhist learning in Asia, mentioned by eminent travelers like Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang) and Izing (I-tsing), and receiving visitors from all over the Buddhist world. An important center of art production as well as learning, Nalanda's preeminence continued until it was sacked by Muslim invaders in the late 12th century.
The archaeological site of Nalanda is located about 15 kms south of Biharsharif the district headquarter of Nalanda and about 95 kms south- east of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, well connected by rail and road.
History of Nalanda goes back to the days of Mahavira and Buddha in the 6th Century B.C. It was the place of birth and nirvana of Sariputta, one of the most famous disciples of Buddha. But the place rose into prominence in 5th Century A.D. as a great monastic-cum-educational institution for oriental art and learning in the whole Buddhist world attracting students form distant countries including Hiuen Tsiang and I-Tsing from China. Various subjects like theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, metaphysics and philosophy were taught here. The institution was maintained by the revenue collected from the villages bestowed specifically for the purpose by the contemporary rulers as evident from inscriptions.
Nalanda Mahavihara, regarded as one of the greatest universities of ancient world, was founded by Kumaragupta I (413-455 A.D.) of the great Gupta dynasty. King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (606-647A.D.) and the Pala kings of east India (8th-12th Century A.D.) continued to extend patronage to this centre. The decline of this great institution started in later Pala period but the final blow came in around 1200 A.D. by the invasion of Bakhtiyar Khalji who destroyed it by fire and the glory of Nalanda thus got burried under the soil.
Excavations conducted by Archaeological Survey of India during 1915-37 and 1974-82 have exposed the extensive remains of six major brick temples and eleven monasteries arranged on a systematic layout and spread over an area of more than a square kilometre. Basically a hundred feet wide passage runs north-south with the row of temples on the west and that of the monasteries on the east of it.
The monasteries are quite identical in general layout and appearance. Central courtyard, row of cells all around with a common verandah, a secret chamber for keeping valuables, staircase for going to upper stories, kitchen, well, granary, single entrance and common place for prayer or meeting etc. are some characteristic features of almost all the monasteries at Nalanda. The main temple site 3 is the largest and most imposing structure at southern extremity of the row of temples and is surrounded by votive stupas. Originally it had four corner towers out of which two are in existence and decorated with rows of niches containing beautiful stucco images of Buddha and Bodhisattvas which are fine specimens of Gupta art. A temple different in character and not conforming to the general lay-out of the remains is represented by temple site 2. The interesting feature of this temple is the dado of two hundred and eleven sculptured panels over the moulded plinth. Another mound called 'Sarai Tila' very close to the monastery complex has revealed ruins of a temple with murals and feet portion of a colossal stucco image of Lord Buddha.
Other than structures, the excavations have unearthed many sculptures and images in stone, bronze and stucco. Significant among the Buddhist sculptures are Buddha in different postures, Avalokitesvara, Manjusri, Tara, Prajnaparamita, Marichi, Jambhala etc and a few images are of Brahmanical deities like Vishnu, Siva-Parvati, Mahishasura-mardini, Ganesa, Surya etc. Other noteworthy discoveries of excavations include the murals, copper plates, inscriptions, sealings, plaques, coins, terracottas, potteries etc. The antiquities have been exhibited for the visitors in the site museum maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Nalanda was the largest residential centre of learning that the world had ever known. The library was located in a nine storied building. Since the time of Buddha,the bhikkus were always encouraged to study the various arts and sciences. Learning was greatly encouraged as served dual proposes: knowledge and practice. The monks,therefore took to learning so that they might practice it and realise Dhamma perfectly and thereby enrich the masses.
The University of Nalanda was founded in the 5th century by the Gupta emperors. There were thousands of students and teachers. The subjects taught at Nalanda University covered every field of learning. The courses offered at Nalanda included the study of scriptures of Mahayana and Hinayana Schools of Buddhism,Brahminical vedic texts,Philosophy,logic theology,grammer,astronomy,mathematics and medicine. Its importance as a monastic university continued until the end of the 12th century.
The International Scholastic Centre at Nalanda described by later Scholars as an International University was founded much earlier than the 5th century A.D. Nalanda eventually developed into the greatest ancient centre of Buddhist learning. Students from China and Korea,Sri Lanka and Indonesia and from all the regions of India came to Nalanda to study. Nalanda monastary sites As is evident from the remains of Nalanda,there were row of monastery sites lies from south to north. By and large all of them are of the same pattern. But most important of them is site no.1,entrance of which lies in the west wall through a large portico of which the roof rested on pillars. At a later period this portico was converted into a porch with an ante-chamber by the addition of two walls.
A long succession of kings from 5th to 12th century extended their royal patronage to ensure the progress and prosperity of the university. The university received royal patronage of the great emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj and also pala kings. It was a great centre of learning and students from foreign centre of learning and students from foreign countries were also attracted to this university.
Nalanda during its days was a flourishing residential university with over 10,000 students and 1500 teachers. The university was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. Hiuen Tsang,the Chinese pilgrim spent three years at Nalanda. He has left a detailed note about the university,its curriculum,activities and other accounts. The Tibetan pilgrim Dharmasvamin was here in 1234 and has left an a gripping account of the monastery's destruction by the Muslims.
Nalanda today is in ruins but still it imparts the scholarly look. The archaeological zone here is classified into a number of sites that include 11 monasteries and several temples built in red bricks. Nalanda The Nalanda Archaeological Museum Opposite to the entrance to the ruins of the university is a small but beautiful collection of Buddhist and Hindu bronzes and a number of undamaged statues of the Lord Buddha that were found in the area. The collection includes copper plates and stone inscriptions,coins,pottery and samples of burnt rice (12th century AD) found among the ruins here Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is devoted to study and research in Pali Literature and Buddhism.
Silao In between Nalanda and Rajgir lies a village named Silao that is very popular for is local sweet "Khaja".Surajpur Baragaon
The lake with its temple to Surya,the Sun god,is a pilgrim destination twice a year in "Vaishakha" (April-May) and in "Kartika" (October-November),during the Chhath Puja or sun Worship. Access:
* Nearest airport is Patna 93 Kms.
* Nearest railway station is Bakhtiyarpur 38 Kms.
* Connected by Road to Patna,Rajgir,Gaya,Delhi and Calcutta.
The ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda was probably founded in the Gupta period (6th century). Prominent remains include nine monasteries and four temples, dating mostly from the 7th century AD but with some earlier and later elements, that face each other in two rows. A Hindu temple of the same period, designated Temple 2 in the plan, abuts the rear wall (east) of monasteries 7 and 8. Its association with the Buddhist university of Nalanda is unclear.
Buddha and Mahavira both used to visit Nalanda during their lifetimes, and Ashoka Maurya worshiped at a Buddhist shrine there in the 3d century BC. By the 7th century AD, it was the most famous center of Buddhist learning in Asia, mentioned by eminent travelers like Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang) and Izing (I-tsing), and receiving visitors from all over the Buddhist world. An important center of art production as well as learning, Nalanda's preeminence continued until it was sacked by Muslim invaders in the late 12th century.
The archaeological site of Nalanda is located about 15 kms south of Biharsharif the district headquarter of Nalanda and about 95 kms south- east of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, well connected by rail and road.
History of Nalanda goes back to the days of Mahavira and Buddha in the 6th Century B.C. It was the place of birth and nirvana of Sariputta, one of the most famous disciples of Buddha. But the place rose into prominence in 5th Century A.D. as a great monastic-cum-educational institution for oriental art and learning in the whole Buddhist world attracting students form distant countries including Hiuen Tsiang and I-Tsing from China. Various subjects like theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, metaphysics and philosophy were taught here. The institution was maintained by the revenue collected from the villages bestowed specifically for the purpose by the contemporary rulers as evident from inscriptions.
Nalanda Mahavihara, regarded as one of the greatest universities of ancient world, was founded by Kumaragupta I (413-455 A.D.) of the great Gupta dynasty. King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (606-647A.D.) and the Pala kings of east India (8th-12th Century A.D.) continued to extend patronage to this centre. The decline of this great institution started in later Pala period but the final blow came in around 1200 A.D. by the invasion of Bakhtiyar Khalji who destroyed it by fire and the glory of Nalanda thus got burried under the soil.
Excavations conducted by Archaeological Survey of India during 1915-37 and 1974-82 have exposed the extensive remains of six major brick temples and eleven monasteries arranged on a systematic layout and spread over an area of more than a square kilometre. Basically a hundred feet wide passage runs north-south with the row of temples on the west and that of the monasteries on the east of it.
The monasteries are quite identical in general layout and appearance. Central courtyard, row of cells all around with a common verandah, a secret chamber for keeping valuables, staircase for going to upper stories, kitchen, well, granary, single entrance and common place for prayer or meeting etc. are some characteristic features of almost all the monasteries at Nalanda. The main temple site 3 is the largest and most imposing structure at southern extremity of the row of temples and is surrounded by votive stupas. Originally it had four corner towers out of which two are in existence and decorated with rows of niches containing beautiful stucco images of Buddha and Bodhisattvas which are fine specimens of Gupta art. A temple different in character and not conforming to the general lay-out of the remains is represented by temple site 2. The interesting feature of this temple is the dado of two hundred and eleven sculptured panels over the moulded plinth. Another mound called 'Sarai Tila' very close to the monastery complex has revealed ruins of a temple with murals and feet portion of a colossal stucco image of Lord Buddha.
Other than structures, the excavations have unearthed many sculptures and images in stone, bronze and stucco. Significant among the Buddhist sculptures are Buddha in different postures, Avalokitesvara, Manjusri, Tara, Prajnaparamita, Marichi, Jambhala etc and a few images are of Brahmanical deities like Vishnu, Siva-Parvati, Mahishasura-mardini, Ganesa, Surya etc. Other noteworthy discoveries of excavations include the murals, copper plates, inscriptions, sealings, plaques, coins, terracottas, potteries etc. The antiquities have been exhibited for the visitors in the site museum maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
