By: Rajiv Trivedi
Started in the 2nd century AD Nalanda was the first residential University in the world. It was one of the world’s greatest Universities and an important Budhist centre until its sacking by the Afghans in the 12th century. The Chinese scholar and traveler – Hiuen Tsang stayed here in the 7th century and has left an elaborate description of the excellence, and purity of monastic life practiced here. Their student to teacher ratio of five to one was better than that of the present Oxford University, where the ratio is six to one.
The ruins of this famous University town are situated in the village of Badagaon, 100 kilometers from modern Patna, (hen known as Pataliputra). Modern Rajgir, then known as Rajgraha, the capital of the Magadha Empire is very near to Nalanda and in ancient Jain scripture, the University town is mentioned as a suburb of Rajgraha.
According to historical accounts, the founder of the Jain religion Vardhamana Mahavira visited the site of Nalanda on several occasions. It is also believed that Budha would stop at a mango grove near Nalanda while traveling between Pataliputra and Rajgraha. The name Nalanda is said to have been derived from one of Sakyamuni’s former births, when he was a king. Nalanda was one of his epithets meaning “insatiable in giving”.
The construction of the main monastery is attributed to Shakraditya, the king of Maghada in the 2nd century AD. Travellers who visited Nalanda in the seventh century AD has written that successive kings had constructed the vast University. But Nalanda came into prominence during the reign of Gupta King Kumaragupta I, in the fifth century AD, who ensured that it became the seat of Budhism in Magadha.
His successor Narasimha Gupta prevented the Huna King Mihirakulla from completely destroying the University. But as quite a large percentage of the institution had been demolished by the invader, Narsimha Gupta ensured that the institution was restored to its former glory and a great assembly of more than 10,000 Budhist monks was held to commemorate the event.
At its apex, the Nalanda University was a huge city with all amenities required for scholarship. There were numerous Budhist temples for prayer, large halls for teaching and many hotels to house and the hundreds who comprised the teaching staff. One main aspect of Nalanda was the large number of Viharas or monasteries for the Budhist scholar monks, who were the backbone of the teaching staff. As one gazes into the remains of the vast viharas, one is surprised at the grand construction, with concrete courtyards, wall and drainage system.
Excavation in Nalanda began only in 1915 and today it is spread over 15 acres. The ruins are must for the visitors. The huge multistoried structure merges superbly with the rocky background of the landscape. It is obvious that different architectural styles were adopted at Nalanda.
