In the ancient kingdom of Magadha, about 1500 years ago, a ‘Mahavihara’ (a large center of learning) was established. This Mahavihara was the famed Nalanda University, the world’s first residential university. The university was located near the city of Rajgriha (present-day Rajgir). Some buildings were constructed by the Great Emperor, Ashoka which indicates the ties of Buddhism to this university. The university flourished under the rule of Kumaragupta, supported by Buddhist emperors like Harsha and emperors of the Pala dynasty. The campus is made of red bricks and the unearthed ruins span across 14 hectacres. At its zenith of fame, it attracted scholars from all over the world, namely India, Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia, Turkey, Greece and other Asian countries. One of the most distinguished teachers that ever taught at the university was the great astronomer and mathematician, Aryabhata. The university was sacked by Turkic Muslim invaders under Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1193. In approximately the 7th century AD, the Nalanda university held about 10,000 students and 2000 teachers, at its peak. This was the record made by Chinese scholar Xuanzang.
The libraries of the university were the most renowned repositories of Buddhist knowledge at that time. It was known as ‘Dharmagañja’ (Treasury of Truth). The collection was said to comprise of millions of volumes, so extensive that it burned for months after being set on fire by the Muslim invaders.
Buddhist and Hindu, sacrosanct and secular, foreign and national, courses were offered in every branch of study. The amount of effort put into studying Samkhya, Yoga-shastra, the Vedas and Buddhist texts, was put into studying science, astronomy, medicine, and logic.
The university was considered an architectural masterpiece. Nalanda had eight separate compounds and ten temples, along with many other meditation halls and classrooms. On the grounds were lakes and parks. The library was located in a nine storied building where meticulous copies of texts were produced. The entrance of many of the viharas in Nalanda University ruins can be seen with a bow marked floor.
In 2016, the ruins of the Nalanda University were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university played a great role in shaping the intellectuals of ancient India. To remember such distinguished places in our history, it is necessary to preserve such monuments.
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