Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the modern campus of Nalanda University, a revival of an institution that once stood as a beacon of knowledge in ancient India.
Just 12 kilometers away lie the ruins of the original Nalanda mahavihara, a renowned center of learning that thrived from the 5th century CE.
At its zenith, this historic monastery hosted thousands of scholars who delved into subjects ranging from philosophy and religion to logic, grammar, and medicine.
The rich history of Nalanda has been pieced together through Buddhist manuscripts, travelers’ accounts, and modern archaeology, painting a vivid picture of its glorious past.
Early Origins Of Nalanda
Nalanda likely began as a small Buddhist monastery (vihara) before the Common Era. By the 5th century CE, it had grown into a mahavihara or ‘great’ monastery. It housed many students and teachers who studied various subjects, including philosophy, religion, logic, grammar, and medicine.
Historical Accounts
The history of Nalanda is known from Buddhist manuscripts and travelogues by Chinese and Tibetan pilgrims. Since the early 20th century, archaeological evidence has supported or challenged these literary sources.
Xuanzang’s Travels
One key source is the travelogue of Xuanzang, a 7th-century Chinese pilgrim who visited India from 629–645 CE seeking Buddhist teachings. He spent about five years at Nalanda, studying under the grand abbot, Silabhadra. Xuanzang claimed that 500 merchants bought the land for the monastery and presented it to the Buddha.
Growth and Recognition
It took several centuries for Nalanda to become a major learning centre. The earliest archaeological evidence from Nalanda is a coin from the reign of Shakraditya (Kumaragupta I) around 415-455 CE. Xuanzang credited Shakraditya and his successors with building and expanding Nalanda.
Descriptions of Nalanda
By the time Xuanzang arrived in the 630s CE, Nalanda was thriving. He wrote of 10,000 residents studying various subjects. However, scholars believe he might have exaggerated, as later accounts by Yijing, another Chinese pilgrim, mention over 3,000 residents. Archaeological evidence suggests fewer monks lived there than Xuanzang claimed, or the site was larger than currently known.
Architectural Features
Nalanda was impressive for its time. Huili, Xuanzang’s biographer, described a complex with a brick wall, a great college, eight other halls, towers, turrets, and observatories. Xuanzang mentioned beautiful ponds, gardens, and richly adorned buildings.
Daily Life And Rituals
Yijing’s accounts provide detailed descriptions of life at Nalanda. He wrote about daily bathing rituals involving large pools and specific rules for bathing and clothing. He also described the monks’ living quarters, which had a central hall surrounded by cells.
Monastic Discipline
Yijing detailed the strict rules governing the monks’ lives, including how they should dress and conduct themselves during and after bathing. The monks lived in viharas with a central hall and surrounding cells, each about 10 square feet in size, with high doors allowing for interaction among monks.
Patrons of Nalanda
Nalanda was supported by wealthy patrons, including merchants and kings. These patrons were not exclusively Buddhist, as seals showed symbols of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Shivalinga, and Durga.
Royal Support
Royal patronage began with the Gupta dynasty in the 5th century CE. The most notable patron after the Guptas was Harshavaradhana of Kannauj, known as Siladitya in Buddhist texts.
According to Xuanzang, Harsha respected the priests and supported the monastery by remitting revenues from about 100 villages.
These villages provided rice, butter, and milk daily, enabling the continuation of studies at Nalanda.
Decline of Nalanda
Although royal support continued under the Palas (8th-12th century CE), Nalanda faced decline due to competition from other monasteries like Vikramshila and Somapura. Socio-political changes also contributed to its decline. In the 11th century, Islam became the dominant religion for trade in Asia, and within India, Brahmins gained prominence over the agrarian world.
Changes in Buddhism
Buddhism in India shifted towards more tantric and esoteric forms, diverging from the Mahayana Buddhism promoted by Nalanda. This transformation contributed to the decline of Nalanda’s influence.
Invasions and Misconceptions
Invasions, such as those by warlord Bhakhtiyar Khalji in the late 12th century, are often cited for Nalanda’s destruction. However, it is unlikely that Nalanda’s centuries-old traditions ended abruptly due to these attacks. Nalanda continued to function as a Buddhist educational institution well into the 13th century.
Gradual Decay
The decline of Nalanda was more due to the overall decline of Buddhism in India. Partial destruction, political chaos, lack of support, changes in Buddhism, and deteriorating moral and academic standards led to the campus being deserted.
Source: History Headline: The story of Nalanda, in the words of Chinese pilgrims (The Indian Express, June 23, 2024)