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Nalanda
- Visited by the Buddha & site of the great Buddhist
university
Another trip from Rajgir is to Nalanda. This small village and
its surrounding area have numerous associations with the
Buddha and his disciples. Sailo 3 kilometres south-west of
Nalanda is where the Buddha met and converted Maha Kassapa,
the man who was later to become his successor. A large statue
of Kassapa with an inscription on it was found in the village
in the early 1900's but unfortunately its whereabouts is now
unknown. The village of Kul some 1.5 kilometres south-east of
Nalanda is the Kolita of old and the birthplace of Moggalana,
the second of the Buddha's two chief disciples. Nalanda itself
was often visited by the Buddha during his numerous sojourns
through Magadha and he taught several important discourses
there.
History
In about the 5th century B.C. a monastic university was
established at Nalanda that was eventually to develop 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. When Hiuen Tsiang
was studying at Nalanda in the 7th century there were 1510
teachers and 8500 students. The Tibetan pilgrim Dharmasvamin
was here in 1234 and has left an a gripping account of the
monastery's destruction by the Muslims.
Attractions of Nalanda
Nalanda University
Established in the 5th century B.C., Nalanda is recorded as
the world's earliest university. Buddha is believed to have
visited Nalanda a number of times. His favourite disciple,
Sariputra was born here and he died preaching at this place.
In the 3rd century B.C., Mauryan Emperor Ashoka honoured the
famous monk with a grand stupa. Gradually, it became
associated with the monks and scholars gathered here for
discourses and by 5th century B.C. it acquired the position of
a well established monastery under the Guptas.
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 old an incapable were suggested to attach more
importance to the practice of meditation. Buddha is believed
to have said that if a man live in a Sangha for a few days
only and observe the percepts described in the Patimokha, his
life would be more precious than his previous one.
A long succession of kings from 5th to 12th century extended
their royal patronage to ensure the progress and prosperity of
the university. A copper plate inscription tells us about the
erection of a monastery by the king of Sumatra and records and
grant of five villages by the Pala Kings for the maintenance
of the monastery at the request of the foreign king.
Nalanda during its hey 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. He describes about the tall
Sangharana buildings which were 3 to 6 storeys high. One of
them was capped with a 80 ft. high copper image of Buddha.
Another Chinese pilgrim was I-Tsing, who spent 10 years at
this university and attests for 8 monastic buildings and over
300 apartments.
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.
The Nalanda Archaeological Museum Opposite the entrance to the
ruins of the university and houses, it has 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. Two enormous terracotta Jars of the first century
stand intact behind the museum in a shaded enclosure. 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. This is a new institute, where
students from foreign countries also study.
Silao
In between Nalanda and Rajgir, there is a village namely
Silao, where a very popular local sweet "Khaja" is prepared.
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.
How to Reach
Air The nearest airport is Patna 93 KMs.
Rail The nearest railway station on Delhi-Howrah
(Calcutta) main line is Bakhtiyarpur 38 Kms. Though the loop
line connects nalanda.
Road Nalanda is connected by Road to Patna, Rajgir,
Gaya, Delhi and Calcutta.
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