NALANDA - THE ANCIENT SEAT OF LEARNINGNALANDA - THE ANCIENT SEAT OF LEARNING

TheThe

Rajeev RanjanRajeev RanjanEnglish Language Teacher English Language Teacher

B.Ed(Eng) & PGDTEB.Ed(Eng) & PGDTEEnglish and Foreign Languages English and Foreign Languages

University , HyderabadUniversity , HyderabadEmail.id: rajeevbhuvns@gmail.comEmail.id: rajeevbhuvns@gmail.com

NalandaNalandaAncient Seat of knowledgeAncient Seat of knowledge

• First residential international university of the First residential international university of the world.world.

• Founded in the 5Founded in the 5thth century A.D. by the Gupta century A.D. by the Gupta Empire, known as the ancient seat of learning.Empire, known as the ancient seat of learning.

• Became the crown jewel of the development of Became the crown jewel of the development of Buddhism in India and the world.Buddhism in India and the world.

• Contribution by the King Harshwardhan, Kumar Contribution by the King Harshwardhan, Kumar Gupta(college of fine arts) , Dharmpal Brahmin Gupta(college of fine arts) , Dharmpal Brahmin scholar(tutor), Dinnaga –founder of the school of scholar(tutor), Dinnaga –founder of the school of Logic, King Harshbardhan gifted a 25 m high Logic, King Harshbardhan gifted a 25 m high copper statue of Buddha etc.copper statue of Buddha etc.

• Eight separate compounds & 10 temples, Eight separate compounds & 10 temples, meditation halls, classrooms ,hostels, meditation halls, classrooms ,hostels, lecture halls, lakes and parks built in lecture halls, lakes and parks built in Kushan Architectural styleKushan Architectural style..

• A Library in nine-storied building.A Library in nine-storied building.

• Thousands of books from different fields: Thousands of books from different fields: Science, Astronomy, Medicine, Logic, Science, Astronomy, Medicine, Logic, Hindu Scriptures, Buddhist, and Jain Hindu Scriptures, Buddhist, and Jain literature.literature.

Nalanda University Architectural and Environmental Nalanda University Architectural and Environmental MasterpieceMasterpiece

Row of monastery sites lies from south to north. Row of monastery sites lies from south to north. Entrance no. 1 lies in the west wall through a Entrance no. 1 lies in the west wall through a large portico of which the roof rested on pillarslarge portico of which the roof rested on pillars

Row of cells around a courtyardRow of cells around a courtyard

MONASTERY SITESMONASTERY SITES

NalandaNalanda

TemplesTemples

AN Over view of NalandaAN Over view of Nalanda

University corridor University corridor

Strengths of the UniversityStrengths of the University

• Nearly 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from all Nearly 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from all over the world.over the world.

• Learning was greatly encouraged as it served dual Learning was greatly encouraged as it served dual purposes: knowledge & practice.purposes: knowledge & practice.

• Subjects: virtually the entire range of world Subjects: virtually the entire range of world knowledge was then available there like Buddhist & knowledge was then available there like Buddhist & Jain, Sacred & Secular, Foreign & Native, Science, Jain, Sacred & Secular, Foreign & Native, Science, Astronomy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Samkhya, Astronomy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Samkhya, Yoga –Shastra, the Vedas, and the Scriptures of Yoga –Shastra, the Vedas, and the Scriptures of Buddhism etc.Buddhism etc.

• Nalanda was also the most global university of its Nalanda was also the most global university of its times, attracting pupils and scholars from Korea, times, attracting pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia, and Turkey.Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia, and Turkey.

Great Scholars of Nalanda UniversityGreat Scholars of Nalanda University

• Chinese traveller and scholar, Hieun-Chinese traveller and scholar, Hieun-Tsang(7Tsang(7thth century B.C. 3yrs) , visited century B.C. 3yrs) , visited Nalanda and left a vivid account of the Nalanda and left a vivid account of the curriculum and of the general features of curriculum and of the general features of the community.the community.

• Famous philosophers like Shilabhadra, Famous philosophers like Shilabhadra, Nagarajuna, and Mahayana were among Nagarajuna, and Mahayana were among the few scholars of Nalandathe few scholars of Nalanda..

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

• Rigorous oral entry examination conducted by Rigorous oral entry examination conducted by erudite gatekeepers and many students were erudite gatekeepers and many students were turned away.turned away.

• To study there was a matter of great pride. To study there was a matter of great pride. However, no degree was granted nor a specific However, no degree was granted nor a specific period of study required.period of study required.

• The monks measured time by a water clock.The monks measured time by a water clock.• Students received explanations by discourse.Students received explanations by discourse.• Separate schools of debate were there and Separate schools of debate were there and

talented scholars distinguished conspicuously.talented scholars distinguished conspicuously.• Muslim Emperor Bakhtiyar khilji destroyed the Muslim Emperor Bakhtiyar khilji destroyed the

capital of knowledge. Khilji asked his tenants capital of knowledge. Khilji asked his tenants before they burnt the library “Is there any copy before they burnt the library “Is there any copy of Quran in the library ?”. Three libraries of of Quran in the library ?”. Three libraries of Nalanda were so large that they went on burning Nalanda were so large that they went on burning for six monthsfor six months..

Revival of Nalanda universityRevival of Nalanda university

• Government of Bihar has been taken Government of Bihar has been taken initiative to establish new International initiative to establish new International Nalanda university with international Nalanda university with international collaboration to bring back its glory in the collaboration to bring back its glory in the field of educationfield of education. .

What to seeWhat to see• Nalanda University Ruins Archaeological Complex.Nalanda University Ruins Archaeological Complex.

• Nalanda Archaeological Museum.Nalanda Archaeological Museum.

• Nav Nalanda Mahavihara.Nav Nalanda Mahavihara.

• Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall.Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall.

Other places of interestOther places of interest

• Silao : popular for local sweet “Khaja “Silao : popular for local sweet “Khaja “

• Surajapur Baragoan: Lake with Temple of Surya , Surajapur Baragoan: Lake with Temple of Surya , the Sun God is a pilgrim destination twice a year in the Sun God is a pilgrim destination twice a year in “Vaishakha” & “Kartik”.“Vaishakha” & “Kartik”.

HOW TO REACH HOW TO REACH

• AIR: Patna 89 km and Rajgir 12 km.AIR: Patna 89 km and Rajgir 12 km.

• RAIL:12km from Rajgir & 95 km from Gaya.RAIL:12km from Rajgir & 95 km from Gaya.

• ROAD:Rajgir12 km, Bodhgaya 110km, Gaya ROAD:Rajgir12 km, Bodhgaya 110km, Gaya 95km, Patna 90 km.95km, Patna 90 km.

• LOCAL TRANSPORT: Taxi, Auto, Cycle LOCAL TRANSPORT: Taxi, Auto, Cycle rickshaws etc.rickshaws etc.

WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO STAY

• many good hotels available many good hotels available

Thank you Thank you

Kindly visit once in the Ancient Seat Kindly visit once in the Ancient Seat of Knowledge Nalanda which Spread of Knowledge Nalanda which Spread the light of knowledge to the whole the light of knowledge to the whole world.world.

ByBy

Rajeev RanjanRajeev Ranjan

Email. Id- rajeevbhuvns@gmail.comEmail. Id- rajeevbhuvns@gmail.com