After Bodhgaya, the next
destination on the Buddhist train Mahaparinirvan Express itinerary follows the
daytime excursions to Nalanda and Rajgir. The twin attractions near Bodhgaya
offer a rich glimpse to the world around the time of Lord Buddha. Nalanda in
particular was one of the ancient world’s first universities and a center for
higher learning in the north eastern region of India. Active since 5th
century, this glorious university inculcated the knowledge actively to the
learners for the next seven centuries. It taught multidisciplinary subjects
ranging from Buddhist studies, fine arts, medicine, theology, mathematics,
physics, astronomy, politics and the art of war.
In the Buddhist world, this
prestigious university is also termed as the Buddhist institution imparting
knowledge to over 5,000 international students and featuring a library of nine
million manuscripts. It also played an important role in the spread of
Buddhism. In its heydays, the legendary Buddhist traveller, Hiuen Tsang also
studied here and taught here for 5 years in the 7th Century A.D. Nalanda at
that time had over 10,000 students and 3,000 teachers.
Structurally as well, the
university had quite a unique and channelized arrangement. The center had eight
separate complexes, 10 temples, meditation halls, classrooms, dormitories,
library, lakes and parks. The nine-story library here had some rare and
celebrated manuscripts. The dormitories or monasteries here hosted thousands of
students, which was again the first for an educational institution. The
university imparted education to the students not only from India, but also
from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.
But this illustrious period came
to a halt in the beginning of the 12th Century when the Afghan invader
Bakhtiyar Khalji sacked the university and brought it to ruins. He looted the
wealth, but couldn’t take away the heritage of Nalanda. The ruins here are
evocative of the serene monastic and temple wealth that is inherent with the
learning and meditation here.
In 1860's, the great archeologist
Alexander Cunningham identified the ruins as the glorious university of Nalanda
and in 1915-1916 the Archeological Survey of India began excavations of the
site. The present day ruins are a result of that excavation and it is still
believed that much of the ruins are beneath existing villages and are unlikely
to be revealed. The present site is well-maintained and very pleasant to visit.
Nalanda Tour is followed by the
Buddhist pilgrims and travellers with an inquisitive mind for a sneak-peek
towards the rich educational wealth of India. For a Buddhist train traveller,
this excursion is an enlightening way to find out about the center for Buddhist
learning in ancient India.
