7 Unbelievable Facts of Nalanda University
1. The Oldest University
While Bologna University in Italy is often regarded as the oldest university in the world, Nalanda’s story predates it by nearly 500 years. Once, thousands of students flocked to India every year to pursue their education, making it a hub of learning. In stark contrast to today, when many Indian students travel abroad to attend prestigious institutions like Oxford, Harvard, and New York University, ancient India was home to one of the oldest centers of education: Nalanda University.
2. The Meaning of Nalanda
The name “Nalanda” derives from three Sanskrit words—Na, Alam, and Da—meaning “unlimited knowledge.” True to its name, Nalanda was an ancient Indian institution with an infinite reservoir of wisdom. Spanning approximately 57 acres, the university offered courses in various subjects, including literature, logic, mathematics, and medicine. Students from diverse regions, such as China, Tibet, Indonesia, Japan, Persia, and Turkey, traveled to Nalanda in search of enlightenment.
3. An Architectural Marvel
Nalanda University was not only a treasure trove of knowledge but also an architectural marvel. The sprawling campus comprised eight compounds, including temples, classrooms, stupas, dormitories, lakes, and parks. Built from red bricks, this 1500-year-old structure was meticulously planned. However, the centerpiece of this campus was its grand library, Dharmaganj, which housed approximately 9 million manuscripts across various disciplines. Historical records suggest that Nalanda was established on a mango orchard gifted to Gautam Buddha by 500 merchants. Here, he shared his teachings of Buddhism for three months, gradually transforming the site into a significant center for Buddhist learning.
4. Historical Significance
According to the renowned Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Moksadeva, Nalanda was established by King Shakra Aditya of the Gupta Dynasty in the fifth century. The university boasted a faculty of distinguished scholars; notably, Aryabhata, known as the father of mathematics for his discovery of zero, served as its head in the sixth century. By the seventh century, Nalanda had gained international recognition, attracting students and scholars from around the world.
Xuanzang enrolled at Nalanda for ten years to study Buddhism and mysticism, documenting that, at the time, approximately 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers were present. After absorbing immense knowledge, he returned to China with numerous manuscripts. Throughout its history, Nalanda faced multiple attacks but consistently rose from the ashes, continuing to illuminate minds for nearly 800 years. However, a turning point came with the arrival of Bakhtiar Khilji.
5. A Devastating Destruction
In the year 1193, a devastating fire engulfed every building of Nalanda University, leaving destruction in its wake. Temples, monasteries, and libraries were consumed by flames. The library, known as Dharmaganj, was so immense that while the fire in the other buildings was extinguished within days, it continued to burn for three long months. Nearly 9 million texts and books, containing knowledge ranging from Ayurveda to astronomy, were reduced to ashes in this fierce blaze. Behind this catastrophic event was a cruel ruler, driven by insecurity, whose actions destroyed such a vast storehouse of knowledge.
6. The Fall of Nalanda
Khilji, an Afghan warlord, initially sought employment in Delhi and Awadh but faced setbacks. Eventually, he rose through the ranks of the Indian armies and was tasked with managing villages along the Bihar border, where he began to expand his territorial control. During this period, Khilji’s health deteriorated significantly, and despite consulting various physicians, he found no relief. Someone suggested that Acharya Rahul Shri Bhadra, the head of the Ayurveda Department at Nalanda University, might be able to cure him. Skeptical about seeking help from a non-believer, Khilji still approached Rahul Shri Bhadra.
He challenged the scholar to heal him without any medicine or physical contact. In response, Rahul Shri Bhadra offered Khilji a Quran, stating that reading it daily would restore his health. As Khilji read the Quran, he unknowingly consumed a medicinal treatment hidden within its pages. When he discovered the truth behind his recovery, insecurity and jealousy consumed him. Unable to accept that a non-believer had healed him, Khilji became determined to obliterate this ocean of knowledge.
In a fit of rage, Khilji led his army into Nalanda University and set it ablaze. This inferno claimed the lives of thousands, including Buddhists, teachers, and students, erasing centuries of accumulated wisdom from history. Persian historian Minaj-i-Siraj recorded in Tabaqi that countless monks were burned alive or beheaded as Khilji sought to extinguish this beacon of intellect. The library continued to smolder for months, with the smoke from burning manuscripts casting a dark cloud over the surrounding hills. Following the destruction of Nalanda University, Buddhism began to decline in India, and the institution’s legacy faded into obscurity for many years.
7. The Revival of Nalanda
A revival began between 1811 and 1812 when Scottish physician Francis Buchan Hamilton identified the site of Nalanda University while surveying the area, recognizing it from the travelogues of Xuanzang. Archaeological excavations initiated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1915 revealed the ruins of 11 monasteries, six temples, and a 30-meter-wide passage, suggesting that Nalanda had once encompassed an area much larger than initially estimated. Subsequent excavations uncovered copper plates, artistic sculptures, coins, seals, and inscriptions.
In a significant move to revive this ancient seat of learning, Kalam proposed the reconstruction of Nalanda University in the Bihar State Legislative Assembly. The Nalanda University Act was passed in 2010, and finally, in September 2014, after 800 years, the doors of this historic institution reopened for students. This marked a momentous victory for India.
Conclusion
Nalanda University stands as a testament to the rich intellectual heritage of ancient India. Its rise and fall mirror the resilience of human curiosity and the enduring quest for knowledge. Despite facing catastrophic destruction and centuries of obscurity, the revival of Nalanda symbolizes a renewed commitment to education and scholarship. As it reopens its doors to a new generation of students, the legacy of Nalanda serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving knowledge and fostering an inclusive academic environment.
The journey of Nalanda University from its glorious past to its hopeful future inspires not only India but the entire world, urging us to value and invest in our educational institutions. With its historical significance and commitment to excellence, Nalanda has the potential to reclaim its place as a global center of learning, once again illuminating minds and shaping the future of knowledge.