Dr.

Manoj Kumar
Ancient Nalanda University
Assistant Professor (Guest)
Dept. of A.I.H. & Archaeology, Patna University, Patna-
Patna
800005
P.G./ M.A. IVth Semester ,
Paper- History of Indian Buddhism (E.C.)
General introduction
• It is situated 7 miles south-west west of
Biharsharif and 7 miles north of Rajgir.

• Buchanan was the first to notice its

antiquity and as told by Brahmanas there,
he took it to be the site of ancient
Kundalapura, the capital of the king
Bhimaka, the father of Rukmini.

• Buchanan felt that the ruins represented a

Buddhist site.
• Kittoe who next realized the importance of
the site in 1847 and had seen the images at
Baragaon mistakenly took the area to be a
Br
 General Introduction

• It was Alexander Cunningham who identified the extensive site as Nalanda in 1861-62.
• Alexander Cunningham had made some trail digs but carried no large scale
excavations.
• In 1871 or so, Broadly, the then S.D.O. of Bihar, began excavations on the
main mound with 1000 labourers,, and within 10 days he laid ware the
eastern, western and southern facades of the great temple and published a
short reports of the excavations.
 Nalanda: Center of Buddhist Religion and Learning in Ancient India
History of Nalanda goes back to the days
of Mahavira and Buddha in 6th century
B.C. It was the place of birth and
Nirvana of Sariputra, one of the famous
disciples of Buddha. The place rose into
prominence in 5th century A.D as a great
monastic-cum-educational institution for
oriental art and learning in the whole
Buddhist world attraction students from
distant countries including China. The
galaxy of Luminaries associated with it
includes Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Vasuband
hu, Dharmapala, Suvishnu, Asanga, Sila
bhadra, Dharmakirti, Shantarakshita and
celebrated Chinese travelers Hiuen-
Tsiang and I-Tsing who have extensively
described the monasteries and shrines
at Nalanda and life of Monks there.
Various subjects like theology,
Grammar, Logic, Astronomy,
Metaphysics, medicine and philosophy
were taught here. The institution was
maintained by the revenue collected
from the villages bestowed specifically
for the purpose by the contemporary
rulers as evident from inscriptions.
Nalanda Mahavira, regarded as one
of the greatest universities of
ancient world, was founded
was Kumaragupta first (412-455
A.D) of the great Gupta dynasty,
king Harshavarshana of Kannauj
(606-647 A.D) and the Pala kings
of east India (8th-12th century A.D)
continued to extend patronage to
this center. The decline of this great
institution started in
later Pala period but the final blow
came in around 1200 A.D by the
Present Entrance to Nalanda Excavation Site
invasion of Bakhtiyar Khilji.
Excavations conducted by archaeological survey of India during 1915-37 and
1974-82 have exposed the extensive remains of six brick temples and eleven
monasteries arranged on a systematic layout and spread over an area more
than a square kilometer. Basically a thirty meter wide passage runs North-
South with the row of temples on the west and that of the monasteries on the
east of it. The dimensions and disposition of rooms within monasteries is
almost identical.

Ruins of Nalanda
The most imposing structure is temple no 3 at the southern extremity, which was
constructed in seven phases. It is surrounded by a number of votive stupas and other minor
shrines.

Temple No. 3
Earlier four phases are too dilapidated and very small in dimensions
which have been concealed again. Fifth, Sixth and seventh phase may
be seen clearly with their separate staircase. On the basis of art and
architecture, the fifth phase has been assigned to sixth century A.D.
which contains beautiful stucco images places in the niches on the
exterior walls of the temple. Decorative solid towers were erected at
four corners but only two are now visible. Sixth and seventh phases
are further enlargement in dimensions by the way of concealing the
earlier structure. Contrary to the general scheme of other temples at
the site this temple is facing to north. The pedestal atop once
contained a colossal image probably of Buddha. A large number of
votive stupas and miniature shrines have been added around this
temple by the devotees at the different points of time among which a
chariot shaped shrine near the south-east
south corner is worth mentioning.
This monastery is considered to be the most important among the group of monasteries from chronological
revealing nine levels of occupation as indicated by superimposed structures, drains and floors. The lower
monastery was erected during the reign of Devapala (Circa 810-50 AD) by a king of Sumatra as hostels for the
monks. It had a central rectangular courtyard, pillared verandah all around in form of cells, a shrine at the middle
of eastern arm, a well, a teacher's platform and the entrance towards west; It was at least double storied as
evident by the staircase at South-west corner. The upper monastery have 34 cells containing bed-platforms for
monks and shelves for keeping books and valuables in the corners of few cells, pillared verandah in front and
entrance towards west approachable through a massive flight of steps. The solid oblong shrine in the courtyard is
a later addition whereas the small shrine close to it belongs to Gupta period.
With the northern high wall of the courtyard are co-structured
structured two chambers containing corbelled
entrance and vaulted roof is also a later addition.The
evidence of destruction of Nalanda by fire can be noticed
in few cells and stucco images are also placed in the
Niches of the portico.

Monastery no 1
This monastery is almost square on plan having
two phases, the later constructed over ruins of an
earlier one. The staircase exposed at the south-west
west
corner suggests that the earlier monastery was at
least double storied. The later monastery contains
twenty cells for the monks. It has a shrine at the
middle of the eastern arm, teacher's platform in
front of the shrine, an open courtyard with
residential cells all around attached to a pillared
verandah, well in the courtyard, drainage, entrance
towards west and staircase at both the levels.
Provision of ventilator for skylight near the
staircase and provision of bed in few cells are
special attractions of this monastery.

Monastery no 04
This monastery does not conform to the
nature and general scheme of the other
monasteries. It's northern and southern arms
are having only three cells whereas the
eastern arm has two rows of eight cells.
Some of the cells in front row are connected
with Verandah whereas few cells are inter
linked with corbelled doors. No door has
been noticed for the cells in the back row. A
large staircase descending from the south-
south
east corner of monastery no 04 connects
with monastery. On the basis of antiquarian Monastery no 5
finds it appears to be constructed during
Gupta period.
This structure too has the evidence of
erecting later monastery over the ruins of
an earlier one. It contains brick paved
courts at two different levels with
pillared verandah and cells all around.
Each level has thirty two cells, the
shrine, a well and west facing entrance. A
feature of interest is the two sets of
double ovens in the upper courtyard
which might have been used for
community cooking or for some practical
demonstrations to the students. The
drains attached to the ovens do not have
any archaeological significance as these
are modern addition for the disposal of Corridor connecting monasteries in Nalanda
rain water.
Similar to other monasteries this one also has common features like entrance on West central
court with verandah all around and the cells for the monks, well, shrine in the middle of the
eastern arm etc. But two features are peculiar in this monastery. First is the imposing central
shrine facing west with a court in front and the second is the door lintel preserved to its original
height in a cell at south east corner. This technique of doorway with dentil cornice is only one
and unique example saved at Nalanda.. Wooden lintels have been replaced with modern concrete
lintels for the sale of conservation. Two levels of occupation can be seen in this monastery also.

Monastery no 8
 Monastery no 09
This monastery is also almost similar to other monasteries in
size and plan containing thirty four cells meant for the hostel
for monks. The court contains a well, six ovens and drain at
the north east corner for disposal of water. The shrine
chamber in the middle of the eastern arm, entrance towards
west, staircase at south-west corner and provision for sky
light near stairs like that in monastery 04 are some common
features of the monastery. One room created by blocking the
northern end of the western verandah and
having corbelled door seems to be added later.
This monastery too is almost similar to others in
size and plan and contains usual features like
central court, entrance from the west, shrine
chamber, veranda, court, cells for monks,
staircase and skylight provision etc. But few
features are uncommon and worth mentioning.
mentioning
First is the arched door opening of rooms, which
can be seen in the southern half of the western
arm. Secondly this monastery had postern doors
on the either ends of the eastern arm opening in
the east which were blocked in later phase.
phase And
the third is a massive wall in place of pillars
blocking seven western rooms of the southern
arm in later phase. The seven rooms have
uncommon features and seem to be meant for Monastery no 10
some different purpose. Similar wall in place of
pillars can be seen at the north-east corner of the
Verandah also. Besides, a platform like structure
with stairs raised at South-West corner of the
court and a cistern like structure interiorly
veneered with flag stones near the southern
postern door are also peculiar. The monastery
contains two phases of construction.
Conforming to the general scheme of other
monasteries this one also has the common
features like central court, pillared veranda
all around, thirty rooms for monks,
provision for skylight and staircase at the
south west corner, shrine in the middle of
the eastern arm and entrance towards the
west. The fragments of stone pillars of its
veranda, still standing at their original
position are worth mentioning. The height
of the veranda would have been a little
more than two meters which can be guessed Monastery no 11
easily by the beam-holes
holes in its wall near the
staircase. Well has not been found in the
court and the shrine chamber
contains circumambulatory path in this
monastery.
Having two phases of construction this temple is
quite, attractive and grandiose from art and
architecture points of view. The later phase has been
created over the ruins of the earlier one on same
plan. The exterior of the earlier temple is decorated
with pilasters ornamental moldings and niches for
containing stucco images whereas that of the later
one is mostly plain. The temple is facing to east
built over raised and almost square platform
measuring 52*50 meters. Approachable through a
flight of steps, the main temple stands at the center
Monastery no 12
of the structure whereas four corners are occupied
by four subsidiary shrines which still contain the
remnants of stucco image installed on pedestal. It's
first phase is comparable to the fifth phase of temple
no-03 and datable to sixth century art and
architecture points of view.
 NALANDA UNIVERSITY

• It has been called “ One of the earlist

Universities in the world.
• It was founded in the 4th Century B C by the
Gupta Empire, Known as the ancient seat of
learning.
• Contribution also was given by – The King
Harshwardhan, Kumar Gupta, Dharmpal.
• It was a Buddhist enter of learnig from 427 to
1197 CE.
• It become the crown jewel of the Development
of Buddhism in india and the world.
• First residential inter National University of
the world.
• It accommodated over 2000 teachers and
10,000students from all over the world.
Libraries:
*The Library of Nalanda, Known as Dharma gunj(Mountain
(Mountain of
Truth) or Dharmagunja(Treasury
(Treasury of truth), was the most
renowned repository of Buddhist Knowledge in the world at the
time.
*The library had three main buildings – Ratnasagar,
Ratnasagar Ratnodadhi
and Ratnaranjaka.
* Each building was nine stories high and had an enormous
collection of books that covereal various subjects ranging from
religion, literature, astrology, astronomy, medicine and much
more.
Curriculum:
*Learning was Greatly encouraged as it serval dual Purpose
Knowledge practice.
*Courses were drawn from every field of learning, Buddhist and
hindu, sacred and secular, foreign and native.
*Students studies science astronomy, Medicine, and logic as
diligently as they applied themselves to metaphysics, philosophy,
Samkhya, yoga-shastra, the veda and the scriptures of Buddhism.
*Nalanda was also the most global university of its times,
attracting pupil and scholars from korea,, japan, china, Tibet,
Indonesia etc.
Great Scholar of Nalanda University:
University
• Chinese traveler and Scholar,
Xuanzang(Hsuan-Tsang), 7th Centary AD
visited Nalanda and left a vivid account of the
curriculum and of the general features of the
community.
• Famous Philosphers like Shilabhadra ,
Nagarjuna and Mahayana were among the
few scholars of Nalanda.
 Fall of Nalanda University:
• According to the records Nalanda
University was destroyed three times by
invarders, but rebuilt only twice.
• The Firs destruction was caused by the
huns under Mihirakula during the reign
of skandgupta (455-467AD), but
Skanda’s successors restored the library
and improved it with an even bigger
building.
• The Destruction came in the early 7th
century by the Gaudas, The Buddhist
king Harshwardhana (606-648AD)
restored the University.
• The third and most destructive attack
came when the ancient Nalanda
inniversity was destroyed by the muslim
army led by the Turkish eader Bakhtiyar
khilji in 1193.
Some more pictures of Nalanda Ruins
Cell for monks in nalanda
Only 10 % of area is found till today and excavation were done by ASI. In June 2016
the site was declared as UNESCO world heritage site.
 Lotus Pools made after excavation of Water Bodies

Thick walls of old Nalanda university

• Architect has also mentioned quarries used for excavation to

make into pools of Lotus.

• It will make them the places of aqua – culture.

Thanks for your attention