who destroyed nalanda university second timewho destroyed nalanda university second time

We are taught that schools are our second home, well that story began long ago in Gurukul, which means Kul(family) of Guru(teacher), hence claiming that Gurukul is the family of the Guru and all the disciples are . The memory of the University and its impressive collection of books and manuscripts continues to inspire scholars and researchers in India and around the world. Notwithstanding some of the myths, the destruction of Nalanda was a major loss to the cultural heritage of India. The academic session of NU started on September 1, 2014, with then-External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reiteratedthe Centres full ownership of NU. According to finds by the ASI, many artefacts discovered were of Hindu deities. The famous mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata was the head of this university. His Japanese disciple, Dosho, would later introduce this doctrine to Japan, and it would spread further into the Sino-Japanese world, where it would remain as a major religion ever since. Education 6. This record of Minhaj-i-Siraj is not an eyewitness account, but it is an account of Samsamuddin who was with Muhammad-i Bakhtiyar Khalji, and Minhaj-i-Siraj merely summarizes it. "The second destruction came with an assault by the Gaudas in the early 7th century. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. After this, he decided to destroy the roots of Buddhism and Ayurveda. The establishment of this new institution is seen as a way to honor the legacy of the ancient University of Nalanda, and to continue its tradition of promoting learning and knowledge. How many books were burnt in the library of Nalanda University? My India My Glory does not assume any responsibility for the validity or information shared in this article by the author. Before discussing who destroyed Nalanda university it is first important to know who created this? At that time only Khilji was ruling India. Interestingly, the monarchs of the Gupta Empire that founded the Buddhist monastic university were devout Hindus, but sympathetic and accepting towards Buddhism and the growing Buddhist intellectual fervour and philosophical writings of the time. The third piece of evidence is archaeological, with layers of charcoal deposits discovered covering ruins, Nalanda library fragments, and other damaged artworks. The entire complex is referred to on seals discovered there as Mahavihara (Great Monastery). The Chinese monk Xuanzang, who visited the University in the 7th century, wrote extensively about its impressive collection of books and manuscripts. Required fields are marked *. Xuanzhang studied logic, grammar . Cable Car Tours. It was one of the greatest centres of learning in the world. Most of the manuscripts burnt contained valuable inputs on these subjects. This time, the Hindu king Harshavardhana (606-648 AD) restored the Buddhist university. According to him, there were 10,000 monks and 2000 teachers at Nalanda at that time. A lengthy succession of rulers had built up Nalanda, he claims (around 637 CE), until the entire is simply beautiful to behold.. 10Odisha Dishes For The Foodie That You Are. As a result, Khilji set fire to the great library of Nalanda and burned around 9 million manuscripts. More than eight centuries after its demise, some scholars contest the widely held theory that Nalanda was destroyed because Khilji and his troops felt its teachings competed with Islam. Among themUma-Maheshwar, Surya, Vishnu, Chamunda, birth ofBuddhaand an inscribed votivestupaare noteworthy. To quote further, in another site of Nalanda were discovered amongst many artefacts wereGanesha,Uma-Maheshwar, Brahma(4838 cm),Tara,Vishnu,Buddha, votivestupa,Mahisamardani(704015 cm) are noteworthy. HPI primarily publishes news from around the world related to the Hindu religion. Is it inferiority complex that forces us to have atleast-some-kind-of- FORAN -connection so that people around us, our own people don't look down upon us. After recovering khilji was shocked by the fact that an Indian scholar and teacher had more knowledge than his princes and countryman. As the Dalai Lama once stated: "The source of all the [Buddhist] knowledge we have, has come from Nalanda. This is supported by the Kalpasutra, another important Jain book. If we look at the Gupta Empire dynasty, Nalanda University was founded around the kingdom of Chandragupta one of Samudra Gupta. All Rights Reserved. The first two times, Nalanda was rebuilt by . On both occasions, the buildings were restored, and the facilities were expanded after the attacks with the help of imperial patronage from the rulers. The Nalanda Mahavihara Site has housed the Nalanda Archaeological Museum since 1917, where numerous of the unearthed objects are on exhibit. However, except from mentioning Nalanda, Jaina scriptures do not give any more information, and they were not written down for about a millennium after Mahaviras death. Persian historian,Minhaj-i-Sirajhas vividly described the violentloot and massacre describing the mass burning of Nalanda's library and records and the murder of its monks. "He also did pioneering works in extracting square and cubic roots, and applications of trigonometrical functions to spherical geometry. During this time, Nalanda played a crucial role in promoting the patronage of arts and academics, particularly during the 5th and 6th centuries CE, a period that has been referred to as the Golden Age of India by scholars. July 26, 2022 871. Nalanda continued to flourish as a centre of learning under the Pala dynasty (8th12th centuries), and it became a centre of religious sculpture in stone and bronze. Nalanda, ancient university and Buddhist monastic centre southwest of Bihar Sharif in central Bihar state, northeastern India. Aryabhata, considered the father of Indian mathematics, is speculated to have headed the university in the 6th Century CE. To quote AICTE on Nalanda University from its article on Ancient Universities in India, The center had eight separate compounds, 10 temples, meditation halls, classrooms, lakes and parks. Now comes on the original question of who destroyed this: Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed the Nalanda University in 1202 AD. A museum at Nalanda houses many of the treasures found in the excavations. She is an economics graduate and a history enthusiast. And after reading these pages you will free from illness. He gave talks at a neighbouring mango grove called Pavarika, and Shariputra, one of his two main pupils, was born there and subsequently gained nirvana there. Places That Changed the Worldis a BBC Travel series looking into how a destination has made a significant impact on the entire planet. And everything changed after that Today same thing is happening in France . It was a dark and stormy night in the year 1197 CE. By Ghanshyam Pal / July 24, 2022 / History In 1202 AD, Turkic invader Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed and ransacked the Nalanda University. Monetary evidence uncovered at Nalanda supports Kumaragupta Is claim to be the monasterys first patron. He got enough treatment from his princes but he could not recover and reached a moribund condition. Bakhtiyar Khilji 90 1193 , Why Name of Bakhtiyarpur Junction in Bihar be Immediately Changed, Victories of Indian Warriors against Islamic Invaders that History Books Ignored, How Sultan Mahmud, Allauddin Khilji, Aurangzeb Looted and Destroyed Somnath. It was near the city of Rajagriha (now Rajgir) and around 90 kilometres southeast of Pataliputra, and operated from 427 to 1197 CE. Culture Nalanda University: The Oldest Known University Destroyed by Invaders By Narmada - December 6, 2021 2182 In ancient Magadha (modern-day Bihar), India, Nalanda is a prominent Buddhist monastic academy. Nalanda reached its peak during the rule of emperor Harshavardhana and the following Pala regime. The third myth is about a story that says Bakhtiyar Khilji had fallen sick and doctors in his court failed to cure him. Excavations around Nalanda, such as the Juafardih site, approximately 3 kilometres distant, have turned up black pottery and other artefacts. Over the next six centuries, Nalanda would gradually sink into oblivion and remain buried, before it was "discovered" by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1812, and later identified as the ancient Nalanda University by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861. 30 Jun 2023 16:41:44 And the stucco produced here influenced ecclesiastical art in Thailand, and metal art migrated from here to Tibet and the Malayan peninsula. It was ransacked and ruined during the reign of Delhi Sultanates Bakhtiyar Khilji, in 1193.The idea of reconstructing the Nalanda University was first mooted by former President, APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006. I went into one of the small rooms that lined the courtyard where students from as far away as Afghanistan lived. This indicates that a human community existed in the Magadha area near Nalanda hundreds of years before the Mahavira and Buddha were born. Did Mahabharata Really Happen? Narmada is a budding creative writer. Your email address will not be published. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The details of the university can be found in the writings of famous Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang. The university's visitor is the President of India. The burning of the library continued for several months and smoke from the burning manuscripts hung for days like a dark pall over the low hills., Nalanda University before excavations. In ancient Magadha (modern-day Bihar), India, Nalanda is a prominent Buddhist monastic academy. This article is part of JEWELS OF BHARATAM SERIES [TM] by the author. On becoming acquainted [with the contents of those books], it was found that the whole of that fortress and city was a college, and in theHindustani tongue, they call a college [] Vihar. The monastic university predates the University of Oxford and Europe's oldest university, Bologna, by more than 500 years. In 2010, the Government of India passed a resolution to revive the renowned University of Nalanda. Fanatic Bakhtiyar Khilji set the Library of Nalanda University on fire which burned down more than 9 million Books (Manuscripts). She said, The reconciliation of the historical with the contemporary is being done at many levels and in many ways in the physical structure, in the ideas that guide the choice of the schools, the curriculums focus areas, and so forth. Source: Wikipedia, Muhammad-i-Bakht-yar, by the force of his intrepidity, threw himself into the postern of the gateway of the place, and they captured the fortress, and acquired great booty. The University was a Buddhist institution, and Khilji saw it as a threat to his power. The Warrior Queen of Gondwana Rani Durgavati, History of Ahilyabai Holkar: The Queen of Maheshwar and Social Reformer, History of Bhagwan Parshuram, Who Defeated The Kshatriya Clan 21 Times, Bhartiya Shiksha Board: A New Education Board For Vedic Education. As a result, a modern institution called Nalanda University was established at Rajgir. For centuries it had been the most important seat of learning in Asia. The vast manuscript libraries of Magadha had been mostly lost. The invading forces of the Muslim Turkic ruler Bakhtiyar Khilji had reached the gates of the ancient University of Nalanda. Functioning as a leading educational institute in the pre-Islamic period, Nalanda Universityfinds mention inPersian, Chinese, Buddhist and Jain and texts from across the world. Nalanda is described in Jain and Buddhist texts as a sacred space. Muammad Bakhtiyar Khalji was a Turkic invader. Nalanda was established in 5 th century and at its peak had 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers. Many epithets and names were used to refer to rulers in Indian tradition and scriptures. To imagine how these remains were once a renowned learning centre for thousands of students, youll have to use your imagination. He put fire on all the books and killed all the scholar monks, students, and the teachers. Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed on Fridays. The Universitys impressive collection of books and manuscripts, as well as its reputation as a center of Buddhist learning, made it an important cultural and intellectual hub in ancient India. Nalanda was at its last stage that time and completely destroyed in 1193 CE. Restrictions must not be imposed on expressions. There is archaeological evidence of a Shailendra king of Indonesia who built a structure within the campus. Ancient Nalanda University was situated in the Kingdom of Magadh (modern-day Bihar) in India. The Fellowship of the university was regarded as the highest academic degree of those times. Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us onFacebook, or follow us onTwitterandInstagram. Scholars would hold frequent arguments and study Buddhist and Hindu scripture studies. He was a 7th-century monarch who ruled from Kannauj (Kanyakubja). ET. Nalanda- The Legendary University that was Lost to the Flames, Armenians in India: Old Presence of the Caucasus in the Himalayan Territories, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: Pretty Hopeless for Indian Companies to Try and Compete with them, Unveiling Sengol: The Remarkable Journey of Tamil Nadus Historic Sceptre to New Indian Parliament, Five Most Interesting Indian Customs And Traditions, Exploring The Myth Of The Pushpak Vimana: An Ancient Indian Flying Machine. He burnt thousand of monks alive and thousands were beheaded. Information on the Nalanda University Library is given in the Tibetan accounts, from which we know that the Library, situated in a special area known by the poetical name of Dharmaganj a (Mart of Religion), comprised three huge buildings, called Ratnaagara, Ratnodadhi, and Rat-naranjala, of which Ratnasagara, which was a ninestoreyed building, specialized in the collection of rare sacred works like Praniapa-ramtia-sutra and Tantrika books like Samajaguhya and the like. per adult (price varies by group size) 3 Days Enlightening tour to Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Nalanda. And every historical source does suggest the subcontinent was doing pretty well at their age. It had dormitories for students, perhaps a first for an educational institution, housing 10,000 students in the universitys heyday and providing accommodations for 2,000 professors. Nalanda Excavations in Bihar, India, 1917-35, via Google Arts and Culture. The site of Nalanda is located in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from 427 CE to 1197 CE partly under the Pala Empire. The founding of a sangharama (monastery) at the site is attributed to a monarch called Shakraditya, according to a seal unearthed at the site. The University had been a cornerstone of learning and knowledge in India, and its destruction was a devastating blow to the countrys cultural heritage. This created an association of students from diverse nationalities, thus creating a ' universitas ', which is the origin of the word 'university'. 1. And the platform was the teacher's podium," said Kamla Singh, my local guide, who showed me around the ruins. Read About: Somnath Temple: A Temple which was Destroyed and Looted 17 Times by the Islamic Invaders. His account states that the destruction of Nalanda was not an accident or misunderstanding but a part of the widespread destruction of Buddhist monasteries and monuments including the destruction of Bodhgaya. Before its recognition as a center for knowledge, Nalanda has been describedin Jain and Buddhist texts as a 'sacred space'. While uprooting Buddhism may have been a driving force behind the attack, one of India's pioneering archaeologists, HD Sankaliya, wrote in his 1934 book, The University of Nalanda, that the fortress-like appearance of the campus and stories of its wealth were reasons enough for invaders to deem the university a lucrative spot for an attack. The burning of Nalanda may have been a dark chapter in the history of ancient India, but its spirit lives on. Bus Tours. Is the Ancient Submerged City of Dwarka Real and Proof of Historical Krishna and Mahabharata? Hindu Press International (HPI) is a news aggregator service for Hindus and non-Hindus alike. This widespread myth about 9 million books being destroyed is purely speculative. Disclaimer: The views expressed here and/or research done are solely of the author. Many ruins have been discovered as a result of these excavations, however, the excavated region represents just a small percentage of the entire Nalanda institution. He was also the first to attribute radiance of the moon to reflected sunlight.". According to his account, the Turushka-Qarluq (Turk) conquest extended from about 1193 to 1205, the destruction was systematic with Turushka soldiers razing a monastery to the ground and throwing the stones into Ganges river, states Roerich. The digging performed around a kilometer square of . The Mahasudassana Jataka, for example, asserts that Nalaka or Nalakagrama is approximately a yojana (10 miles) from Rajagriha, although Mahavastu calls the location Nalanda-gramaka and places it half a yojana distant. But now, it was about to be destroyed. Get the latest updates on education-related news on Republic World here. Nalanda University was built-in 427 CE by Gupta emperor Kumargupta I, the ruler of the Gupta Empire and it is more than 1500 years old. Faxian, also known as Fa-hsien, was a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim monk who visited India in search of Buddhist literature and left behind a travelogue. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The winter morning was cloaked in thick fog. Khilji was not able to digest the fact that an Indian scholar and teacher knew more than his Haqims and countryman. According to a historical source, once Bakhtiyar Khilji got very ill and the Haqims of his court were not able to cure him. When the Tibetan translator Chag Lotsawa (Chag Lo-tsa-ba, 11971264) visited the site in 1235, he found it damaged and looted, with a 90-year-old teacher, Rahula Shribhadra, instructing a class of about 70 students. He was not willing to believe that Indian physicians have more knowledge than his or her masters or maybe more capable. At that time Bakhtiyar Khilji had captured some areas ruled by Buddhists in. Then Bakhtiar Khilji put a strange condition in front of Vaidyaraj and where I will not eat any kind of medicine given by him. These records reveal that during this period, there was a widespread systematic destruction of monasteries in the region, including Nalanda. We often say or hear such things. According to Xuanzang, a Chinese traveller from the early 7th century Tang Dynasty, the name Nland was derived from a Naga a snake god in Indian traditionsnamed Nalanda. Destruction Nalanda was an ancient Mahavihara, a revered Buddhist monastery that also served as a renowned centre of learning, in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. Ig for you guys all Muslim rulers are Mughals and only did the destruction. The acclaimed Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller Xuanzang studied and taught at Nalanda. According to Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese scholar who studied at the University of Nalanda, the university had more than 1,500 teachers and 10,000 monks to teach various subjects like Mathematics, Science, Ayurveda, Architecture, Medicine, Religion (especially Buddhism), Vedas, Philosophy, Warfare, History, Literature, and many others. Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed the Nalanda University in 1202 AD. The Revival of Ancient Nalanda University. It was the center of learning from 427 to 1197 CE. Ravikumar Pillay is a passionate scholar of Indian history, an avid traveller, photographer, writer, counsellor, and teaches meditation. Founded in 427 CE, Nalanda is considered the world's first residential university, a sort of medieval Ivy League institution home to nine million books that attracted 10,000 students from across Eastern and Central Asia. Today, the 23-hectare excavated site is likely a mere fraction of the original campus, but ambling through its multitude of monasteries and temples evokes a feeling of what it must have been like to learn at this fabled place. According to pilgrims accounts, from Gupta times the monasteries of Nalanda were surrounded by a high wall. Then someone advised him to show him the treatment of Acharya Rahul Sribhadra, who was head of the Ayurveda department of Nalanda University and get him treated. "It was not the first attack on Nalanda, though," Sharma said, as we strolled through the ruins. Then someone told him about Ayurveda scholar Acharya Rahul Sribhadra, although he was not ready to take treatment from an outsider, he had to call Acharya Rahul Sribhadra to save his life. They gathered here to learn medicine, logic, mathematics and above all Buddhist principles from some of the era's most revered scholars. Harsha was a third-generation Hindu ruler from the Vaishya caste, according to Xuanzang, who erected grand Buddhist viharas as well as three equally sized temples dedicated to Buddha, Surya, and Shiva. Scholars like Andrea Pinkney and Hartmut Scharfe have concluded that Shakraditya and Kumaragupta I are the same person. Nalanda: The Legendary University that was Lost to the Flames by Rajendra Kumar 6 months Ago 6 Min Read Last Updated: December 15, 2022 Advertisement It was a dark and stormy night in the year 1197 CE. It is said that Rahul Shribhadra applied for medicine on some pages of the book. It had three multi-storied libraries. Read About: Top 5 Ancient Universities of Indian for learning in Ancient India and their Astonishing History. In front of the monasteries stood a row of larger shrines, or stupas, in brick and plaster. Standing near a miniature stupa, I watched a small band of young monks clad in crimson robes touring the site before they stopped to gather atop the large plinth of a former temple. It depicts Khilji trying to make sense of a manuscript. Her taste in music and poetry varies from Doja Cat to Fairuz from John Eliya to Pablo Neruda.