-| Nalanda | -
Location: District Nalanda - Bihar - Lat 23º 8'N, Long 85º
27'E
Nalanda is located 85 kms. south-east of Patna and 11 kms. north of Rajgir.
The place has extensive ruins of a great Buddhist establishment. It is said
to be the birth place of Sariputa, one of the chief disciples of Lord Buddha.
Later Buddhist saints are also associated with it. The site of Nalanda was main
focus of activity during the time of Palas (8th to 12th century AD).
It was one of the oldest university of the world. It had nine million books,
ten thousand students, two thousand teachers and was a centre of great learning
which reached its zenith between 8th to 12th century AD. Both Lord Buddha and
Lord Mahavira visited the place. Emperor Ashok of Mauryan dynasty probably built
a vihara while emperor Harshvadhana donated 26 meter high copper image of Buddha
in 7th century AD.
Nalanda was the principal centre of Mahayana Learning and a well known university
with numerous shrines and monasteries that attracted scholars from far and wide.
The two chinese pilgrims Hiuen Tsang and I-Tsing stayed at Nalanda and vividly
described in their account, the then monastic settlements and the life therein.
The excavations uncovered a planned layout with an almost symmetrical row of
monasteries and imposing rectangular buildings each with an open courtyard enclosed
by a covered veranda leading to the cells on the four sides. The cells facing
the entrance served as shrine. Nalanda was the important and flourishing centre
of art during the Pala period, which yielded a large number of sculpture, especially
stucco and bronze images besides seals and sealing of great historical significance.
The official monastic seal bear as usual the wheel and deer insignia and the
legend Sri-Nalanda-Maha-Vihariyasinga-Bhiksu-sanghasyu.
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